THE INQUIRY ANSWERED
SHULAMITE, to the Daughters
My Beloved is gone down into his garden,
To the beds of spices;
To feed in the gardens,
And to gather lilies.
Shulamite continues her Narrative and Song. Relates her answer to the inquiring women. Suddenly recollects herself, and at once and unhesitatingly declares whither her Beloved is gone. ‘He is gone down to his garden.’ Literally, Solomon’s garden in a valley below Jerusalem, on the South East. The allusion, however, probably to the Bride herself, already called ‘his garden,’ which he had been invited by her to enter and ‘eat his pleasant fruits’ (chap. Song of Solomon 4:16). A delicate hint that the Bridegroom was expected to be with his Bride, and to find his chief enjoyment in her society. So Proverbs 5:15-20. Christ the Bridegroom of His Church to be found in the assemblies of His people (Matthew 18:20; Psalms 132:13-14). Walks among the golden candlesticks (Revelation 2:1). Never absent from His Church in general, though apparently and for a time from individual believers. Observe—
(1) By commending Christ to others we often find Him ourselves.
(2) The spiritual darkness of a believer often broken in upon by a ray of light which at once removes his difficulty and sorrow. Hagar’s eyes had but to be opened to see the fountain by her side. ‘Mary!’ suddenly and in a moment turned her sorrow into joy.
(3) Historically, Christ’s body, after His crucifixion, found in Joseph’s garden, and His Spirit in the paradise of God. The Bride’s answer suggestive of what constitutes
The Saviour’s Joy.
1. The fellowship of His believing people on earth. The Church His ‘garden.’ Separate congregations and individual believers His ‘gardens. Christ goes down ‘into His garden,’ ‘to feed in the gardens.’ Indicated in His call to the Church at Laodicea: ‘I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice, I will come in unto him, and will sup with him, and he with Me’ (Revelation 3:20). ‘The Lord’s portion is His people.’ ‘He will rest in His love; He will joy over thee with singing’ (Zephaniah 3:17). The name given by Him to His Church: ‘Hephzibah,’ or ‘my delight is in her.’ ‘The Lord taketh pleasure in His people.’ ‘He walketh in the midst of thy camp.’ ‘I will walk in you.’ Christ delights in His Church and people as a man in his garden of fruits, flowers, and spices. Hence the responsibility resting on them to be such that Christ may find in them the enjoyment which He seeks. No unclean thing to be in Israel’s camp. The garden to be kept clean and orderly for the proprietor’s pleasure. Believers to keep their hearts and lives for Christ’s sake as well as their own. The Church to purge out the old leaven of malice and wickedness. To put away from among them the wicked person. To keep the ordinances as delivered to them. To see that all things are done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Corinthians 14:40). Believers to see that they are bearing not only fruit, but much fruit. All the fruits of the Spirit to be produced in them—love, joy, peace, &c. (Galatians 5:22). ‘I looked that it should bring forth grapes.’ ‘My soul desired the first ripe fruit.’ His complaint that Israel was an empty (or yieding) vine, bringing forth fruit only to himself (Isaiah 5:4; Micah 7:1; Hosea 10:1). Christ leaves His heritage, and ‘gives the dearly beloved of His soul into the hand of her enemies, when it becomes to Him as a ‘speckled bird’ (Jeremiah 12:7-11). A lukewarm Church or Christian He can only spue out of His mouth (Revelation 3:16). Believers to see that no root of bitterness springing up trouble them, and defile the garden of Christ. Spices, as well as fruits, to be growing in Christ’s garden. His people and Churches to be ‘beds of spices’—fragrant and attractive, as well as useful.
2. The presence of His people in heaven. ‘He goes down into His garden to gather lilies. Heaven a place of
Gathered Lilies.
Lilies, his believing people (chap. Song of Solomon 2:2). Gathered out of His garden on earth for His presence in heaven. Christ first transforms thorns into lilies, then transfers the lilies to Paradise. A world lying in wickedness not a place for His lilies to remain longer than is necessary. Every departed saint a gathered lily. The lilies enjoyed by Christ while growing in His garden below; still more when blooming in the Paradise above. The lilies gathered in fulfilment of His own promise (John 14:2). Preserved safe with Himself till His return, when He brings them with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:10). Heaven delightful and attractive as the place of gathered lilies. ‘The spirits of just men made perfect.’ Those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Believers depart to be with Christ. ‘To-day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.’ Absent from the body, present with the Lord. Lazarus carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. Christ’s lilies in heaven without a spot in them. ‘Without fault before the throne of God.’ Presented as a chaste virgin to Christ. Faultless before the presence of His glory. A glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Holy and without blame before Him in love. All like Himself, seeing Him as He is. The former things passed away. The blessedness of heaven is, that it is free from all moral defilement. The happiness of the glorified, not so much that there is no more sorrow, as that there is no more sin. Christ’s people lily-like here; much more hereafter. No remains of the thorn in heaven. The flesh carried to the grave, but no farther. The lilies gathered for Christ’s own enjoyment as well as that of His people. Each departed believer an accession to the joy of heaven and of heaven’s King. Christ’s heaven to have the hundred and forty and four thousand of His redeemed around Him on Mount Zion, praising the Father in the midst of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn the (Hebrews 2:12; Hebrews 12:23). Hence—
(1) A reason why believers should gladly leave this world.
(2) A ground of sweet consolation in regard to friends who fall asleep in Jesus.
(3) Believers not to grudge Christ the lilies which He gathers.