Aspects of the Bride of Christ Part 4/6.

One man's view of this fascinating topic by Guest Blogger Alex Smith.

A rose of Sharon

Canticle 2:15 “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”

One can take this as drawing attention to seemingly trivial matters (little foxes), but that have an enormous impact, and must be addressed. Foxes are known for eating chickens, and grapes (such as the Aesop’s Fable of “Sour Grapes”). A few grapes missing wouldn’t hurt anything, but these “little foxes”, that is, destructive predators— actually SPOIL the vines! The word is ‘khabal’ which means “to wind tightly, as a rope, i.e. to bind; figuratively, to pervert, destroy, also to writhe in pain”!                              

We would immediately connect “vines” with our growth in the Lord, such as in the metaphors in John 15:1 - 8 where He prunes us “that we might bear more fruit”. But the vines and the grapes that they bear might also be considered as the fruit of ministry in a human sense— the “tender grapes” being the new converts, the “young ones, or babes in Christ”. Woe to such things that would pervert the way or damage the faith of His own! Jesus said that unless you “...become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.... but whosoever shall OFFEND (draw into temptation and sin) one of these little ones— it would be better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck, and that he was drowned in the depth of the sea!” (Matthew 18:3b, 6).

The “little foxes” can be anything that SEEMS fairly harmless: from secret sins, to false prophets that surround us in the Christian media today. Most of their false prophecies seem like harmless, trivial rubbish: but they are perverting the true Gospel of Christ. Ezekiel 13:4 compares Israel’s false prophets to “foxes of the desert”. The word for “vines” actually means “vineyards”, indicating a greater scope of the Church. If allowed to proceed unchecked, these “little foxes”— could be “small” secret sins, such as viewing on-line pornography; or could apply to the myriad of promoters of counterfeit spiritual manifestations— can infect the Church, perverting and destroying it, causing certain among us to writhe as if in pain. (I’ve actually seen this physical manifestation— but when I questioned it, I was told by those deceived by it “that is just the effect of the Holy Spirit”. I sensed that it was a spirit— but not the Holy One.) See Galatians 1:7 - 8.

Cant. 2:16 - 17 “My Beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth [his flock] among the lilies. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my Beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the Mountains of Bether.” 

The Shulamite is proclaiming the security of her relationship— the true satisfaction of BELONGING one to another. But she links it WITH his care of his flock: the Psalm says that “We are His people, the sheep of his pasture”. (Psalm 100:3). We know that SHE is “the Lily (or, crocus) of the Valleys” (Canticle 2:1), but this is plural (“Lilies”)— multiple application, because in the spiritual reality, “the Bride” is not just one person, but many: all who develop this depth of heart with our Lord and Saviour.                   

Just as “the Woman” in Revelation 12 encompasses and contains the “fully-grown son”, until brought forth, so the flock of the Church is being fed among the lilies.

“Until the day breathes / blows” —this could mean either Morning or Evening. The commentators seem equally divided on it. It refers to either “the cool of the day” when the sun sets, or the fresh morning breeze when it rises. I prefer this (morning) interpretation... because of the “until”.           There is an anticipation, bolstered by the word “turn”, meaning “return”. The recurring theme of “roe/ young hart” (types of deer) show forth speed, quickness. Jesus said, “Behold, I come quickly.” (Revelation 22:12)        

 Blessed are those who, through the dark of night, are eagerly watching for his return! I would emphasise that the interpretation of “Until the day dawns, or ‘breathes, or blows’ ” falls more toward the Dawning of that glorious Day when Christ returns, is echoed by the words of Peter, regarding the Word of God: “We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy [meaning, God’s Word, the Bible], whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place [this present life]; UNTIL THE DAY DAWN, and the Day Star [imagery of Venus, the Morning Star, which used to actually be seen during the day, up until the 1300’s A.D. —representing JESUS] arise in your hearts.” Jesus is called “the Morning Star” in Revelation 22:16. 

The Shulamite is pleading for her Beloved to return to her, as quickly as a fleet-footed deer leaps from crag to crag, “on the Mountains of Bether.” The word ‘Bether’ means “separation, or division”. Paul states that we are currently physically separated from the Lord— “...while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.” (II Corinthians 5:6) How keenly we feel that sense of separation! We are also to be separate from worldliness, the Lord commands us “...come out from among them, and BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and I will receive you...” (II Corinthians 6:17) Our separation from the world will facilitate his restoration of our physical separation from him... He is coming for pure vessels: he says that he will “receive” us, that is, “take us unto himself, in favour”! (Strong’s #1523).

Cant. 3:3 - 4 “The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, ‘Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?’ It was but a little that I passed from them, but I FOUND HIM whom my soul loveth— I HELD HIM AND WOULD NOT LET HIM GO, until I brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.”

The watchmen represent those in the Church who have their spiritual senses attuned to a fine acuity to detect enemies, from without or within. The Bride thinks that if anybody would know “where Jesus is”, these spiritually adept and discerning people ought to. But they couldn’t give her the answer she was looking for... they didn’t have it in them to transmit the presence of the Lord that she wanted. Unsatisfied, she leaves off seeking for the Lord THROUGH these ministers, and FINDS HIM individually, by herself. It’s a personal, one-on-one relationship— that every person belonging to Christ may develop. You see the INTENSITY of love, and the depth of commitment in “I held him and would not let him go”. In Jeremiah 29:13 the Lord says that “ye shall seek Me, and ye shall find Me, when you shall search for Me with ALL YOUR HEART.” 

Those with the Heart of the Bride wish to “bring Jesus into their churches” (“my mother’s house”). In many churches of today, Jesus in one sense is standing outside the door. Revelation 3:20 is written TO Christians, about themselves— the Laodicean Church. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man will hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and sup with him, and he with me.” Jesus is practically pleading with his own church for the Intimacy of Heart that is lacking, and promising that it will go both ways! —a two-way relationship! (“Sup” means “have dinner”— back then, it was a close and personal encounter of fellowship, not just eating a sandwich.)                                                                                                     O... precious Jesus! ! !

The further phrase, “into the chamber of her that conceived me” means: “where was the Heart of the Bride ‘birthed’ ?” What sort of place, or atmosphere, was a catalyst for this DEPTH in this person/ persons? Was it the Prayer Room, full of intercessors pouring out their hearts to God for others? Was it in the Music Ministry, where people deeply expressed the song of the Bride from their hearts and voices? Wherever the particular place was, she— that is, us who love the Lord in that DEEP a manner, wishes to bring that same level of relationship to others who are in that place!

This is the mid-point in the Canticle: the spiritual journey of the Bride on her path from being more self-oriented to “holding Him, and not letting Him go”.  

Cant. 3:6 cf. 8:5, also cf. 4:6 “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?”

This is the Shulamite asking this question— with the rhetorical answer “Solomon, the King”, following on our previously-studied charge to “not stir up love, until it is ready, or, until the appropriate time” -a time of maturity. So in typological application, first we are saying that there is a time and place for this special love— but only “when it is ready”. THEN the King will come. It’s interesting that he is WAITING until the proper time, but also that the time must arrive when this maturity level has reached its correct strength. Galatians 4:4 says that “WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME WAS COME, God sent forth His Son...” 

Remember that YHWH appeared to the children of Israel in the Wilderness AS A PILLAR OF SMOKE by day, and a Pillar of Fire by night (Exodus 13:21 - 22). This is comparing Jesus, as portrayed by the king Solomon, with the mighty strength of the LORD God who goes before us in the “wilderness” of our lives here on earth. But Jesus’ humanity is also in view, because this verse also says that he is “perfumed with myrrh and frankincense”: which were two of the three gifts that the Wise Men brought to Jesus as a small child. Myrrh symbolises the anointing for his death and burial— and frankincense represents his priestly function as the Intercessor who PRAYS for us (Hebrews 7:24 - 27 “he ever liveth to make intercession for us”; and Revelation 5:8 and 8:3 - 4)

Comparing Song of Solomon 3:6 with Song 8:5... the roles are reversed. Here in Song 8:5 it is Solomon himself (or, possibly the Shulamite’s brothers) asking “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?” This first phrase is identical with Cant. 3:6. We all go through “wilderness” times in our lives. But in this verse, the Shulamite is distinctly displayed as “leaning on her Beloved”. Our love for Him is shown forth in us in being dependent on Him, and not on ourselves or our own strength.

Now look at Canticle 4:6 and see the familiar language from 2:17 about waiting through the Night until the Morning... but the difference in this verse, is that Solomon says that HE will “get me to the mountains of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.” So in Cant. 3:6 he is described BY the Shulamite as “being perfumed with” myrrh and frankincense— and here he is saying that he is GOING TO the places of self-sacrificial death/ burial, and deep prayer and intercession. 

In Canticle 2:17 the Bride is calling him to RETURN hastily, upon the “mountains” (seemingly insurmountable odds) of Separation— UNTIL the Day dawns.

In Canticle 4:6 HE is saying that until the Day dawns, he will be praying, interceding, and giving his life.... for her! ! !

Cant. 4:7 “Thou art all fair, my love— there is no spot in thee.”

Solomon sees Abishag (she who has “errors” in her life) as Jesus sees us. WE do commit errors. BUT... he sees us “not having spot, nor wrinkle, nor any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27) Looking at that passage, Paul seems to be saying that BECAUSE Christ has loved the Church and gave himself for it (initially), THAT he MIGHT sanctify (set the Church apart for himself and make it holy) and CLEANSE it with the washing of water by the Word; THAT he might present to it himself in this fashion.... this almost seems like it has not yet been done, the way it is worded. There is an ON-GOING work of sanctification in our lives, IF we yield to him, and continue to offer ourselves to him “as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1). 

Peter, who was married (Matthew 8:14) wrote in I Peter 1:19 similar language about Jesus: “as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot.”

But then, he used exactly the same word to apply to US, in II Peter 3:14 “...be diligent that YE may be found of him in Peace: without spot, and blameless.”

There is provisional place in God, when we apprehend through Faith in Him, that He makes us holy, and literally “made the Righteousness of God in him.” (II Corinthians 5:21b). There is an imputed righteousness... but I believe that there is a legitimate experiential holiness that we can walk in. It doesn’t mean that we entirely cease sinning whatsoever, for even those in Revelation 12:11 who will be in heaven are said to overcome “by the Blood of the Lamb”— there is never a time when we won’t need the Blood!

Quoting from Psalm 32, Paul states in Romans 4:6 - 8 “... the blessedness of the man unto whom God IMPUTETH RIGHTEOUSNESS, without Works: ‘Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD will not impute Sin.’ “

He says “There is no spot in thee.” Can you believe that? BELIEVE it!  

Next time Part 5/6.