Introduction: In our last time together, we saw that Solomon had given his last plea for the Shulamite's love. However, it was to no avail. The shepherdess held her ground to the very end. Her love could not be swayed away from her shepherd boy.
The Shulamite was able to say "no" to the many temptations and allurements presented to her by the court-ladies and King Solomon himself. Though victimized, she became the victor. A negative set of circumstances does not have to defeat us. We can come out victorious!
The King, convinced at the last that he could not possibly prevail, was obliged to let her go; and the Shulamite, in company with her beloved shepherd, returned to her home.
1. The companions' question. - Song 8:5a
"Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?..."
- The companions of the shepherd speak.
- Here, we find that the Shulamite returns home from Solomon's court with her shepherd. They are seen by her brothers and their friends as they approach.
- What a joyful sight this must have been!
2. The couple's renewal. - Song 8:5b-7
- Verse 5, "...I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee."
* On their way home, they visited the tree under which they had first met, and there, renewed their vows of faithfulness to each other.
* He says, "...I raised thee up under the apple tree..." It was there, under the apple tree, where they met, and he had won her heart. There, they were engaged to one another.
* Interestingly, this was also the place her mother birthed her, "...there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee." Though unusual to us, this was not unusual in those days.
- Verse 6, "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame."
* The renewing of their vows was a big thing to them. She says, "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm." This speaks of a signet worn around the neck or on the right hand, i.e., the right arm. It was as good as a signature in the making of a vow to another.
* Thus, the phrase, "...for love is strong as death..." In other words, love is binding. These vows were "until death do they part," so to speak.
* Her next phrase is interesting, "...jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame." It refers back to Song 3:11, "Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion..." The term, "daughters of Zion," was always used negatively in the Bible. It was said in reference to Solomon's court ladies and was said out of envy and jealousy. She had seen this in the court ladies, and, perhaps, even in Solomon himself. She wanted the real thing, not an "unreasonable facsimile."
- Verse 7, "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned."
* The reference here is that earthly things cannot destroy that which is divine. "What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
* She knew the "many waters" and "floods" of Solomon's flatteries. She said none of them had the power to put out or drown the fire of her love. Her constant warning was, "...stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please." She said it was useless to try to stir up her passions for Solomon. Her love was only for her shepherd.
Conclusion: While they were separated, they remained faithful to each other. All of this clearly pictures the way we are separated from our Great Shepherd, the Lord Jesus.
As we have already learned, Song of Solomon depicts the love and devotion each of us should have for Jesus, our Betrothed. One day, we will be His Bride, but, until then, we are His betrothed. We have learned that our separation from Jesus for now is bittersweet. How should we feel about it?
- "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that LOVE [welcome] his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:8)
- "LOOKING for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13)
We all ought to long for the day we see Jesus. For now, we are traveling the mountains of Bether, that is, the mountains of separation. One day, that separation will be behind us.
The Shulamite was faithful and had nothing to be ashamed of. However, if she hadn't been faithful, she wouldn't have looked forward to the day of her shepherd's return for her.
The Bible says, "And now, little children, abide [remain faithful] in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming." (1 John 2:28)
One day, as the songwriter put it:
And that is the day
Clouds shall part,
Trumpets shall sound,
And the Lord shall descend;
And every eye shall see Him,
And every knee bow,
Every tongue shall confess
That He, He is, He is here!
Let's allow the faithfulness of the Shulamite and the shepherd to speak to us today.