Mbostrom2's Blog

We use many idioms in our nation that others would never understand. Like, “fork in the road”. Now you are going to see the Beloved idioms from the farming community, that would speak real to her. Just as Jesus would speak to the fishermen about fishing and the farmers about planting seeds.

Song 4:13, “Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with pleasant fruits, fragrant henna with spikenard,”

• An orchard is to feed others. This describes her fruitfulness
• Pomegranates – seeds, abundance of fruit. This speaks of the fruit of the Spirit
• Henna, kaphor, price of life, ransom, pitch or henna plant

Song 4:14, “Spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices—”

• Nard – a spike of a nard, a very expensive plant from India used for costly perfume
• Saffron – orange-yellow flower used for flavoring in drinks and confections to promote perspiration for cooling the body
• Calmus – reed grown by marshes that have a sweet smelling fragrance
• Frankincense – incense used in prayers offered to God
• Myrrh – Arabian gum from the bard of a tree, used for sacred oil and embalming
• Aloes – fragrant Indian tree, used for perfumes
• Chief spices – from the balsam tree, sweet smelling perfume

I think the Passion Translations lays out vs 13-14 beautifully: “Your inward life is now sprouting, bringing forth fruit. What a beautiful paradise unfolds within you.When I’m near you, I smell aromas of the finest spice, for many clusters of my exquisite fruit now grow within your inner garden. Here are the nine: pomegranates of passion, henna from heaven, spikenard so sweet, saffron shining, fragrant calamus from the cross, sacred cinnamon, branches of scented woods, myrrh, like tears from a tree, and aloe as eagles ascending.”

Song 4:15, “A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.”

• The Bride has 3 sources of water
  • Ps 1:3, blessed hearts are like a tree planted by the water
  • Is 1:30, hardened hearts are hard from being dry
• Three ways the Holy Spirit ministers to us
  • Fountain – hidden source of water from below surface
    • Gardens, plural – enough for us and others
  • Well – stored water to draw as needed
  • Streams – outward flow of water, coming from the high places, refreshing

Now the Maiden replies to His words of love, respect and admiration:

Song 4:16, “Awake, O north wind, and come, O south! Blow upon my garden, that its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its pleasant fruits.”

• THIS IS THE TURNING POINT OF THE WHOLE BOOK!!!
  • Where she shifts from only thinking of what Jesus can do for her, but now she wants to be part of His plan, she wants to be devoted to Him alone.
• North Winds – tough times, times of challenge to bring us to a new place in Him
  • Challenge is to keep our face to Him in the North Wind
• South Winds – winds of refreshing, winds that bring us blessings
  • The problem with the south winds is sleep and comfort
• Blow upon my gardens – my heart and my ministry to be deeply affected
  • Deeply affected, pressed to bring out true fragrance

Now the Beloved sees she has allowed her heart to become His garden. She is no longer just concerned about her inheritance in Him, now it is His inheritance in her.

Song 5:1, I have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. (To His Friends) Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink deeply, O beloved ones!

• 9 times He says “My” to depict His ownership in Song 5:1 and 6 times in verse 2.