Song of Songs 8: 1 – 14
He’s Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Beloved
1 Oh, that you were like my brother, who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised. 2 I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother, she who used to instruct me. I would cause you to drink of spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate. 3 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me. 4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases. 5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I awakened you under the apple tree. There your mother brought you forth; There she who bore you brought you forth. 6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised. 8 We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is spoken for? 9 If she is a wall, we will build upon her a battlement of silver; And if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. 10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers; Then I became in his eyes as one who found peace. 11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon; He leased the vineyard to keepers; Everyone was to bring for its fruit a thousand silver coins. 12 My own vineyard is before me. You, O Solomon, may have a thousand, and those who tend its fruit two hundred. 13 You who dwell in the gardens, the companions listen for your voice— Let me hear it! 14 Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
I hope that if you have been with me through the book of Song of Songs that you have been blessed to see the great beauty of a pure and wholesome relationship between a man and a woman. This is a book of our Holy Bible. When you study it as it was intended by our Precious Holy Spirit then there is nothing dirty or silly about it. To me it sets the standard on how we as husbands and wives should treat each other.
Chapter 7 ended with the couple totally satisfied with each other which encompassed their physical and emotional issues. With the contentment of knowing that she was truly his love she now desires to grow deeper in their relationship.
1 Oh, that you were like my brother, who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised. 2 I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother, she who used to instruct me. I would cause you to drink of spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate. 3 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me.
Sadly, in counseling, you see the ugly side of relationships. Say, if you measured their relationships when they first said ‘I do’ as 100% to where they are when they enter the counseling office, it is a no brainer how low the percentage drops. Most couples are happy to bring the percentage to a 70 or 80 percentile. This is not good enough for me. I tell the couple that they are both imperfect and based on my mathematics, imperfect plus imperfect does not equal perfect. However, based on the Gospel of Matthew chapter 19 verse 26, “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” When you add the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth to the equation, then imperfect plus imperfect can equal perfect. Our Precious Lord and Master Yeshua can not only make your relationship equal 100 % again like you first experienced on your honeymoon but can move your love, affection, and desire over 100%.
Doesn’t it just hurt your heart when you notice a couple that is truly in love with each other. You compare your marriage to what you see in this other couple and you feel shortchanged. We read in verse one how the young wife desires to enter more deeply into this type of relationship. She wasn’t satisfied with the great living interactions and neither should we settle for anything but the best. Amen?
We all know that the Mideast customs restrict open displays of courtship between a man and a woman. But just think about our own culture. Brothers and sister can have a good old time with each other out in public. They can rough house around with each other and say goodbye with a kiss and no one bothers a bit at their action. “If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised.’
Why?- Because no one asserts a sexual connotation to their actions. She loves him so much she does not want to be restricted by society. If she wants to plant a kiss on him out in public then so be it. However, she knew that would be frowned upon by the old stiffs. Misery loves company.
We read this in the book of Exodus chapter 19, 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Our Magnificent and Holy Adoni Yahweh also desired more of a relationship with His people. He wanted the best for them. He wanted them to be the religious leaders and instructors for the whole world What does the word say about our Blessed Savior? We read this in the book of Hebrews chapter 2, 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying: “ I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.” 13 And again: “ I will put My trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.” 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Do you understand this great truth? Besides being the God of our Salvation, He says He is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters. And grasp this as verses 14 and 15 point out. As our brother He died to destroy the power of Satan and the fear of death over us. Then He takes on the position as High Priest to please the Father for us. It’s kind of like your brother is an A student as the perfect and obedient son, while you and I are the maverick rebels. He goes to our teachers and asks the teacher to give us His grades and perfect behavior and our Father gives us the credit. Wow! Thank You our Precious Holy Lord Jesus.
2 I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother, she who used to instruct me. I would cause you to drink of spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate. 3 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me.
Many of you ladies have had the benefit of your mother prior to your marriage have some serious girl talk. Now as her partner for life the Shulamite is communicating to her husband that she wants to learn how to please him from him directly. She goes all out in telling him that she will fulfill ever desire he will ever need. Are we all listening? This is the way it is suppose to work ladies and gentlemen. The book of Proverbs chapter 5 says, 12 And say: “ How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised correction! 13 I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me! 14 I was on the verge of total ruin, in the midst of the assembly and congregation.” 15 Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. 16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? 17 Let them be only your own, and not for strangers with you. 18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. 19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And always be enraptured with her love.
4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases.
This is the third time this statement is made. If you were studying this book with us then you are aware that she was seeking her female friends to keep her in check that she did not have any premarital sex. So, why is she now bringing this up again now that she is married?
She is so completely satisfied, pleased, content, and satiated with the pleasure of the intimacy of the marriage union, that she is telling these other woman to do likewise. For them to not spoil for themselves what she knows was well worth the wait.
5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I awakened you under the apple tree. There your mother brought you forth; There she who bore you brought you forth.
The bible tell us in the book of 1 Corinthians that there are only three things worthwhile in our journey through life, “13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Why is love greater than faith and hope? Because if you die and are in the presence of our Holy God, then you do not need faith and hope anymore. The only thing that you can take out of this world is love. Love is valuable and powerful. The love of a marriage to be successful requires sexual contentment. Look at verse 6 and picture this couple. Her contentment is displayed in her position – ‘leaning on her beloved’ [her lover]
In the book of Matthew chapter 11 we read, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” In this cold cruel world we have to learn to lean also upon the love of our lives – our Wonderful Lord Jesus Christ. He cares.
She whispers in his ears about their sexual responses to each other. Raisins and apples are erotic terms. She is pleased that she awoke him on their wedding night. The idea of being under an apple tree speaks of how his love for her has brought about a special significance in her life. In a way he has brought about a new birth for her as the prophet Isaiah teaches us in chapter 55, 12 “ For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised.
The Shulamite now requests that Solomon mark her as a seal on his heart and arm. A seal is a permanent mark, which is kind of like a tattoo. She wants him to know for sure that she will always belong to him The heart is the place of affection and the arm is the place of strength. In other words she wants nothing to come in-between them again. The strength and power of love must be preserved at all costs.
You know it is interesting how we have so slid den away from our vows. Did we have our fingers crossed when we vowed on our wedding day. Have we not all sinned and violated the oaths that we made to each other? May we all think about this and repent and seek to allow our Holy Maker recreate in us a new passion and love for the one who has sworn his or her lifelong love and commitment.
Besides the intimidate part of a couples relationship, love is also should be intense and indestructible – ‘For love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised.’
No experience can compare with love, even death. It continues forever. In the bible it says that there is no marrying or giving in marriage in heaven. I have met some couples that are joyful over this declaration. They feel that they can finally be free from their partner on earth. How sad! You have a person who has stuck by you for your entire earthly journey and you can’t wait to say, ‘Don’t bother me in the hereafter.’ In addition to the grave love cannot be quenched as the verse indicates. I love this one film which I cannot remember the name, where a tidal wave is rolling across California. This couple who had a child late in life give their baby to their teenage daughter and boy friend who has a motorcycle to care for. Then as the tidal wave is roaring toward them they look at each other and embrace. It was very moving for me.
We now come to a very interesting portions as we close this book. The chapter seems to all of a sudden bring up a sister of the Shulamite. I do not think this identification is correct. I believe we are still looking at the Shulamite. Let’s take a look at the verses.
8 We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is spoken for? 9 If she is a wall, we will build upon her a battlement of silver; And if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. 10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers; Then I became in his eyes as one who found peace. 11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon; He leased the vineyard to keepers; Everyone was to bring for its fruit a thousand silver coins. 12 My own vineyard is before me. You, O Solomon, may have a thousand, and those who tend its fruit two hundred. 13 You who dwell in the gardens, the companions listen for your voice— Let me hear it! 14 Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
For one thing we can identify that the ones speaking are the Shulamite’s brothers. If she is a younger sister as indicated as not yet maturing. How can she quickly respond that she is developed fully as a woman.
Without mentioning it again we see the importance of fidelity. She is rehashing her past. Her brothers had challenged her about this fact. They said that if she was pure then they would protect her until the Lord brought the right man along, thus the reference to ‘battlement.’ If she displayed the tendencies of being a loose teenager, then they would seal her away so she couldn’t get into trouble.
The Shulamite answered her brothers like such, ‘You know what boys, I was a pure woman who waited until the Lord brought me the right man and he is at peace knowing that I never slept with any other man.
The kings of Israel were also owned their own land and vineyards. We see here a little insight relative to how his vineyards were cared for. The keepers would get 20% of the net income. The Shulamite takes this condition and refers to herself. She wants him to come and collect, if you know what I mean. What a nice way to end this romantic book.
