v7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to   rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the  flocks of thy   companions?
                            (She is speaking)
We see in this verse why she has failed to grow until now. She doesn’t know where He has ordained that she be FED. The thought of the REST of God is the bible principle of the SABBATH DAY. It’s a day when no work was to be done. We must enter into the FINISHED work of Christ in order to reap the benefits of Christianity. Some must and will enter into HIS REST (Heb. 3:7 - 4:11). This place of rest will be pictured by HIS bed (1:16; 3:7), and the TOP of the mountain (4:8), as well as other places through this book. This place of REST is the place that Jesus has gone to prepare (Jhn. 14:1-3), and it is a place that is available while in this earth. Notice also that REST comes at noon or at the time when light is at its greatest.

The local church principle is revealed in this verse. She needs a God appointed and anointed pastor who harkens to the voice of the King (Song 8:13). She must be trained by the Word (Heb. 12:5-11). His companions are his ministers who are servant leaders (Eph. 4:8-16).

No one can ever become a true leader without learning to be led. He is her bread and her peace (Jn. 6:48); Eph. 2:14). She has never made a commitment to one of the under-shepherds because she hasn’t seen the need. As a result she is hungry.In her immaturity she doesn’t want to be a part of a flock. This is something that the LORD must TELL HER to do.

Jesus submitted himself to authority on earth (Lu. 2:51-52). Perhaps she has been hurt by those who have abused this principle in the past. But this doesn’t do away with the need to sit under the ministry of a pastor who ministers from the Holy of Holies an brings others there (Eph. 4:13). The man or woman who has been called to minister from this realm must always remember that he is not to be a lord over God’s heritage (1 Pet. 5:1-7), but he or she is a servant of the most high God.

We will se later that He feeds among the lilies (Song. 2:16; 4:5; 6:2-3) This is a powerful revelation. In a good sense she desires to be an unveiled one (2 Cor. 3:15-18). Take the veil from every of thy Word that I might see him clearly ! There is a great chance that his answer to her question was not what she was wanting to hear (Heb. 10:25). She must be taught in order to enjoy what is already hers in Christ (Gal. 4:1-6).

v8 If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.
                           (She is speaking)
This is the first thing he actually said to her. Don’t ask is you don’t want the answer (James 1:5). If she hadn’t asked, she might never have learned where to feed (James 4:2). Compare what Boaz first said to ruth to see this principle again (Ruth 2:8-10).

The word “fairest” comes from a root word meaning “to be right” (Psa. 45:2,11).

She is to be “among” the women, not a lone ranger separate from them.

The footprints she has to follow reveal that the way she will travel will be the one that someone else, Jesus, has already walked (1Pet 2:21). His footsteps have formed a path, Highway or street that is revealed to us throughout the scriptures (Job 28:7-8; Isa. 30:8-10; Isa. 40:2-3; Acts 9:9-11; Luke 24:13-27). As in Paul’s life we will be blind for three days (from the cross to the throne), until we get on the street called “straight”. Notice that there is only ONE STREET in the new Jerusalem (Rev. 21:21). It’s the street that Jesus paved with his redemptive work. Jesus is the “WAY” meaning “Road” (Jn. 16:6).

We are to follow men only as the follow the Lord (Heb. 6:12; 13:7).

The shepherds “tents” point to local Churches with God appointed pastors. Regardless of how it seems to the carnal mind, there is a due order for bringing back His presence (1 Chron. 15:13). Jesus id building a house and he is building it his way (Mat. 16:18; Psa. 127:1)

v9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.
                          (He is speaking)
She reminds him of something. A mare of His! She has qualities of strength but it is the wrong kind of strength. It’s human strength and it tends to bring out the wrong king. (Pharoah). The king of the world.

Like a horse, the young Shulamite is strong, graceful and swift. She is swiftly running after him but with the wrong ability (Psa. 63:8). She will learn to cease from her own labor but that’s a lesson she has yet to be taught. The Church world has conceived many ways to bring the KING out into the open with the world’s ways. The armor of Saul will not slay the giant (1 Sam. 17:38-39). All of mans righteousness is but filthy rags (Isa. 64:6).

He has His own chariot to be brought forth, (Song 3:19; 6:12). We are that chariot

v10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold
                          (He is speaking)
He is still pointing to her natural beauty in this verse. She has much about her that appeals to the natural mind and intellect.Wealth and beauty are not wrong in themselves except when used to try to prove ones spiritual state (Lu. 12:15).

The rows of jewels could point to the precious ministries that have been used to bring her where she is today (Rev. 21:18-21; Gen. 2:12). The Father has many precious JEWELS , both past and present (Mal.3:16-17), that have been used to take us step by step into what we have been ultimately called into. These ministers were used to present us with JEWELS of truth that we sometimes display openly as possessions of ours. The problem is that they are not WITHIN her, but UPON her.The valuable nuggets of truth that we receive from the word are to dwell IN US richly (Col. 3:16). They must become part of who we are. Many have all their truths all in a row, But these truths are not dwelling within. It is His cheeks that are important (Song. 5:13).

The idea of speaking the word is very much present in this verse. These jewels need to be in her mouth, not on her cheeks. This will be a thought that carries more and more weight as we go through this book.

The chains of Gold again point to the various links of truth that many have revealed to her. All that we receive from God must fit together like links in a chain before we really understand them, but if these revelations remain on the outside and never become part of our spirit they will never change our life. Paul’s form of doctrine was obeyed from the heart by the church at Rome (Rom. 6:17). Gold here points to divine nature.

v11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver..
                          (He is speaking)
He reveals his goal for her. The word “make” is the word for “build”. (Mat. 16:18; Gen. 2:22 margin). In verse 10 we saw her natural strength. Now we see what she will be fashioned into.

“We” points to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All are vitally involved in the plan of redemption. The Father gave the plan, the Son carried it out and the Holy Ghost reveals it to those in whom it will be worked out. We will be made into His image (1 Jn. 4:17). This is something that he is doing (Phil. 1:9-13).

The “studs” of silver reveal the principles of redemption that also can be seen in the woman in Luke 15: 8-10 who found the silver coin she had lost. The way the Father causes our borders to be Gold (Divine Nature), is with studs (“points” in Hebrew), of silver (Redemption nuggets).

This verse reveals again that there will never be a display of the divine nature without a revelation of the Cross of Calvary (Heb. 10: 19-22). We will someday, as individuals, grow up in our understanding to the point that we allow Jesus to be seen on us and not just live within us. Oh how the world needs this today !

The King sees in her a treasure that will be brought forth (2 Cor. 4:7). This principle is revealed in Gideon’s victory (Jud. 7:7-18).
 

v12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.
                          (She is speaking)
While she sits at the KING’S table she can sense that there is something about her that the King enjoys.

The table is the place where the king feeds those who will feast with him. There is a great feast that awaits all those who open the door and let him sup with them (Rev. 3:20). The King has plenty for all manner of appetites (1 Kings 4:27).

One thing that will not be tasted at the Kings table is death. The King has already tasted of death FOR us (Heb. 2:9; Mat. 27:34; Jan. 8:52). The religion of the world can be identified by the fact that the cup it offers is not empty (Rev. 17:4; Gen. 43:2). The King will continue to FEED the Shulamite the bread of the Word until she BECOMES the bread (1 Cor. 10:16-17). We will have to grow up until we can partake of the strong meat of the Word (Heb. 5:11-14).

The depth of our awareness of how we please the king will be in direct proportion to the understanding we have of the finished work of redemption.

This “spikenard” could point to her praise. A good study would be a study of the golden altar that was in the Holy Place in Moses’ tabernacle. The fire that was offered that produced the incense came from the brazen altar in the outer court, which was a type of the Cross. It is praise, coming from the heart of the one who realizes what the Cross has done for them that brings pleasure to the KING. He is inthroned with the praises of His people (Psa. 22:3).

v13 A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
                           (She is speaking)
This verse shows that there are some who have no inner awareness of the work that jesus accomplished on Calvary. Like so many she hangs a crucifix around her neck and has no understanding of his work in her heart.

The word “bundle” means “parcel; bag”. Myrrh was an embalming spice (Mk. 15:23). It points to the death of Christ Jesus at Calvary. She hung a token of His death around her neck in a bag.

The “breasts” throughout this book will speak of the principle of the breastplates of judgment (Exo. 28:15), and righteousness (Eph. 6:14). The Cross brought judgment and righteousness together. In Christ the Father revealed a RIGHTEOUS way to bring JUDGMENT on the world. It was IN CHRIST on the Cross that the world was judged (Rom. 5:18; Jn. 12:31-33). The breastplate also points to faith and love (1 Thess. 5:8).

The fact that it was during the “night” reveals that she has much light yet to receive on the subject of judgment and righteousness. The believer must grow until Jesus is the only lover (Hos. 2:2). Instead of a token of his work hung around her neck, she will one day be able to REST on his breast as did the apostle of love (Jn. 13:25).

There is a little sister in the earth today who has little understanding of judgment and righteousness (Song. 8:8).

v14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.
                       (She is speaking)
The King is to her a “cluster” pointing to the fact that she still praises Him for the blessings that he has bestowed (Isa. 65:8).Even though her desire for him is growing greater and greater she still remembers how his nature was to GIVE. He loadeth us daily with benefits (Psa. 68:19; Psa. 103:2; Eph 1:3).

The “camphire” is believed to be the Cypress tree. The word “Engedi” means “fountain of a kid”.

The Shulamite’s concept of eternal LIFE is in direct proportion to her concept of HIS death. It has much developing ahead. The “fountain” will turn into a “river” before her relationship with the KING is fully developed, and WHEN it IS fully developed, that RIVER will not just be within her but will FLOW out of HER to a hurting world (Jn. &:37-39).

The “cluster” will bud and blossom and fill the world with fruit (Isa. 27:6). She will decrease and Jesus will increase in her (Jn. 3:30). This will come through the renewing of her mind (Rom. 12:1-2).

v15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.
                          (He is speaking)
This verse brings out the principle of revelation that will be used to bring about her development (Mat. 16:18). Behold, she has DOVES’ eyes. This is really the reason for the infilling of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:12-15).

Behold “thou art fair”. Here and now! This is truly a revelation. The finished work of Calvary has made us to be what he wanted us to be. We are fair, (beautiful ).

The DOVE is mentioned in this book SIX times (1:15; 2:14; 4:1; 5:2,12; 6:9). Six is the number for MAN. The Holy Spirit was sent into this earth and within MAN, so MAN can see who he is in Christ (1 Cor. 2:9-14). Her eye must be single on Him so that she can become FULL of light (Mat. 6:22; Eph. 1:18; Jn. 8:12).

v16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
                          (He is speaking)
At this point she sees that HE is “fair”, but does not see herself that way. that’s too much for her to grasp.

Note that she called the bed “our” bed. This points to the fact that his place of rest is also our place of rest. The bed is the place of REST in this book. It’s green, the color of LIFE (Psa. 23:2). He is our PEACE (Eph. 2:14), but there is only real PEACE when we understand that HIS life is OUR life (Heb. 7:16; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 1:21; Jn. 15: 1-16). The BRANCH of the Lord shall show his life to the World (Prov. 11:28; Jer. 17:7-8; Eze. 47:12). Her bed in 3:7, points to HUMAN rest and natural ability used to obtain rest.

She calls Him “pleasant” here, but she becomes “pleasant” by chapter 7 verse 6. He pleased the Father well (Jn. 8:29). Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb. 11:6; see also Mat. 3:17; Col. 1:19). We have already been brused for our sins (Isa. 53:10).

The OUR bed of 1:16 became Her bed in 3:1 and then HIS bed in 3:7.

We are joint-heirs with him (Rom. 8:14-17; 1 Pet.. 3:7; 2 Cor. 6:1). As a joint-heir we see that she also shared His house (Song. 2:12), His vines (Song 2:15). His Gates (Song. 7:13), and His sister (Song. 8:8)
v17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

Back To Top

Chapter 1 vs 7-17