Ver. 1. “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” “What a wondrous thing grace is—the grace of God to sinners! What mighty changes it effects in those who know it, as to their thoughts, objects, desires, and affections. It gives us the mind of the Lord as to what we are in His sight, and to His heart. Here, mark it well, my soul, and meditate deeply thereon. The fountain is deep, drink freely.
To know grace, is to know God, and His full salvation by Jesus Christ, through the teaching and power of the Holy Spirit. But a little while ago, and the Bride was confessing, “I am black........black as the tents of Kedar,” and now, through grace, she can say, and say in truth, nothing doubting, “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys”—The very crown and ornament of Sharon—the very beauty and sweetness of the valleys. And mark, too, that she says, “The rose........The lily.” She speaks not in general terms of her attractions to the Bridegroom, but in the most definite way. She is not vainly boasting to others of what she is, but addressing Himself directly, in the happy consciousness of her own place in His heart. There is full communion, for He immediately adds, “As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.” And further on in the book, He says plainly, “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.” Such is the distinguishing love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and such is the special place which the Bride has in His sight. He always goes beyond her in the expression of affection. This is most blessed to the heart. How widely different is the beautiful, fragrant lily to the lacerating thorn!
There are many who say, when they hear such truth, “Ο, I am not worthy of such a place.” Quite true, if you speak of your own worthiness. But what place do you think you are worthy of? If not this one, an inferior one, I suppose. But is this humility? No, friend, it is pride of heart. We are worthy of no place at all in His presence. Consequently, any place there, must he pure, sovereign grace. To be within the threshold, would be as pure grace, as to be on the throne.
The prodigal son, no doubt, thought that it would be very humble in him to say, “Make me as one of thy hired servants.” But this was remaining pride and legality of heart, not humility. All such thoughts spring from the natural heart which is essentially proud and legal, and utterly ignorant, both of its own condition, and of the grace of God. True humility is seen standing afar off, and confessing that it is not worthy to lift up so much as its eyes to heaven. (Luke 18) The prodigal had no more title to be received as a servant than as a son. He had forfeited all claim on the ground of righteousness. He had but one plea to offer; viz., his pressing need. He could only be met in grace. Had he been met in righteousness, he would have been condemned forever. But grace reigns; nothing is said about his sins. He could not have answered for one of a thousand. The question of sin was settled between God and Christ on the cross. And now, grace shines, and shines in all its heavenly brightness. The Father’s heart is the spring, and He has His own joy in it all. He acts from Himself, and as Himself. The prodigal’s pre-meditated speech is interrupted; he never gets to the part which says, “Make me as one of thy hired servants.” How could he? Grace prevents; the Father ran to meet him, fell on his neck and kissed him. Reconciliation is expressed and accomplished the moment they meet. He receives the kiss of peace at once; grace is free. God having received the atonement on the cross, we receive the reconciliation the moment we meet Him in Christ.
And now, being reconciled through the blood of the cross; the once lost, ruined, and degraded one is made a son and an heir—an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ. This is grace—the grace of God in Christ Jesus, to all who believe in His name. And, further, the same one shall shine in grace, and be the vessel of its display throughout the countless ages of eternity. As age after age rolls on in countless numbers, those who have been the subjects of that grace in time, shall continue to shine in its ever-increasing brightness. Oh! what a place for the once poor, friendless, homeless, outcast one to occupy, and that forever. But God is establishing His character for grace, and such are the suited vessels for its glorious and eternal display, in the house of many mansions. “ That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:77That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7).
Ver. 3. “As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood so is my Beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” Learned men have searched and written much, endeavoring to prove the particular kind of rose and lily that are referred to in the first verse, and the particular kind of tree in the third. Most say that what is here called “The rose of Sharon,” belongs to the lily tribe, and should be translated, “The Narcissus of Sharon.” Many different opinions have also been given, as to the particular flower here meant by the “lily.” And many good, and learned men too, have thought, that in the first verse we have the voice of the Bridegroom, not of the Bride. And many, alas, who have written, and written much, have been more occupied with the flowers than the persons. But surely in the second verse, the Bridegroom owns the speaker in the first verse to be His loved one. “As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.” All are agreed that this is the voice of the Beloved. In the first verse, we have no doubt, the Bride as the speaker. She is acknowledging in the joy of communion, what He in His grace has made her, that all her beauty in His sight, as well as the affections of her heart for Himself, are His own creation. And in comparing herself with these beautiful flowers, she is only repeating what He Himself has taught her.
But mark well, my soul, that she says, “I am the lily of the valleys”—not of the cities. In the quiet vale she finds her native soil and breathes her native air. There she blooms for the eye of her Beloved, and sheds her fragrance for his refreshment. “He feedeth among the lilies.” It was in the city where she lost the joys of His presence; and where she was insulted and unveiled by the watchmen. These were her wandering, backsliding moments. Oh! how much better for her, had she never left her native valleys! My soul, here pause a little. Meditate on these things. At a distance—far from the stream and spirit of this world—in heart, far from its attractions, study that which will be pleasing to the eye of Jesus, and refreshing to His heart. Oh! wondrous truth! that He who is seated on the throne of God in heaven, and surrounded with its glory, should yet think at all of such good-for-nothing ones as we are, and, most of all, to be pleased and delighted, or grieved and wounded, by the character of our ways! Alas I that He should be so frequently wounded in the house of His friends! Oh! is there one thing under the sun, that should give thee such unfeigned pleasure, as to please Him? Canst thou think of anything more unworthy of a Christian, than his seeking to please himself, and to find pleasure in the things of the world? Especially when he knows, as men speak, it is to grieve the heart of One, whom only he should find His supreme delight in pleasing- the One who died for him on Calvary.
Having well-judged thy heart and ways on this solemn subject, let thy care, love, and sympathy go out after others, especially the young of the flock, for the Lord’s glory. How beautiful to the eye of Jesus now, and how refreshing to His heart to see those for whom He died walking happily and steadfastly in the footsteps of the flock, and feeding beside the shepherds’ tents. There the tender budding grass is found, and the quiet waters flow. But oh! how grieving both to the chief, and to the under shepherds to witness, it may be, a dear young disciple, who seemed for awhile to be all heart for the Lord, yielding to the arguments of unconverted friends and to the attractions of the world, and, by and by, making excuses for a measure of conformity to the fashion of the world. Must I give up this—and must I give up that? such will sometimes say. Rather think, my brother, my sister, on what you gave up, in the first place, in order to enjoy these things. Most solemn thought! For these follies and vanities you gave up Christ. I mean as to your experimental enjoyment of Him. You know that you cannot enjoy the Lord and these things at the same time. And now, you must give up these for Christ. But do you hesitate for a moment? Look to the cross! “Ο how He loves”—Ο how He dies, and dies for thee—and for these very sins! Oh! cast thyself at His blessed feet in true godly sorrow. Thou hast offended His eye, thou hast grieved His heart, thou hast dishonored His name; confess all to Him; and thy restoration shall be perfect, and all thy past sins shall be forgiven and forgotten forever.
But until this is done, spirituality of mind, earnestness of heart, and communion with the Lord are interrupted. It is a solemn case of backsliding. And unless the Lord clog the wheels of the chariot, who can tell how fast and how far it may run down the hill. Sometimes an accident will happen and stop it suddenly, but with much damage, the scars of which may remain forever. Ο Lord, let Thy grace shine forth; and allure many into the wilderness who keep too near the world’s borders, and too often cast a wishful glance over the line of separation. Wean them from this present evil world. Let them be arrayed in the meek and lowly beauties of the lily, for Thee alone. Suffer them not to appear adorned for the eye of the world. Surely, most blessed Lord, to hear Thee saying, “As the lily among thorns so is my love among the daughters,” would infinitely more than recompense for all our self-denial.
We are told by those who have traveled in the East, that the apple-tree of this country is not what is here meant; but, most likely, the rich citron-tree of Palestine. The thick dark green foliage of the citron boughs affords a most convenient shelter from the rays of the sun, and its delicious fruit is most fragrant and refreshing. Compared with the common trees of the wood, it must be an object of great beauty and interest to the eye of the weary traveler. So the spouse compares her Beloved with all others. “As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons.” There is none like Christ. He is “the chiefest among ten thousand.” She is in the full enjoyment of Himself. Not of His gifts merely, blessed as these are, but of Himself.
There is now, observe, full personal communion. She is in the cloudless light of His favor. The response is perfect: “As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.” “As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons.” What has grace wrought! See where it leads to! Could the Jew ever have reached the bosom of God by climbing the rugged cliffs of Sinai? Ah, no! It must be all grace from first to last. Here we see perfect reconciliation and communion. The Lord rests in His love; as it is written, “He will rest in his love, he will joy over them with singing.” (Zeph. 3:1717The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17).) The Bride too, is now enjoying perfect repose in that unchanging love. “I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.’’ Here her soul finds rest, joy, and abundance. The heart is feeding on Christ. Every need is met. She is in her own happy place now. She once had another place. The place, alas, of sin and death. But the Lord has delivered her out of it, and brought her into His own—His new place as the risen Messiah. And this is now her place: she cannot be in both. “I raised thee up under the apple-tree” The apple-tree is Christ.
Israel, we know, shall ere long be raised up from their present condition of national death, to enjoy the blessings of the new covenant under Christ. But they can only be raised up by Christ, and come unto blessing under Christ. Mercy is their only ground, helpless necessity their only plea, and Christ their only way. When it comes to this, all is well, forever well, both with Jew and Gentile. Israel shall yet be gathered on this ground, and under this blessed Head. Then shall they sit under His shadow in the fullest sense, and find His fruit sweet to their taste—the glorious fruits of His wondrous love in dying for the rebellious nation. “And so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, there shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” (Rom. 11:2626And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:26).) “In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbor under his vine and under his fig-tree,” Zech. 3:1010In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree. (Zechariah 3:10).
“Hail, blessed scene of endless joy!
Where Jesus shall forever reign;
Where nothing hurtful shall annoy,
But gladness fill the happy plain.
Free from all sin, and free from fear,
None shall e’er sigh or shed a tear.”