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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Song of Solomon 2:8 - 2:17
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The Mutual Call of Love
v. 8. The voice of my Beloved! So Shulamith calls out, anxiously awaiting the coming of the Bridegroom. Behold, He cometh, leaping upon the mountains, skipping, or bounding, upon the hills, in an excess of youthful vigor and strength.
v. 9. My Beloved is like a roe, the Palestinian gazelle, or a young hart. Behold, He standeth behind our wall, that of her home; He looketh forth at the windows, that is, through the windows, showing Himself through the lattice, eagerly searching for His bride.
v. 10. My Beloved spake and said unto me, or, "speaks and says to me," Rise up, My love, My companion, My fair one, and come away, leaving the house.
v. 11. For, lo, the winter, the season of clouds, the time of rain, is past, the rain is over and gone, so that the in-clemencies of the season no longer keep people in the houses;
v. 12. the flowers appear on the earth, they are seen in the land with the coming of spring; the time of the singing of birds is come, for the mating songs of the various birds called for a similar response on the part of men, and the voice of the turtle, that is, the turtle-dove, the harbinger of spring, is heard in our land;
v. 13. the fig-tree putteth forth her green figs, rather, "spices its fruit," for the latent figs of autumn now matured, and the vines with the tender grape, being in blossom, give a good smell, fill the air with their rich fragrance. Arise, My love, My companion, My fair one, and come away.
v. 14. O My dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, secure and protected, in the secret places of the stairs, the ladders of rock or the cliffs, let Me see thy countenance, her entire form, let Me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. And the bride yields to His entreaties, saying,
v. 15. Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines, injuring the roots and gnawing the young shoots; for our vines have tender grapes, literally, "our vineyards are in bloom. "
v. 16. My Beloved is mine, the bride has the full right to Him and all His gifts and blessings, and I am His, in a happy surrender of faith; He feedeth among the lilies, wherever He abides, joy and loveliness are about Him.
v. 17. Until the day break, namely, that of eternity, and the shadows, those of this present world with its manifold troubles, flee away, turn, my Beloved, to visit and remain with the bride, and be Thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether, on cleft mountains, symbols of youthful vigor and strength.
The Church, having gained inner strength through the blessings of the Gospel, is now ready to heed the call of Christ. She sees Him approaching in the full vigor of His merciful power, He comes to visit her, to call her forth to enjoy the beauties which He has prepared, and to be active in His interest. He tells her that the period of afflictions is past for the time being, that a new and favorable time of grace has dawned. His invitation and appeal is clothed in the gentlest and most appealing words, irresistible to the heart filled with true faith. And the Church responds by calling upon its own members, especially its pastors and teachers, to stop the destructive work of false prophets, who make use of every new awakening in the Church to do damage to Christ's vine. At the same time the Church affirms her loyalty to Christ and her trust in His love and power, knowing that His merciful presence is in the midst of His believers. And all this is done in the certainty of the Lord's final return to lead His bride to the eternal marriage-feast in heaven.