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With New Testament Eyes: 72 - My Beloved is Mine and I am His

By Henry Mahan


      Song of Solomon 2:1-17

      Solomon, next to our Lord Jesus, was the greatest son of wisdom that the church of God has ever known (1 Kings 4:29- 32).

      God blessed him with 'largeness of heart.' His love and affection are evidenced by his many wives, which were his undoing. But true understanding and love will always be found together.

      Though Solomon spoke over 3000 proverbs and 1500 songs, 'The Song of Solomon' is his most profound and beautiful work. God used the man of greatest wisdom to write on the greatest subject--love--the love of Christ and his church!

      Other writings of Solomon are more obvious and open to common understanding; but, as none entered into the holy of holies except the High Priest, so none can enter into the beauties and mysteries of the Song of Solomon except those who know and love the bridegroom--Christ Jesus! Read Titus 1:15.

      In this chapter there is a conversation between Christ and his church in which they alternately set forth the excellencies of each other and express their affection for and the delight and pleasure they take in each other's company.

      v. 1. These are the words of Christ concerning himself. He compares himself to the rose and the lily for fragrance and beauty (Isa. 35:1-2). He is to be preferred above all, for he is above all (Phil. 2:9-11).

      v. 2. He says that his church is 'the lily among thorns,' beauty among ugliness! He calls the church 'my love;' and, though growing among thorns and unfruitful tares, he declares her beauty and his love for her.

      v. 3. The church declares that Christ is as an apple tree among the barren trees of the forest. It is said that the apple tree is a symbol of love, under which lovers sat (Song of Sol. 8:5). To send or throw an apple meant love. Christ is our apple tree for shade, rest, and fruit.

      v. 4. 'He brought me to the banqueting house.' By his invincible grace he sought me, called me, and brought me. The house of God is the place where we feed upon him and his word. All that the church needs is satisfied there. Our reason for being there is because he loved us (1 John 4:10, 19). We are not guests only, we are the bride.

      v. 5. 'Stay me,' or sustain me with vessels of wine poured out and comfort me with tokens and reminders of love (apples), for I am 'sick with love;' that is, I am eagerly desirous to know more of his love (Phil. 3:10). The church never gets enough of Christ Jesus.

      v. 6. He loves his church, he feeds his church, he comforts his church, and he holds and supports his church with both hands, as a lover embraces his beloved. He will not let her go nor suffer her to leave (Heb. 13:5-6).

      v. 7. There is much debate about who is speaking here, whether Christ of the church or the church of Christ: but one thing is clear--he is sovereign! No force, power, nor person can disturb him nor his church 'till he pleases' (Psalm 115:1-3).

      vv. 8-9. The church relates how she heard the voice of Christ (John 10:27) and had a sight of him as a young deer on the hills and mountains, at some distance (as in the shadows and types of the Old Testament), then nearer, behind her wall and through the lattices (in part and through a glass dimly-I Cor. 13:9, 12).

      v. 10. The voice of Christ (which the church heard) gave her a call to come away with him. 'My love, my fair one' (terms of endearment), rise up from where you are, what you are doing, whom you are with, and 'come with me' (Matt. 11:28-30). He called outwardly by his word and inwardly by his Spirit (Gal. 1:15; James 1:18; 1 Thess. 2:13-14). His call is an effectual call.

      None who hear his voice in grace and mercy will refuse to come to him.

      vv. 11-13. Before he came to us in love and before we heard his voice, it was as winter in our souls, dark with sin, cold and barren and dead. We were under judgment for sin and driven by the winds of Satan's temptations. The winter is past; it is summer in our hearts. We have been redeemed by his blood and are free to go in and out. The flowers bloom, the birds sing, and the sun of righteousness shines upon us.

      v. 14. The church is called his dove, partly for her temperament (because she is harmless, innocent, and beautiful in his grace) and partly for her dove-like condition (because she is weak and exposed to persecution and trial and given to mourning).

      Therefore, she is called to hide in him, the rock, and in his secret places for protection. 'Cast your care upon him.' He says to the church, 'Let me see your face in communion and worship; let me hear your voice in prayer and praise; for your voice is sweet to me and your countenance comely.'

      v. 15. 'Put away the little foxes'--our flesh, thoughts, infirmities that war against the soul; for, like tender grapes, we are children beset within and without by terrible foes (Eph. 6:12).

      v. 16. These two statements are strong and positive.

      'My beloved is mine.'

      1. By divine decree he is mine. 'Thou gavest them me' (John 17:6-10).

      2. By a living union he is my vine, head, and husband.

      3. By faith he is mine, for I have believed and received him according to thy word.

      4. By an affectionate relationship he is mine. He is 'my beloved.'

      'I am his.' I belong to him.

      1. The Father gave me to him (John 6:37-39).

      2. He purchased me on the cross of Calvary. 'Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price' (1 Cor. 6:19- 20).

      v. 17. He is mine and I am his until the morning of that great and blessed day of resurrection when all shadows shall flee away.

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See Also:
   Foreward & Acknowledgements
   1 - The Fall
   2 - Abel's Offering
   3 - The Ark Of Noah
   4 - Sarah and Hagar; Law and Grace
   5 - The Lord Will Provide
   6 - A Bride for the Heir
   7 - Bethel - The House of God
   8 - Peniel - The Face of God
   9 - Joseph Opens the Storehouses
   10 - Joseph and His Brothers
   11 - Shiloh
   12 - The Passover
   13 - The Manna
   14 - Water from the rock
   15 - The Blood Before the Lord
   16 - The Ram of Consecration
   17 - The Day of Atonement
   18 - Caleb - The Faithful Dog
   19 - The High Priest Intercedes
   20 - The Brazen Serpent
   21 - A Prophet Like Moses
   22 - The Cities of Refuge
   23 - Joshua
   24 - The Scarlet Line in the Window
   25 - The birth of Samson
   26 - The Kinsman Redeemer
   27 - The Song of Hannah
   28 - Give us a King
   29 - Saul's Great Sin
   30 - David and Mephibosheth
   31 - Why God Permitted David to Fall
   32 - Comfort from God's Covenant
   33 - I Will Not Offer to God that which Cost me Nothing
   34 - The Queen of Sheba Comes to Solomon
   35 - Three Examples of Faith
   36 - Where is the Lord God of Elijah?
   37 - Empty Vessels Filled
   38 - Naaman, the Leper
   39 - Open his Eyes that He may See
   40 - Four Lepers Teach us a Lesson
   41 - Nehushtan--A Piece of Brass
   42 - Bringing Back the Ark
   43 - Uzziah's Great Transgression
   44 - Four Things Learned in Trouble
   45 - How Can Man be Just With God?
   46 - Three Vital Questions
   47 - I Know that my Redeemer Liveth
   48 - Now Mine Eye Seeth Thee
   49 - The Psalm of Messiah the King
   50 - God's two great books
   51 - The Psalm of the Cross
   52 - The Lord is my Shepherd
   53 - True God - True Israel - True Redeemer
   54 - Eight Great Precepts
   55 - My Hope is in Thee
   56 - Many, O Lord, Are Thy Wonderful Works
   57 - A Song of Love
   58 - The Sinner's Prayer
   59 - My Rock and my Salvation
   60 - Our Lord's Sufferings for Our Sins
   61 - Mercy and Truth are Met Together
   62 - The Victory of the Messiah
   63 - Bless the Lord, O my Soul
   64 - Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So
   65 - The King-Priest
   66 - The Chief Cornerstone
   67 - The Observer and the Observed
   68 - Praise the Lord O my Soul
   69 - Wisdom in Christ
   70 - The Conclusion of the Whole Matter
   71 - Remember Now Thy Creator
   72 - My Beloved is Mine and I am His
   73 - What is Thy Beloved more than Another Beloved?
   74 - The Lord Our Righteousness
   75 - The Believers Hope
   76 - From Nothing to Everything
   77 - Lost, Driven Away, Broken, Sick
   78 - Can These Bones Live?
   79 - Four Things God Taught Nebuchadnezzar
   80 - Thy God Will Deliver Thee
   81 - Hosea--Type of Christ
   82 - A Famine to be Feared
   83 - Salvation is of the Lord
   84 - A Fountain Opened for Mourners
   85 - The Messenger of the Covenant

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