Song of Solomon, Chapter 4
This song tells much of a lovely garden, where the rarest plants, trees, and flowers grew, which gave off sweet perfume, and where there were choice fruits. It was enclosed by a wall, or hedge, so none could intrude, and seems to have been used as a living room in that warm land. The rare plants were brought from distant places, and given the best of care.
We would not know the plants named, but since they are also spoken of in other scriptures, they must be meant to teach us lessons.
Many pomegranate trees grew in that land, and this garden had an “orchard” of them with their “pleasant fruit”; the fruit is of a deep red color, and filled with very juicy pulp, often used as a drink (Chap. 8:2), and very many seeds, which seem to teach us of what was, refreshing, and also would grow much fruit for others (Deut, 8:8).
The spikenard plants were the most rare, said to have been brought from the high mountains of India; so sweet oil of spikenard was very costly. It was what Mary used to anoint the Lord Jesus in honor of His giving up His life, and the perfume filled the house. That act was always to be told, which shows it is always pleasing to God, and precious for others, for God’s people to remember and honor the death of the Lord Jesus.
The trees from which myrrh, aloes, and frankincense were taken may not have been as rare as the spikenard, but they too were prized, brought from Arabia, India or other lands; Myrrh and aloes were the fragrant oils or spice, and were what a rich man brought to wrap with the clothes Of Jesus when they carefully laid Him in the tomb. Frankincense was a very fragrant powder made of dried gum of the tree crushed fine. It was burned as incense in the temple, and, with myrrh, was brought, as a suitable gift for a king, by the wise men to Jesus, when a young child; so this sweet incense seems to teach that the life of Jesus was most pleasing to God and man (Matt, 2:11).
There were also cinnamon and other sweet spices growing in this garden. The woman of the song is said to be like this garden; and she sang,
“Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruit.”
So God can take pleasure in His people because of Christ and His death, for all the garden seems to teach of Him. His people now may, by the Holy Spirit, have what is pleasing for Him.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Gal. 5:22, 2322But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22‑23).
Do you think those are like rare fruits?Christ, Himself is the Fountain of Life of this garden; and the Word of God; the streams to keep it watered (Verse 15).
The Beloved called the winds to blow the sweet odors of this garden: the north wind is less gentle than the south wind; perhaps these teach that trials and joys are both to cause praise to the Lord.
ML 09/21/1941