Song of Solomon 8

This chapter being the termination of this Song, seems to be a kind of epilogue - a bringing together of ideas associated with this Song. The first four verses suggest a Divine family: there is the brother fed by the mother, there is the sister; there is also mentioned the mother‘s house, the place for instruction, and where the nourishment provided is the spiced wine of the juice of the pomegranate. It is the place of pure love, friendship and fellowship. To these descriptions we would connect two references of Scripture - firstly Galatians 3.26: "But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." The second is found in Matthew 12.50: "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." The milk and food provided for the sustenance of the household by the mother is referred to in I Peter 2.2: "As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." The pomegranate was one of the chief recommendations of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 8.8), and its juice is very refreshing in the hot climate where it grows. The pomegranate itself may refer to the ecclesia, one fruit containing many "seeds", full of juice and sustenance, the Word of God.

Verse 3 is very similar to Song of Solomon 2.6. It reminds one of the place of affection on feast days. In John 13.25 we read, "He (John) then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, is it I?"

Verse 4 is almost a repetition of Song of Solomon 2.7.

Here again the question is asked, "Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness?" The answer is far more homely than when it was asked before (Song of Solomon 3.6). It is in keeping with the previous verses in this chapter. It is the final vision of the husband and wife, the wife leaning on the arm of her beloved. After a long time of unavoidable separation, now united, never again to be parted. Having passed through the life of hardship and trials, we see in vision the man and his wife at the end, devoted to each other, having also one mind, one purpose, each engrossed in the well-being of the other. This is the final vision of Christ and His brethren and sisters united as one, husband and wife, all made perfect in Him.

"Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm." In Haggai 2.23 we read, "In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord, and I will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts." Zerubbabel stands for all those who will be chosen to be the Bride of Christ, who will be as a seal upon the Bridegroom's heart and as a signet upon His arm, never to be forgotten. She has the position of faithfulness and reliability and will act in the place of honour in the Divine government. In Isaiah 49.15 we read: "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." And again in II Timothy 2.19: "The foundation of God standeth sure, havmg this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his." A seal ring on the arm bears the name of the giver.

"For love is strong as death". "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." "Jealousy is cruel as the grave". By jealousy is here denoted that resolute and devoted attachment which will not suffer its object to be torn from its grasp. Such attachment is as unyielding as is hades (grave) in respect of its prey. Since the relentlessness of the grave constitutes its cruelty, the term 'cruel' may perhaps be metaphorically allowed to express also the relentlessness of love.

"The coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame". The Hebrew in this verse we are told should read: "The coals thereof are the flames of the fire of the Lord". This is the only place in this Song where the name "Yahweh" occurs. The coals of fire mean 'live coals’ from off the altar. (Isaiah 6.6). This fire was ever burning on the altar, never allowed to go out, when Israel were faithful. So is love ever steadfast, godly jealousy fed with zeal and love.

"Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it." Paul wrote in Romans 8.35-39 "For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." "If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned." Love cannot be bought; it can be developed and strengthened by meditation upon the work of God through Jesus.

Throughout this Song the Bride is referred to by different names or definitions, such as my fair one, my love, my dove, my beloved, my sister, my spouse, as queens and prince's daughter, and so in this last chapter she is referred to as a little sister, because she is not yet ready or complete or not sufficiently developed. "we have a little sister." All these names are used to show Christ's affection for His true brethren and sisters in the days of His absence. The word 'spouse' is not used until Song of Solomon 4.8. In Song of Solomon 8.8 we see one who is not yet ready, she is still in the time of preparation. But when the time comes and she is developed completely, she will be built into a palace of silver, God's dwelling place, dwelling in all those who have been purified like pure silver, so that the image of the Bridegroom can be seen reflected in them. "The wall and the door". In the vision of the Holy City Jerusalem, details are given of the wall and gates (doors) and the foundation (Revelation 21.12,13,17). "He measured the wall thereof an hundred and forty and four cubits" - reminding us of the 144,000 spoken of in Revelation 7.4. We see here a palace of purified silver made clear, and boards of cedar (immortality). The little sister is now well developed and ready for the company of the Bridegroom. "I am a wall" and fully developed: "then was I in his eyes as one that found favour" (Hebrew - peace, Romans 5.1), having fed upon the milk and strong meat of the word (I Peter 2.2-3).

"Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon". 'Baal-hamon' means 'the Lord of multitude'. The Bridegroom is Lord of the multitudinous Bride, the keepers of the vineyard (see Song of Solomon 1.6). In Matthew 21 we have an account of the parable of the husbandmen. Verse 41 - "They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render the fruits in their seasons." But, "the husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits" (II Timothy 2.6). Christ the firstfrults, afterward they that are Christ's at his coming" (I Corinthians 15.23). "Everyone that hath forsaken... for my name‘s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life“ (Matthew 19.29). "Thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred". Solomon, the Bridegroom is to have five times as much, the place of honour, the owner. In Genesis 43.34 we read, "And Joseph took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs". Benjamin (the son of the right hand) was the favourite son.

"Thou that dwellest in the gardens" (the Bridegroom - see chapter 5.1) "the companions (the Bride) hearken to thy voice". "Ye are my friends, if ye do vmatsoever I command you" (John 15.14). The Bride hearkens to His voice in her obedience to His commandments written in the Word.

"Cause me (the Bride) to hear it". "Make haste, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart (noted for their speed) upon the mountains of spices". "Surely, I come quickly, Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen."

E. F. Remus, May 1971