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Song of Songs 4:1&7
Picture I saw in prayer over this time: Jesus up in heaven reaching down in joy to bring us up.
**Makes me think of John 17:24
Context:
Chapter 3 ends with the wedding of Christ and His bride. This wedding represents an experiential union of the individual believer with Christ. Where a sense of your own individuality apart from Christ once existed, there is now a felt inseparability between you two. You are living in deeper reality of your one flesh union with Jesus. The imagery used in verses 7-10 is representative of the ark of the covenant--the place God’s most intimate presence dwelled! It is only in this most intimate presence of God that their union is tangible.
Chapter 4:
Jesus praises His bride, the one He loves. He pours out His heart for her and the timing of this is significant. Whereas in section 1 the bride was receiving satisfaction in Him, she now knows she exists to please Him. She has come outside of herself, experienced the cross and knows the reality of their oneness. Had He praised an immature bride she may have taken it in pride that it’s about her. Now, His praise of her will only result in her giving it back to Him. They are deeply one and she knows anything beautiful in her is Him. Do we have humble hearts that exist for Christ so that He’s able to shower us with His praise and affection? It is all unto the glory of His name.
Verse 1:
Verse 7: “You are absolutely beautiful, my darling; there is no imperfection in you.”
**Makes me think of John 17:24
Context:
Chapter 3 ends with the wedding of Christ and His bride. This wedding represents an experiential union of the individual believer with Christ. Where a sense of your own individuality apart from Christ once existed, there is now a felt inseparability between you two. You are living in deeper reality of your one flesh union with Jesus. The imagery used in verses 7-10 is representative of the ark of the covenant--the place God’s most intimate presence dwelled! It is only in this most intimate presence of God that their union is tangible.
Chapter 4:
Jesus praises His bride, the one He loves. He pours out His heart for her and the timing of this is significant. Whereas in section 1 the bride was receiving satisfaction in Him, she now knows she exists to please Him. She has come outside of herself, experienced the cross and knows the reality of their oneness. Had He praised an immature bride she may have taken it in pride that it’s about her. Now, His praise of her will only result in her giving it back to Him. They are deeply one and she knows anything beautiful in her is Him. Do we have humble hearts that exist for Christ so that He’s able to shower us with His praise and affection? It is all unto the glory of His name.
Verse 1:
- The word veil in this verse is different from 1:7. The Hebrew word in 1:7 that means veil can also mean wanders and has the connotation of shame. The woman in 1:7 feels like she has to hide herself before Christ because she is ashamed of her state of being and does not think Christ desires her. Instead, she feels much like she has to be like Tamar who prostitutes herself, in shame and deception, for love and protection. This veil (4:1) is simply the normal veil Hebrew women wore in biblical times. The veil that we now live behind is the flesh of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-20). It is being clothed in Christ’s flesh that makes us pure and beautiful to God. We are fully known by God and one day we will know Him fully (1 Cor 13:12)! His flesh being her veil also showcases her oneness with Him; He sees His own flesh when He looks at her. He delights in this!
- Hair represents our consecration to the Lord, as seen in Sampson (Judges 16:17). Mary also used her hair to wipe Jesus’ feet showing her devotion to Him, especially given that a woman’s glory is her hair (Jn 12:3 & 1 Cor 11:15). He adores His fully consecrated bride.
- Flocks of goats grazed on Mount Gilead and goats symbolize sin offerings (Micah 7:14; Lev 23:19). When we are a living sacrifice to Him, He delights in us and rewards us with knowing His will (Romans 12:1-2).
Verse 7: “You are absolutely beautiful, my darling; there is no imperfection in you.”
- If we receive this verse in our flesh, the result will be pride or condemnation. Receiving this verse in pride will result in very little reverence for Christ and thinking you are quite great. Receiving this verse in condemnation means you will feel shame because you know that you are not perfect and you will feel like you need to live up to this verse in your own strength. You may try and repent for things in between you and God so you can earn this verse. Neither of these are the right way to interpret/receive this verse.
- In Spirit and truth we receive this verse through the gospel! We are not perfect, but in Christ we are. Receiving in faith God saying over you that you’re perfect will lead to awestruck, humble, thankful worship. So much love will pour out of our hearts as a response to how much He loves us.
- Romans 5:20-21 speaks to this truth. We know we are sinful and even IN our sin GRACE ABOUNDS MORE! How can this be?! We sin and He gives us grace? This is amazing! This is because it is only by grace through faith that we receive righteousness and power to overcome sin and inherit eternal life. Do you feel condemnation when you sin or grace in conviction that leads to intimate LIFE with Christ? He truly is SO compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth (Exodus 34:6). Jesus bled and died for the sake of union and communion with you and me!
- This is the call of the section (3:6-4:15) we are in: ascend with Me! Come from being far away from Me to being near! Come sit with Me in the heights and live your life from here (Col 3:1-3).
- She told Him that His carasses are better than wine (1:2) and now He tells her that her love is much better than wine!
- She dwells where He has told her to: in His Word, His land, and His presence. He loves this about her. His Word is said to be like honey (Ps 19:10), the Promised Land flows with milk and honey (Deut 31:20) and she smells like the fragrance of the Temple which is made out of Lebanon’s trees (Is 60:13).
- He loves that she is locked for Him alone. She has learned and lives Prov 4:23.
- The word ‘paradise’ can also be ‘orchard’ or ‘park.’ This gives the sense of a park for the purpose of fellowship and enjoyment. The emphasis is not on a garden producing fruit for consumption. The Lord loves to dwell with us in the garden of our hearts to be together for the sake of intimacy.
- She is a fount of the Spirit inside her (John 7:38)! The Holy Spirit springs up inside of us as we surrender to Him to let Him flow!
- The north wind is the winter wind and the south wind is the summer wind. She invites them both because she knows that any environment, trial or prosperity, will only serve to advance the Spirit’s work in her. She has ascended with Christ in greater measure and is not affected by the things of this world in the way she once was. The only way anything outside of her can affect her is to advance the inner workings of the Spirit. She has learned both James 4:1 and Phil 4:12-13.
- She calls the garden of her soul “His garden.” She is completely consecrated to Him. Not only is her heart consecrated for Him to work in, but the work that He has done is now consecrated to Him. All the fruit that He has grown in her, she gives back to Him. She knows the fruit of her heart is for His enjoyment, pleasure, and glory.
- Her invitation is to come and eat the choice fruits. We belong to Jesus, but we must be in constant surrender to Him and inviting Him to come take everything in us. It is His garden, but she still must invite Him in.