1. Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.

Her lover now extols the virtuous state of the woman of Revelation 12. Her eyes are eyes of peace and can see the truths he has given her. Her hair is her covering and beautifully covered she is.

2. Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.

He praises her ability to eat of the bread of life and multiply the blessings of the word leaving nothing barren.

3. Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.

Her words are pure and holy. Her thoughts are exalted. 

4. Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.

She is extolled as having a strong and beautiful neck. The neck is the connection between the heart and the mind.

5. Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.

Again, she is a nurturer. Her breasts and her abilities to nurture are over her heart and beautifully placed. She is innocent, soft and gentle.

6. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.

There is a mountain of myrrh, where the Savior will meet with his betrothed. He meets with her there in a special way and not as the congregation. He is alone with her there and this is a special work until her day breaks and her shadows flee away. She won't receive this in congregation because of her conflicting thoughts. In the congregation she would try to understand what others were saying while communing with her lover. She will only receive it from her lover in a place of frankincense.

7. Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

Our heavenly love does not behold spots in her. He is never of a critical nature. The woman is not bad in his eyes, and she always does that which pleases him, since he is always pleased with her and in love with her.

8. Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.

He calls her away to the high places. He wants her to see from the high places so that she will not be in the shadows having her trials and tribulations that are so often repented of. He wants her to look from the top of Amana. Amana means permanent and unmoved. Someone who cannot be moved from her peace is looking from the top of Amana. Shenir means the mountain of light and Hermon is the mountain of sacredness. She is invited to come and be with him in sacred light from which she is never moved.

9. Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.

The king's heart is ravished by her because she has poured out her love and appreciation as did Mary Magdalene. Her praise is his delight.

10. How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!

The wine represents the blood of the Savior. This blood and life have given the woman praise and thankfulness for her heavenly prince. This outpouring of love is better than the wine, for it flows from a free and thankful heart. "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." The blood of intercession is precious and necessary, but more pleasurable to God is when the woman yields up her will herself. When she seeks Him for his own sake, because she is in love with him, it is better than blood (wine). The smell of her ointments which are her anointing is better than all the prayers that ascend.

11. Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.

We have read why he extols her so. She is appreciating all of his qualities as a lover. Her words of praise are called honey and milk. He smells her and her smell is like Lebanon. Lebanon was known for its evergreen cedars. They did not lose their foliage in winter. They always had a favorable scent as the cedars of Traverseer do. This is the smell of the ointment of praise always ascending heavenward.

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

Her lover counts her as shut up unto himself. She is a fountain sealed only for his drinking. She has no other earthly lovers and interests. He has her first love, best love and in love. No one, and no thing, is given this special communion.

13. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,

Clearly the experience of Mary Magdalene. Her orchard is exalted. She poured upon Him her incense. "Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her." Matt 26:13. This is her natural exaltation which pomegranates signify.

14. Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

15. A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.

He praises all her qualities and is ravished with the singleness of her love. He sees no spot in her and says to her, "come away with me." Her character is of a pure nature and she does not have a double heart and her words are always pouring out in love for him.

16. Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

The woman sees herself as the garden of the Lord and welcomes Him to eat of her pleasant fruits planted there by him. He calls for his beloved to be blown upon by his spirit so that the heavenly qualities might not be closed up. "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." Ps 48:2. The north wind comes from the city of the great king.

— Submitted by "Faithful"

To Song of Solomon - Chapter Five

Posted on 7-17-00