The Bible’s Song of Love

Verse by verse through the Song of Songs Part 6a Chapter 8:5‑6

All references RV unless otherwise stated

These final passages of the Song picture for us how close those with bridal love can get to our Lord even during this present life. The Daughters of Jerusalem have been watching the Bride’s deepening affection and in the closing words of Part 5 the Lord had to remind them that love is not something to be commanded or worked for. In other words love is called forth by love alone. "We love, because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19) In Chapter 3 verses 6‑11 they were witnesses of the Bridegroom’s ascent out of the wilderness. Then followed a time of bewilderment for the maiden until He revealed Himself to her once more. In the last verse of Chapter 6 the daughters were wondering where the Bride had gone, for there was that much lacking in their love to keep them from witnessing His glowing and affectionate tribute to her beauty. When the Heavenly Bridegroom confesses to being carried away with loving ecstasy (as in Chapter 6:5,11‑12) they are words for His beloved alone. The daughters did not know of His words of Chapter 6:8,9 where He contrasted their love with hers. In fact the last they had known of her was that she was sick because of a love that could not be satisfied except in His company.

8:5And so Part 6 opens on a note of some surprises as the Daughters ask "WHO IS THIS THAT COMETH UP FROM THE WILDERNESS, LEANING UPON HER BELOVED?" The phrase suggests the culmination of Christian experience.

This part, which seems to have a particular application to the closing days of the Church’s pilgrimage, suggest a recognition by many of the reality of the Lord’s Return and that there are those who give evidence of close communion and fellowship with the Lord. How appropriate are the words of the Lord—"I will come again, and receive you unto Myself." (John 14:3 KJV)

"Leaning on her beloved" is something new. This translation of the Hebrew word occurs only here and signifies "a clinging to, or strengthening oneself upon another."

The bride is in company with her beloved, protected by him, and led in the path of his choice, not hers.

"Believers only go upward as they lean on Christ…spiritual growth marked by conscious weakness leaning on perfect strength…The believer’s life is a laborious one—an upward journey through a wilderness, a pleasant one —the company of the Beloved, a safe one—His arm to lean on" (Robinson)

"Alas." There are but few comparatively who really know and love Jesus Christ, and who trust their whole being to Him and yet he loves to be trusted, and to be recognised as the only support of the heart that leans upon Him, for He is our only support, and He loves to be so, and we cannot please Him more than by leaning our whole weight on Him as we journey, coming up out of life’s wilderness." (Marcus Rainsford)

From here on to the end we have what seems at first sight to be a disconnected series of statements. But the Bridegroom and the Bride speak after the manner of two deeply in love. And so in words of close and intimate communion the Beloved reminds the espoused of the earlier days when first her love for Him was awakened; "UNDER THE APPLE TREE I AWAKENED THEE: THERE THY MOTHER WAS IN TRAVAIL WITH THEE, THERE WAS SHE IN TRAVAIL THAT BROUGHT THEE FORTH."

In Chapter 2:3 Christ was likened to "the apple tree among the trees of the wood" and the Maiden "sat down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste."

How like two who are in love to speak of how they met and how love was first stirred in her heart. In this brief reference the Bridegroom shows how the Covenant of Grace—the mother of the Bride class was God’s provision in Christ. Moreover the apple tree was a "shade" reminding us that the Hebrew word for "atonement" means "to cover"—Christ has been the "cover" for all under the Covenant of Grace.

"The legal system could never bring forth the spouse; it could not minister the love of Christ, nor could it form affections responsive on liberty to Christ. It needed an altogether different mother to bring about such a result, and that mother is ‘Jerusalem above’…Our mother brought us forth ‘under the apple tree,’ and the Beloved awoke us there. ‘The apple tree’ is undoubtedly a figure of Christ…As brought forth by our mother, and awakened by Christ, we find ourselves under His shadow…who is a Tree of life…" (C.A.C.) It is rather striking that the explanation of how the spouse came into being is reserved until the last chapter. In the early stages of our spiritual history we are indebted to grace for every spiritual movement of our souls. A young convert may think that things began on his side, but after a time he comes to see that all was of God from the beginning.

8:6But the picture of the Bride under the apple tree is of the early days. Between then and the time portrayed in these closing verses the Bride has not always been constant in her love so now the Bridegroom asks her to confirm her constancy: "SET ME AS A SEAL UPON THINE HEART, AS A SEAL UPON THINE ARM."

The figure of a seal suggests many precious thoughts. First its primary reference appears to be to the high priesthood of Jesus. Second, a seal is used for ratifying and confirming. (Rom.4:11) Third, it is also a token of peculiar honour and affection. Compare Jer.22:24 and Haggai 2:23. Fourth, a seal leaves an impression and we are to be conformed to the image of His Son. Lastly, this sealing process is evidence of the operation of the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul refers in several places to our sealing in Christ but here the Bridegroom seems rather to be reminding the Bride that mature love must be unwavering and He asks her to show to Him (upon thine heart) and to others (upon thine arm) that she is His absolutely and completely. The earlier expressions of His love have been tinged with long suffering and pity but now that she has grown to bridal stature His love and hers partake of great power "FOR LOVE" He says "IS STRONG AS DEATH."

No one could say this with such deep meaning as He, for He laid down His life for His bride. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends"; "I lay down my life for the sheep"; "Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the uttermost." (John 15:13; 10:15; 13:1 Mar.) His love was strong as death, for even death could not vanquish it.

The Bride is now His in the very firmest and completest sense. In the past He had compassion on her waywardness and inconstancy but now her love is perfect and He asks her to face the full measure of responsibility which love calls forth. She is His and "such is the intensity of His love that any thought of a rival which would steal our hearts away from Him is intolerable to Him." (CAC) "JEALOUSY" He tells her "IS AS CRUEL (EXACTING) AS THE GRAVE."

"Jealousy, as known in Christ, is very wondrous." (CAC) This jealousy is expressive of that intensity of appropriation which is the privilege of every individual believer.

"THE FLASHES THEREOF ARE FLASHES OF FIRE, A VERY FLAME OF JEHOVAH." (Mar.)

This is the only reference to God in the whole Song. It reminds us of the occasions when God told Israel that He was a jealous God—that is a God who was not willing to share the object of His love with false gods.

Fire, as an expression of divine action, speaks of the cleansing away of dross and the destruction of that which is false and bad. Divine love has these qualities. Paul tells us that it shall "try every man’s work of what sort it is." (1 Cor.3:13 KJV) In 1 Kings 18:38 God’s jealous love for Israel was revealed in the fire that burnt the sacrifice offered by Elijah, and Peter speaks of the trial of our faith in the fires of adversity and affliction.

This divine symbol was present with Israel throughout their wanderings. There was the fire by night and in the day‑time a pillar of cloud which would seem to Israel as the smoke of the fire.

God’s everlasting love for Israel was also pictured in similar terms for He said through the prophet Zechariah "I…will be unto her a wall of fire round about." (Zech.2:5)

"Flashes of fire, flames of Yah," remind us that the chapter in the New Testament which speaks much of divine chastening ends with the solemn statement—"For our God is a consuming fire." (Heb.12:29) But there is ever behind all the divine ways, however searching and severe they may be, the burning power of an unquenchable love. That love is against all the influences that tend to divert us; it ever acts to consume and destroy them; but this is to liberate us from their power, that we may enjoy, and respond to, the love of Christ." (CAC)

EEA/LB