Description, Invitation and Interaction (Song 4:1–5:1)

Another poem in the Song begins at 4:1 and runs to 5:1. The King speaks in verses 1-11, and there is an interaction between the King and his beloved in verse 12 onwards. The words of the King in verses 1-11 divide into two obvious sections: verses 1-7 is a description of the woman and verses 8-11 are an invitation from him to her to go to another location. Verse 12 onwards are a discussion based on the invitation. So we have description, invitation and discussion.

The Description

The King begins by telling his beloved that she is beautiful. Indeed, he says it twice. Why would he say it twice? One reason would be the pleasure he receives from looking at her; another reason would be his awareness that she might have doubted that she was beautiful in his eyes. After all, as the King, he could have the best, and she may not have regarded herself in that way. We know that Jesus has pleasure from observing his people, and we know that he wants to deal graciously with any personal fears that they may have. So he wants to tell his people that they are fair. He does this repeatedly in his Word, and we should therefore read it often. And he does it through sermons and various kinds of writings based on his Word.

The word ‘behold’ also occurs twice. Usually it is used in a situation where there is something surprising or valuable. What is the unusual detail here? It is that he thinks that she is beautiful. The King gives seven reasons why she is beautiful when he refers to various parts of her body. The number seven conveys the idea of perfection. Obviously he thinks that she possesses great beauty and balance. I don’t think we are meant to try and find seven spiritual equivalents for the seven physical features he highlights. Instead we are to focus on spiritual realities that make a believer beautiful and balanced in the eyes of Jesus.

Is there something that happens to a believer that makes him all fair in the eyes of Jesus? There are three realities that we can remind ourselves of. First, there is the justification of the believer in which he is given the righteousness of Jesus as his standing before the throne of God. Nothing can be added to that perfection. Second, there is the adoption into God’s family that each believer possesses. They are regarded as heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus, and while they will discover more details of their inheritance in the future they will not become more authentic members of the family. We can easy understand how Jesus admires the beauty of justification and adoption.

What about the doctrine of sanctification? Does it make a believer fair in every part? We can remind ourselves that our catechism tells us that we are renewed in the whole man, so our emotions, our minds and our wills are changed. In each of them, the Holy Spirit is at work and no doubt Jesus regards the work of the Spirit as very beautiful. As Paul reminds us, sanctification is the creating of the fruit of the Spirit in the lives of those who at one time were ugly from head to toe.

The picture of the King detailing the features of his beloved enables us to see the delight of Jesus in contemplating his beloved. Maybe there is a help here for us as we think about self-examination. We engage in it and easily see the things that are wrong with us. Maybe we should engage in it by asking what Jesus sees in us. Of course, we sin, but if we repent, and we should because we have the indwelling Spirit, what does Jesus think about the repentance of his people? It pleases him because it is the work of his Spirit.

In verse 6, the King indicates that he is going away to another region, here called the mountains of myrrh and frankincense. Various suggestions have been made as to what they are. Obviously they are very fragrant and refreshing and the King wants to go there. This intention becomes the basis of his invitation in verse 8.

The Invitation (vv. 8-11)

They have been in Lebanon together and now he wants them to go to another location. Maybe, as the King, he wants to show her different places in his realm. At the least, we can say that he does not want him and her to stay in the same place all the time, even if it is very pleasant. This is true in the Christian life as well. Jesus wants his people to move on. We can see this even in the sense that we move on each Lord’s Day. Or in our recent situation, we move on after a communion season. The Christian life is never static.

The place that the King wants them to leave is the mountains in the north of the country around Mount Hermon. Why does he want them to leave it since it has been enjoyable to them both? The mention of lions and leopards point to it being a place of danger to her beauty and balance. There are places and times that are dangerous for Christians, and the one thing that marks them all is that Jesus does not want them to stay there.

The King begins to persuade the woman to travel on by informing her of what she means to him. He says that he is captivated by her, even by little things that she does, such as a glance of her eyes or a jewel on her necklace. It is the case that Jesus appreciates things that can be regarded as little in themselves, but because they are expressions of love he values them.

Moreover, her expressions of love are sources of joy and refreshing. Wine was regarded as a source of joy and smelling fragrant aromas was a refreshing experience. In what kinds of ways can we love Jesus? There is the love of gratitude for saving us, there is the love of contemplation on him and his grace, there is the love of dependence upon him to keep us, there is the love of anticipation (which would have been appropriate here as she thinks of moving on), and there is the love of dedication to his service. Our love is always responsive, but Jesus loves to experience it.

The abundant fragrance was connected to the various oils and perfumes that she wore in the presence of the King, which probably were supplied by him for her use. The fragrances that we wear come to us from the Holy Spirit, who is often likened to oil, and the best way that those fragrances can be described is by referring to the fruit of the Spirit. When they are evident in the life of a believer, there is a wonderful aroma.

The King also highlights the speech of the woman, and the aspect that he stresses is the sweetness of her words. He mentions nectar, and milk and honey. Milk and honey was the divine description of Canaan, and here we are being reminded that she speaks as a resident of a different type of country. Spiritually, Jesus has given to his people a new language, and when she speaks to him he regards it as very sweet.

The Interaction (4:12–5:1)

In this set of verses we have a brief interaction, although as we all know a lot can be said in a few words. The King speaks in verses 12-15 and compares his bride to an enclosed garden. In the garden, there is a good source of water, which means that there are ample fruits and spices growing there. As in the previous sections, the King continues to stress the close (sister) and loving (bride) relationship he has with her.

Believers are likened to a watered garden elsewhere in the Bible (Isa. 58:11; Jer. 31:12). At one time, the garden of the soul was full of weeds, but that has now changed. The King points out the great change that has taken place, and does so with great delight. He speaks about the details of her beauty because he wants to encourage her in their relationship.

The wall of the garden highlights the security that a believer possesses in Christ. Nothing can take any of them from his grip. The wall also points to the privacy that each believer has with Jesus – not even another believer can come in (it is interesting that the daughters of Jerusalem are not mentioned in this part of the poem). And the water in the spring suggests a living supply, unlike a well, and we can see in it a picture of the life-giving Spirit working in the hearts of his people. Moreover, the range of fruits and spices depict the graces found in a believer’s heart.

The response of the woman is to speak to the north and south winds to blow upon her heart. I think we can see in this a picture of the work of the Spirit, and we know that in the Bible we are encouraged to pray for the Spirit to work in us. Of course, we may assume that the reference to the winds means what those two winds do in our climate. The north for us brings cold weather and the south can bring stormy weather. Instead we should see what they were like in a warm country like Israel

The book of Job tells us what the effects of those winds in that climate. Job 37:22 says that the north wind clears the sky of clouds (‘And now no one looks on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them. Out of the north comes golden splendour’) and Job 37:17 says that the south wind brings calm (‘when the earth is still because of the south wind’). We can see the spiritual equivalents. The believer’s sky may have lots of clouds that the Spirit can remove and give clear vision. And he may also need the calmness of the Spirit to avoid agitation.

Why does the woman want the winds to blow? So that the King will have a feast of good things. It is a prayer for fellowship with Jesus. And we can see from 5:1 that the King responds and comes to the garden of her soul. He goes round the garden, sampling an item here and there. Some are bitter (myrrh) and some are sweet (honey). This is a picture of Jesus with his people in the struggles and in the pleasures of life. It is good to know that the sense of Jesus’ presence can be brought to us by the Spirit, whatever the circumstance. Paul and Peter remind their readers how Jesus becomes very real in times of trouble, and they also speak about how he is there when things are going comfortably.

The King then turns and speaks to others, probably the daughter of Jerusalem, and urges them to get drunk with love. In the spiritual life there is often an overflow of spiritual blessing. Even in the natural life, joy can be contagious. How much more in the spiritual! A believer enjoying Jesus becomes a cause of encouragement and an example of how love can be known in our lives.