Cantar de los cantares 4 (Spanish RV 1909)

• The word "wind" is sometimes used in scripture, in reference to the Holy Spirit; and this verse is like the Lord praying for the different operations of the Spirit, in the hearts of His beloved people. (“Song of Solomon 4” by A. Miller)

• There are spices--"chief spices" in His vineyard, but something is needed to cause them to flow out. He has just been walking in His garden, surveying His pleasant plants, and calling them by their names. (“Song of Solomon 4” by A. Miller)

• The balmy branches yield not to the breath of the Spirit, so that the rich perfume is not collected by, and carried on, the breeze. "Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south." is now the patient husbandman's cry, "blow upon my garden." A sharp, keen blast from the north, or the genial gales of the south, may be employed to awaken, quicken, and arouse the Lord's people from a state of sad supineness. But, oh! sweet thought! He to whom the garden belongs, and who knows well every plant that is in it, holds in His hand the breath that fans, and the whirlwind that sweeps. And for all His tender, precious plants He carefully adjusts the due proportion of the north and the south wind. (“Song of Solomon 4” by A. Miller)

• "A little while," and they shall all be transplanted to the more genial clime of the paradise above. There the piercing north wind of affliction, chastening, and discipline shall no longer be needed. (“Song of Solomon 4” by A. Miller)

• "Let my beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits." These few are the only words which we have from the lips of the bride in this wonderful chapter. But they are happy, blessed words. "My beloved." She is at home and happy in His presence. He, Himself, is hers. She knows it. She enjoys it. (“Song of Solomon 4” by A. Miller)

• The Bride. (4:16). “Let my Beloved come into His garden, And eat its precious fruits.” (“Canticle 3: The Communion of Love” by H. Smith)

• Let us remember the garden is not ours but the Lord's, as the King can say in the Song "My garden" (vs. 16). It is "enclosed" for the Lord; the spring is to water His garden; the precious fruits are for His delight; and if the streams of living water flow from the garden it is only to rear plants for the garden. Keeping this in mind, how careful should we be of any neglect that would render the garden of the Lord unfruitful. (“Canticle 3: The Communion of Love” by H. Smith)

• The King calls for the cold blast from the north, and the scorching wind from the south, to blow upon His garden and thus make the spices thereof flow forth. Thus, it is the Lord often calls for the contrary winds of this world to blow upon His people to call forth from them the precious fruits of His own grace. (“Canticle 3: The Communion of Love” by H. Smith)

• The bride, taking up the figure used by the King, seems to say, "If I am a garden, and if the King can see in His garden a paradise of precious fruits, then let my Beloved come into His garden, and eat its precious fruits." In the eyes of the bride the garden would be but a poor place without the presence of the King. (“Canticle 3: The Communion of Love” by H. Smith)

• There has been some question as to the identity of the first speaker in verse sixteen. It is very evident that the one who speaks in the last sentence is the bride, but is it the bride or the bridegroom in the first part of the verse? “Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out.” If it is the bridegroom who is speaking, then he it is who is calling on the winds to blow upon what he calls, “my garden,” the heart of his bride, in order that she may be at her best for him. If, on the other hand, as I am personally inclined to believe, it is the bride who is speaking, then it indicates her yearning desire to be all that he would have her to be. (“Song of Solomon 4:12-5:1” by H.A. Ironside)

• “Awake, O north wind.” That is the cold, bitter, biting, wintry blast. Naturally she would shrink from that as we all would, and yet the cold of winter is as necessary as the warmth of summer if there is going to be perfection in fruit-bearing. It is as though she says, “Blessed God, if need be, let Thy Spirit breathe upon me through trial and sorrow, and difficulty and perplexity; take from me all in which I have trusted from the human standpoint; bereave me of everything if Thou wilt; leave me cold, naked, and alone except for Thy love, but work out Thy will in me.” (“Song of Solomon 4:12-5:1” by H.A. Ironside)

• The best apples are grown in northern climes where frost and cold have to be faced. Those grown in semi-tropical countries are apt to be tasteless and insipid. It takes the cold to bring out the flavor. And it is so with our lives. We need the north winds of adversity and trial as well as the zephyrs of the south so agreeable to our natures. (“Song of Solomon 4:12-5:1” by H.A. Ironside)

• “Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.” How He delights to get such an invitation as that from His people. He responds to her immediately, for the first verse of chapter five really belongs to this section. She no sooner says, “Come,” than he replies, “I am come into my garden.” (“Song of Solomon 4:12-5:1” by H.A. Ironside)

J. N. Darby Translation

Awake, north wind, and come, thou south; Blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow forth. Let my beloved come into his garden, And eat its precious fruits.