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1 Whither is thy beloved gone,
O thou fairest among women?
Whither hath thy beloved turned him,
That we may seek him with thee?
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2 My beloved is gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices,
To feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
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3 I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine:
He feedeth his flock among the lilies.
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I am my beloved's – The Bride rejoices in the Bridegroom's assured love, and her desires and longings are not questionings as to the relationship in which she stands to him, which is to her a settled thing. R303:2*
Only a few will be able to say this. This union with the Beloved (Christ) implies that the step of justification through repentance and faith in the precious blood has first taken place. R4783:5
A positive compact or contract with Christ is implied. R4783:5
There is no possibility for any to get into this elect class without knowing it. R4783:5
My beloved is mine – So long as we continue to be faithful. "He that hath the son hath life"--eternal life. (1 John 5:12) R4784:1
Those who have Christ are really possessors of "all things." (1 Cor. 3:22, 23) R4784:1
The Bridegroom's care, provision, protection and comfort belong to the betrothed even now. R4784:2
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4 Thou art fair, O my love, as Tirzah,
Comely as Jerusalem,
Formidable as an army with banners.
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5 Turn away thine eyes from me,
For they have overcome me.
Thy hair is as a flock of goats,
That lie along the side of Gilead.
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6 Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes,
Which are come up from the washing;
Whereof every one hath twins,
And none is bereaved among them.
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7 Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate
Behind thy veil.
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8 There are sixty queens, and eighty concubines,
And virgins without number.
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9 My dove, my undefiled, is but one;
She is the only one of her mother;
She is the choice one of her that bare her.
The daughters saw her, and called her blessed;
Yes, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
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My dove – Symbol of peace and purity. E212
She is the only one – There is but one Bride of Christ. R4655:1
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10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning,
Fair as the moon,
Choice as the sun,
Formidable as an army with banners?
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As the morning – Symbol of the Millennial age. A9; E359
Fair as the moon – Symbol of the Law in Matt. 24 and Rev. 12. R499:4; D590
Clear as the sun – Symbol of the gospel light, the truth, in Matt. 24 and Rev. 12. R499:4; D590
With banners – Symbol of the standard of the truth in Isa. 13:1, 2. D40
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11 I went down into the garden of nuts,
To see the green plants of the valley,
To see whether the vine budded,
And the pomegranates were in flower.
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To see the fruits – Symbol of the fruits of the spirit. E206
The pomegranates – Symbol of the fruitage of redemptive work. T30
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12 Before I was aware, my soul set me
Among the chariots of my noble people.
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13 Return, return, O Shulammite;
Return, return, that we may look upon thee.
Why will ye look upon the Shulammite,
As upon the dance of Mahanaim? |
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