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Expanded Comments |
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1 [SHE] I am The meadow-saffron of Sharon, The lily of the valleys. |
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2 [HE] As a lily among thorns, So, is my fair one, among the daughters! |
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3 [SHE] As an apple-tree among the trees of the forest, So, is my beloved, among the sons: In his shade, I greatly delighted and sat down, And, his fruit, was sweet to my taste. |
And his fruit – Symbol of the fruits of the spirit. E206
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4 He hath brought me into the house of wine, and, his banner over me, is love.
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Banqueting house – "He shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat" at his second advent. (Luke 12:37) D612
More truth is now due than at any time in the history of the Church. R5501:4
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5 Sustain me with raisin-cakes, refresh me with apples,–for sick with love, I am. |
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6 His left hand under my head, then, his right hand, embraceth me! |
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7 [HE] I adjure you, ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the hinds of the field,–That ye wake not, nor arouse, the dear love until she please! |
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8 [SHE] The voice of my beloved! Lo! here he cometh,–leaping over the mountains, skipping over the hills. |
Upon the mountains – Kingdoms. A318
Upon the hills – The less autocratic governments. D551
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9 Resembleth, my beloved, a gazelle, or a young stag,–Lo! here he is, standing behind our wall, looking in at the windows, peeping in at the lattice. |
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10 Responded my beloved, and said to me,–Rise up! my fair–my beautiful–one, and come away, |
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11 For lo, the winter, is past,–the rain, is over, [and] gone; |
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12 The flowers, have appeared in the earth, the time of the spring-song, hath come,–and, the voice of the turtle, is heard in our land; |
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13 The fig-tree, hath spiced her green figs, and, the vines–all blossom, yield fragrance,–Rise up! my fair–my beautiful–one, and come away! |
The fig tree – Symbol of the Jewish nation. D604
Putteth forth ... figs – Not only do we recognize that the restoration of the Jews is at hand, but also that the Kingdom of God is nigh. R127:5*
The tender grape – Mature fruits of character. A mark of ripe fruit is tenderness. E206; R1317:5*
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14 [HE] O my dove! In the retreats of the crag, in the hiding-place of the terrace, Let me see thy form, Let me hear thy voice,–For, thy voice, is sweet, and, thy form, comely. |
O my dove – A dove-like character. R3759:5*
Pure, harmless, gentle, defenseless, helpless, timid: its only safety being in flight. R3759:2*
Clefts of the rock – The Rock of Ages. R3759:5*
Secret places – Immanuel is the secret of the stairs. R3759:5*
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15 [BOTH] Take ye for us, the foxes, the little foxes that are spoiling the vines,–and, our vines, are all blossom! |
Take us – Help us to catch. R5886:2
The foxes – Very cunning, not capable of ferocity and viciousness, but is nevertheless cause of much harm. An appearance of docility makes it more dangerous, less likely to arouse suspicion of its evil intentions. R5886:2
Little foxes – King Solomon seems to be picturing the depravities of our fallen nature which are not so extreme, but very harmful. R5886:2
Little sins which are really more dangerous than grosser sins because we are less likely to be on guard against them. R5886:3
Careless, thoughtless, impatient words; little grumblings; a sarcastic word or laugh or look or shrug. R5886:6
Spoil the vines – Small sins, as little foxes, tear the branches and gnaw at the roots of the spiritual vine, endangering its very life. R5886:3
Tender – As grapes during the formative period are exceeding tender, so the Spirit's fruitage in immature Christians may be easily ruined. How careful should we be to guard words and conduct in the presence of the younger and less mature. R5886:5
Grapes – Represent the fruits of the holy Spirit. R5886:3
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16 [SHE] My beloved, is, mine, and, I, am, his, he that pastureth among lilies! |
Feedeth among the lilies – Lilies are fit emblems of those who dwell in God and abide in Christ Jesus. R843:2*
Enjoying present fellowship. R303:2*
The Bridegroom himself feels the loneliness of the night. R303:4*
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17 Until the day, breathe, and the shadows, be lengthened, Again, liken thyself, my beloved, to a gazelle, or to a young stag, upon the cleft mountains. |
Until the day – The Millennial day. R303:2*
Shadows flee away – The Bride anticipates the morning of fuller joy, even while enjoying present fellowship. R303:2*
Be thou like a roe – Christ Jesus. She pleads with him not to tarry. R303:2*
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