Question: What does Song of Solomon 4:12 mean? Is the “garden enclosed,” the church of God? J. E.
Answer: The spouse in the song of Solomon is the believing remnant of the Jews. John Baptist speaks of them in John 3:29. The church of God, the body and bride of Christ, is not seen in the Old Testament, except in types and figures. It was hid in God in His purposes, and revealed to Paul and to others through him (Eph. 3:3-9).
It is quite right for us to use the language of this book as far as it would fit into our heavenly position. The bridegroom’s delight in the bride, beautifully expresses the love of Christ to His redeemed ones, but we find in her, and in ourselves, coldness and carelessness that need to be dealt with, so the trials come because there is the “needs be” (1 Peter 1:6).
In this fourth verse she is compared to a garden enclosed, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. There was the sad necessity for the north wind of adversity, and also the south wind to blow upon His garden, to get the sweetness and perfume of the spices He had endowed her with to flow out.
Then she says, “Let my Beloved come into His garden, and eat His pleasant fruits.” It is easy to see in this His dealings of love with us to bring us into and to keep us, in communion with Himself.
Question: What is the meaning of Matthew 8:19.22? N. W.
Answer: This is a lesson on discipleship—that is, on following Christ. Salvation is ours through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; only these could be true disciples; others who would turn away from the Lord deliberately, and walked no more with Him, were those who were not born again (See John 2:23-25; 6:66-71).
One that is born again has eternal life, and eternally saved through the finished work of the Lord Jesus.
(John 5:24; 10:28, 29; Eph. 2:8; Heb. 10:14). Now real believers fail in their conduct, while their standing in Christ is ever the same (Rom. 8:1).
This lesson in Matthew 8:19-22 shows us the self interest of our hearts. Was the scribe prepared to follow One who had nowhere to lay His head? And the other did not want to follow the Lord till his father was dead and buried; but the Lord said, “Follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead.”
We may be sure, if one really follows Christ, he will not neglect his home duties, nor any responsibility he has. Christ must be first. “To me to live is Christ.” (Phil. 1:21).
In Luke 9:57 to 62 we have another lesson added to the two given in Matthew. “Another also said, Lord, I will follow Thee; but let me first go and bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.”
This man also put others before Christ; he must pay attention to his friends first with a show of zeal.
The selfishness of our hearts makes us think, if we follow Christ, and put His honor first, that we shall lose our comfort, our character, and our connections; while in reality we lose nothing, for the Lord looks after our comforts with countless mercies day by day, and our sharing His rejection, brings, with the reproach, a joy in communion with Him that gladdens and strengthens our hearts.
So with our character, God looks after that. We just need to do what He bids us, and those dependent upon us will not suffer either, nor will we fail in our affection to our relatives. Obedience to the Lord takes all these in.
Well we may lose some of our friends and connections for Christ’s sake, but our true friends, will be those who seek to follow the same blessed Savior.
Question: Please explain 1 Peter 3:19. J. H. K
Answer: It refers to Noah preaching by the Spirit of Christ to the antediluvians, who are now in prison because they did not believe Him. Christ Himself did not do the preaching; there was no preaching in the prison (chapter 4:6); the gospel was preached while they were living to them that are dead.
Question: Please explain 1 John 2:20, 27. P. T
Answer: The Holy Spirit dwelling in the believer gives power and discernment to try the spirits, and thus judge what would dishonor the person of Christ as come in flesh. The Holy Spirit is the anointing, the seal, and the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts (2 Cor. 1:21, 22).