Song of Solomon 4 (KJV With Strong's)

• She is all, and only for Him. Her eyes wander not after another. She is perfectly content with her portion in her Well-beloved. Christ is enough. (“Song of Solomon 4” by A. Miller)

• (Deut. 32:8, 9.) Much may be gathered from this interesting truth as to the place which Israel occupies in the thoughts and purposes of God. This central spot has already been the scene of events far surpassing all others in their importance and results. (“Song of Solomon 4” by A. Miller)

• {v.12-14} (Deut. 8:7-9.) From the rich and varied productions of the Holy Land, the comparisons of our text seem to be drawn. The spouse of the Lord is here likened to a " garden," an " orchard," " a fountain;" so replenished is she with all that is pleasant and fruitful to Him-so varied are the graces of the Holy Spirit in her-there is abundance for the heart of her Lord. (“Song of Solomon 4” by A. Miller)

• {v.12-14} The "garden" may be celebrated for its choice collection of flowers, aromatic shrubs, and all pleasant plants; the "orchard," for all manner of trees, bearing precious fruit, and the "fountain," that which irrigates the whole scene....What a breadth and depth of thought this should give us, of what the people of God ought to be for Him, in this world! Like the choicest of gardens, compared with the barren "waste howling wilderness." (“Song of Solomon 4” by A. Miller)

• Her garden is closed against all others-the royal seal is affixed on the King's fountain; the living waters spring for Him alone. "Know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself." (Psa. 4:3.) No stranger must be allowed to tamper with that on which the King's seal is affixed. (“Song of Solomon 4” by A. Miller)

• The words "enclosed," "shut up," "sealed," forcibly suggest the thought of the believer's entire and well-defined separation from the world-like a piece of ground that has been reclaimed from the common around; well fenced, well planted, well cared for; and kept for the owner's especial use and pleasure. (“Song of Solomon 4” by A. Miller)

• The King proceeds to liken her to a garden enclosed, thus setting forth how completely the bride is set apart for His delight. (“Canticle 3: The Communion of Love” by H. Smith)

• Let us first remember that the garden of the Lord is "a garden enclosed." This speaks of separation, preservation, and sanctification. (“Canticle 3: The Communion of Love” by H. Smith)

• (cf. Isa. 1:30 and 58:11). And so, the garden of the King has its "spring shut up, and fountain sealed." It is not dependent upon the surrounding desert for its supply, the spring is within the garden. And so, with the Lord's people; they have a secret source of supply, the Holy Spirit. (“Canticle 3: The Communion of Love” by H. Smith)

• A spring yields an unfailing supply, a fountain an abundant supply rising up to its source. The Holy Spirit is not only an unfailing spring, abiding with us, and meeting all our needs throughout our pilgrim path, but He is also a fountain within the believer springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14). (“Canticle 3: The Communion of Love” by H. Smith)

• A watered garden set apart for our Lord Himself to bring forth fruit that will be to His delight. It is a lovely figure, one used on a number of other occasions in Scripture. In the fifty-eighth chapter of the prophet Isaiah, God pictures His people as such a garden. In verse eleven, He says, “The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” This is a beautiful picture. Primarily it refers to Israel, and morally it speaks of any believer....Jer. 31:12. (“Song of Solomon 4:12-5:1” by H.A. Ironside)

• In Syria and in other parts of the old land, they have many enclosed gardens, gardens that are walled in. This is necessary in some of those countries, as otherwise they would be destroyed by marauding creatures and robbers. It is as though the Lord says, “That is what I want My people to be, separated to Myself; I want them to have about them the wall of holiness, for I have marked them off as My own.” (“Song of Solomon 4:12-5:1” by H.A. Ironside)

• If one turns away from the world for love of Him, then separation is a very precious thing indeed, and one does not need to think of it as legal bondage, for it is being set apart for God Himself. (“Song of Solomon 4:12-5:1” by H.A. Ironside)

• “A spring shut up, a fountain sealed.” Pure water is a very precious thing in the far East and so often, when a spring is discovered, it is walled about, covered, and locked, and the owner of it keeps the key so that he can go and drink when he will, and the water is kept from pollution and waste. That is what our Lord would have in His people. He has given His Holy Spirit to dwell in us, and the Holy Spirit is Himself the Fountain of Water within every believer’s heart, that we might be to His praise and to His glory. This living water within the garden will, of course, result in abundant fruit and flowers. (“Song of Solomon 4:12-5:1” by H.A. Ironside)

J. N. Darby Translation

A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; A spring shut up, a fountain sealed.