Song of Solomon, Chapter 2
In this song one singer says, “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valley.” We know this did not mean the singer was a flower, but flowers speak of cheer and beauty. This one had been given beauty by her Beloved through His goodness, not her own.
Sharon was a place where most beautiful roses grew; lovely lilies grew in the valleys; these flowers may not have been the same as those of our land, but all teach of purity and joy.
You may have heard the Lord Jesus spoken, or sung of, as “The Lily of the Valley”, and He is the “fairest” of all to His people, but in this Song it seems to be said of His people, they are “lovely” by His goodness, not their own. And they may by gentle ways show His beauty to those about them, as the lilies grow, even in rough, wild places (Verse 2).
The Beloved one is said to be like a fruit tree.
“As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved.... I sat down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste” (Verse 3).
God’s people need His “shade” from troubles about them,—if they will but “sit down” in His care, they will find also His “fruit”, or what He gives them, is “sweet”.
The singer next speaks of her loved one as a roe or young hart (deer) which runs so swiftly, yet quietly, on the mountains, as they leap from one high place to anotr, and she means her Beloved will appear quickly.
Then she hears the voice of her beloved, and she is very happy; there are no two voices alike, and we like to hear the voice of one we love. This singer tells the meage her Beloved sings.
“My beloved shake, and said unto me, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the sinng of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; the fig tree putteth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away” (Verses 10-13).
These words seem to be a promise of a time when the troubles of Israel, “the wier” and “rain”, will be “over,” and the pleasant summer of blessings will come for them. The fig tree is not like most trees, its fruit starts before its leaves, and in that time there will be “fruit” from them for God. Their Redeemer will appear suddenly, as the deer on the mountains.
There is a promise in Scripture of a call to those who now believe in the Lord Jesus. This call is to come quickly, “in the twinkling of an eye”, when He will call His loved ones away from sorrows, not for blessings of earth, but to be with Him in Heaven.
To hear His Voice then, we must first listen now, when He calls as Saviour, and believe Him. Then we can wait with all His people for these words of such cheer:
“Arise, My love, My fair one, and come away.”
ML 09/07/1941