Exegesis by Watchman Nee
- Jonathan loved David because of David’s real victory over mighty Goliath, but the Shulamite loved Solomon for himself alone. In the same way, believers are not to love the Lord Jesus merely as Jonathan did David for conquering enemies but rather as the Shulamite did Solomon, for His own worth. Let us know Him as the reigning King and to be by His side as the object of His supreme affection.
- View by the Gospel of Matthew is of the matter of responsibility; the relationship is that of Sovereign to subordinate. View by the Song of Songs is of the matter of communion, the relationship is that of husband to wife.
- Ecclesiastes speaks of a life of wandering, the Song speaks of rest from wandering. Ecclesiastes tells us that one can not obtain satisfaction through knowledge alone; the Song tells that man can reach satisfaction only through love. Ecclesiastes relates the pursuit of all things under the sun; the Song relates to the pursuit of the Son or things in Christ.
- What is sought after in the Song is the right thing and the way is right; therefore the consummation is the supreme blessedness.
Intense Longing (1:2-3)
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—For your love is better than wine.
- This is not the father’s kiss on the neck of the returning prodigal son. The kiss represents forgiveness. Nor the kiss on the cheek like Judas did, or kiss on the feet like Mary Magdalene did. The kisses of his mouth express a most personal and intimate love. A longing to go much further than the ordinary believer.
- This explain how a believer is brought from a position of intense need to complete satisfaction.
- How one is able to have such intense spiritual longing for the Lord Jesus Christ? The answer lies in spiritual vision. The Holy Spirit is evidently able to give vision to some which He can not give to average believers.
- “Thy love is better than wine” refers to Christ’s love. Because of this revelation, souls long for the “kisses of His mouth.” All the wine of earth – the sweetest and most excellent product this world can achieve. The things under the sun which men value most offer no comparison to Thy love.
3 Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment poured forth;
Therefore the virgins love you.4 Draw me, we will run after Thee!
Jesus received every kind of precious fragrance from the Holy Spirit. The loveliness and fragrance of His good ointments refer to the human graces of Jesus divine life. Jesus has a name so sweet that draws me to Him. The ointment has been poured out and we scent the fragrance of His sacrificial love. Who can fathom the inmost fragrance of it?
A believer can not love impersonal power, only can love a person with living personality.
Walking in this spiritual way, then, this loved maiden is far from being alone. Indeed, she is simply one of many virgins.
Although believers have fervent desires to seek the Lord, yet they can not because at the same time, they become conscious of inadequate strength for such pursuit. The power to pursue is given by the Holy Spirit and it is not that alone but the revelation of Jesus will draw us to Himself by His own beauty and magnificent glory. The drawing power of Jesus generates the pursuing power in us.
If the Lord draws us by the revelation of Himself through His Spirit, then the seeking after Him is relatively easy.
If the Lord draws, then “we will run after Thee.” To run after means a continuous desire. We need the help from the Holy Spirit to run after the Lord with continuous desire.
It is I who am drawn but it is we who run after Him. Whenever an individual believer receives grace from the presence of the Lord, other believers receive favorable impressions.
The king has brought me into his chambers. We will remember your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you.
His chamber is His secret place, a place of intimate nearness. If there is no affectional relationship, one would never conduct another into His secret place. By bringing the maiden into His chamber, the King marked the beginning of an intimate communion with her and of special revelation to her. In that bridal chamber, she would taste a fellowship never known before and would see things she had never seen before.
Before we recognize the Lord as the beloved bridegroom we must first recognize Him as the reigning King. Complete dedication to His rule and authority always precedes a life of intimate love and devotion.
The way of the future is limitless. Having had experience of the present with the King, believers are now filled with hope for the time to come. Believers love God without mixed motives and their love of Him stems from a pure heart and a good conscience.
Tell me, O you whom I love, Where you feed your flock,Where you make it rest at noon.
For why should I be as one who [f]veils herself By the flocks of your companions?
Believers can be turned aside if they follow men of God instead of being gathered to the Lord Himself. In the searching for food and rest for soul, turn to the Shepherd.
if you do not know, O fairest among women, [g]Follow in the footsteps of the flock,
And feed your little goats , Beside the shepherds’ ten
Footsteps of the flock refer to the footprints of all departed saints who found their own full satisfaction in Christ alone. Footprints speak of vital experience, examples of dedication, faith, trust, waiting upon the Lord and in seeking God’s will in singleness of heart and fervent prayer.
While the king is at his table, My spikenard sends forth its fragrance. A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, that lies all night between my breasts.
“While the king is at His table” represent what the maiden has in the enjoyment of the full abundance of the Lord’s provision. First, the food is made of flour or meal substance. The perfect Manhood of Lord Jesus, His own holy life. Second, food of meat substance. The Lord’s accomplishment, His work and sacrificial death so believers may have intimate communion with Him in His enthroned life.
How do we partake of this sacrifice which is so well-pleasing to God? When God looks upon the death of Christ, He sees an atoning sacrifice which deals with all that we are by nature. On our part, we see not only as a substitution for our sins but also of our union with Him in that death. At His table of spiritual food, it is a realization of this fact which causes the rising forth of fragrance and praise in us.
If we fail to perceive the real meaning of this well-pleasing and acceptable sacrifice which is the source of all true joy in spirit, we can neither dedicate ourselves to the Lord nor ever praise Him worthily. But when we do see what we enjoy is identical with what God enjoys then our spikenard sends forth its fragrance and praise flows forth.