Jesus Visits His Garden of Believer's Souls

JESUS WAS CALLED INTO HIS GARDEN
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Song of Solomon4:16 16Awake, north wind, and
come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its
fragrance may spread everywhere. Let my beloved
come into his garden and taste its choice fruits.
GRACE FOR COMMUNION NO. 1941
A SHORT ADDRESS TO A FEW FRIENDS AT MENTONE, AT THE
BREAKING OF BREAD, BY C. H. SPURGEON,ON LORD’S-DAY
AFTERNOON, JANUARY 2, 1887.
“Awake, O north wind; and come, you south; blow upon my garden, that the
spices thereofmay flow out. Let my Belovedcome into His garden, and eat
His pleasantfruits.” Song of Solomon 4:16.
THE soul of the believer is the garden of the Lord. Within it are rare plants,
such as yield “spices” and“pleasantfruits.” Once it was a wilderness,
overgrownwith thorns and briars, but now it is “a garden enclosed,”an
“orchardof pomegranates.” Attimes within that garden everything is very
still and quiet; indeed, more still than could be wished. Flowers are in bloom,
but they seemscentless, for there are no breezes to waft the perfume. Spices

abound, but one may walk in the garden, and not perceive them, for no gales
bear their fragrance on their wings. I do not know that, in itself, this is an evil
condition, it may be that “So He gives His beloved sleep.” To those who are
worn with labor, rest is sweet. Blessedare they who enjoy a Sabbath of the
soul! The loved one in the text desired the company of her Lord, and felt that
an inactive condition was not altogethersuitable for His coming. Her prayer is
first about her garden that it may be made ready for her Beloved, and then to
the BridegroomHimself, that He would come into His garden, and eatits
pleasantfruits. She pleads for the breath of heaven, and for the Lord of
heaven. First, she cries for THE BREATH OF HEAVEN to break the dead
calm which broods over her heart. She cannot unlock the casketsofspice, nor
cause the sweetodors to flow forth; her own breath would not avail for such
an end. She looks awayfrom herself to an unseen and mysterious power. She
breathes this earnestprayer, “Awake, O north wind; and come, you south;
blow upon my garden!” In this prayer there is an evident sense ofinward
sleep. She does not mean that the north wind is asleep;it is her poeticalwayof
confessing thatshe herself needs to be awakened. She has a sense of absent-
mindedness, too, for she cries, “Come, you south.” If the south wind would
come, the forgetful perfumes would come to themselves, and sweetenallthe
air. The fault, whateverit is, cannotlie in the winds, it lies in ourselves. Her
appeal, as we have already said, is to that greatSpirit who operates according
to His own will, even as the wind blows where it wills. She does not try to
“raise the wind”—that is an earthly expressionrelating to worldly matters,
but, alas, it might fitly be applied to many imitations of spirituality! Have we
not heard of “getting up revivals”? Indeed, we can no more command the
Holy Spirit than we can compelthe wind to blow eastor west. Our strength
lies in prayer. The spouse prays, “Awake, O north wind; and come, you
south!” She thus owns her entire dependence upon the free Spirit. Although
she veiled her faith in a divine Workerunder the imagery of her song, yet she
spoke as to a person. We believe in the personality of the Holy Spirit, so that
we ask Him to “Awake” and“Come.” We believe that we may pray to Him,
and we are impelled to do so. Notice thatthe spouse does not mind what form
the divine visitation takes so long as she feels its power. “Awake, O north
wind;” though the blast is cold and cutting, it may be that it will effectually
fetch forth the perfume of the soulin the form of repentance and self-

humiliation. Some precious graces, like rare spices, naturally flow forth in the
form of tears, and others are only seenin hours of sorrow, like gums which
exude from wounded trees. The rough north wind has done much for some of
us in the
2 Grace for Communion Sermon #1941
2 Tell someone todayhow much you love Jesus Christ. Volume 33
way of awakening our bestgraces. Yetit may be that the Lord will send
something more tender and cheering, and if so, we would cry, “Come, you
south.” Divine love warming the heart has a wonderful powerto develop the
best part of a man’s nature. Many of our precious things are brought forth by
the sun of holy joy. Either movement of the Spirit will sufficiently bestir our
inner life, but the spouse desires both. Although in nature you cannothave the
north wind and the south blowing at the same time, yet in grace you can. The
Holy Spirit may be at one and the same time working grief and gladness,
causing humiliation and delight. I have often been conscious ofthe two winds
blowing at once, so that, while I have been ready to die to self, I have been
made to live unto God. “Awake, O north wind; and come, you south!” When
all the forms of spiritual energyare felt, no grace will be dormant. No flower
can stay asleepwhenboth rough and gentle winds awakenit. The prayer is—
“blow,” and the result is—“flow.” Lord, if You blow, my heart flows out to
You! “Draw me, we will run after You.” We know right well what it is to have
grace in our souls, and yet to feel no movement of it. We may have much faith
in existence, yet none in exercise, forno occasionsummons it into action. We
may have much repentance, yet no consciousrepenting; much fire of love, yet
no love flaming forth, and much patience in the heart, though at the moment
we do not display it. Apart from the occurrencesofprovidence, which
awakensour inward emotions one wayand another, the only plan by which
our gracescanbe set in active exercise is by the Holy Spirit breathing upon
us. He has the powerto quicken, awake, andbestir our faculties and graces,so
that holy fruits within us become perceptible to ourselves, and to others who
have spiritual discernment. There are states ofthe atmosphere in which the
fragrance of flowers is much more diffused than at other times. The rose owes
much to the zephyr which wafts its perfume. How sweetis even a field of

beans after a shower!We may have much spice of piety, and yet yield small
fragrance unless the living powerof the Holy Spirit moves upon us. In a forest
there may be many a partridge, or lively pheasant, and yet we may not see so
much as one of them until a passing foottramples down the underbrush, and
causes the birds to rise upon the wing. The Lord canthus discoverour graces
by many a messenger, but the more choice and spiritual virtues need an agent
as mysterious and all-pervading as the wind—need, in fact, the Spirit of the
Lord to awakenthem. Holy Spirit, You can come to us when we cannot come
to You! From any and every quarter You can reachus, taking us on our
warm or cold side. Our heart, which is our garden, lies open at every point to
You. The wall which enclosesit does not shut You out. We wait for a
visitation. We feelglad at the very thought of it. That gladness is the
beginning of the stir; the spices are already flowing forth. The secondhalf of
the prayer expresses ourcentral desire; we long for THE LORD OF
HEAVEN to visit us. The bride does not seek that the spices ofher garden
may become perceptible for her own enjoyment, nor for the delectationof
strangers, nor even for the pleasure of the daughters of Jerusalem, but for her
Beloved’s sake.He is to come into His garden, and eatHis pleasantfruits. We
are a gardenfor His delight. Our highestwish is that Jesus may have joy in
us. I fear that we often come to the table of communion with the idea of
enjoying ourselves, or, rather, of enjoying our Lord, but we do not rise to the
thought of giving Him joy. Possiblythat might even seempresumptuous. Yet,
He says, “My delights were with the sons of men.” See how joyfully He cries in
the next chapter, “I am come into My garden, My sister, My spouse:I have
gatheredMy myrrh with My spice;I have eatenMy honeycomb with My
honey; I have drunk My wine with My milk.” Our heavenly Bridegroom rests
in His love, He rejoices overus with singing. Often He takes more delight in us
than we do in Him. We have not even known that He was present, but have
been praying Him to come, and all the while He has been near us. Note well
the address of the spouse to her Belovedin the words before us. She calls Him
hers—“MyBeloved.” Whenwe are sure that He is ours we desire Him to
come to us as ours, and to revealHimself as ours. Those words “My Beloved”
are a prose poem; there is more music in them than in all the laureate’s
sonnets. Howeverslumbering my graces may be, Jesus is mine. It is as mine
that He will make me live, and cause me to pour forth my heart’s fragrance.

Sermon #1941 GraceforCommunion 3
Volume 33 Tell someone todayhow much you love Jesus Christ. 3
While He is hers she acknowledges thatshe is wholly His, and all that she has
belongs to Him. In the first clause she says, “Awake, O north wind; and come,
you south; blow upon my garden.” But now she prays, “Let my Belovedcome
into His garden.” She had spokenjust before of her fruits, but now they are
His fruits. She was not wrong when she first spoke, but she is more accurate
now. We are not our own. We do not bring forth fruit of ourselves. The Lord
says, “FromMe is your fruit found.” The garden is of our Lord’s purchasing,
enclosing, planting, and watering, and all its fruit belongs to Him. This is a
powerful reasonfor His visiting us. Should not a man come into his own
garden, and eat his own fruits? Oh, that the Holy Spirit may put us into a fit
condition to entertain our Lord! The prayer of the spouse is—“Letmy
Belovedcome.” Do we not say, “Amen, let Him come”? If He does not come in
the glory of His SecondAdvent at this moment, as, perhaps, He may not, yet
let Him come. If not to His judgment seat, yet let Him come into His garden. If
He will not come to gather before Him all nations, yet let Him come to gather
the fruit of His redemption in us. Let Him come into our little circle;let Him
come into eachheart. “Let my Belovedcome.” Stand back, you that would
hinder Him! O, my Beloved, let not my sinful, sluggish, wandering thoughts
prevent You from coming! You did visit the disciples, “the doors being shut,”
will you not come where every opened door bespeaksYour welcome? Where
should You come but to Your garden? Surely my heart has greatneed of You.
Many a plant within it needs Your care. Welcome,welcome,welcome!Heaven
cannot welcome You more heartily, O my Beloved, than my heart shall now
do! Heavendoes not need You so much as I do. Heaven has the abiding
presence ofthe Lord God Omnipotent, but if You dwell not within my soul, it
is empty, and void, and waste. Come, then, to me, I beseechYou, O my
Beloved! The spouse further cries—“LetHim eatHis pleasantfruits.” I have
often felt myself overcome with the bare idea that anything I have ever done
should give my Lord pleasure. Can it be that any offering I ever gave Him
should be thought worthy of His acceptance,orthat anything I ever felt or
said should be a joy to Him? Can He perceive any perfume in my spices, or
taste any flavor in my fruits? This is a joy worth worlds. It is one of the

highest tokens of His condescension. It is wonderful that the King from the far
country should come from the glory land, where all choice fruits are at their
best, and enter this poor enclosure in the wilderness, and there eatsuch fruits
as ours, and callthem pleasant, too! O Lord Jesus, come into our hearts now!
O Holy Spirit, blow upon our hearts at this moment! Let faith, and love, and
hope, and joy, and patience, and every grace be now like violets which betray
themselves by their perfume, or like roses whichload the air with their
fragrance! Thoughwe are not content with ourselves, yetmay our Lord be
pleasedwith us! Do come to us, O Lord! That You are our Belovedis a
greaterwonder than that You should come to us. That you have made us
Your garden is a greaterfavor than that You should eat our fruits. Fulfill to
us that gracious promise, “I will sup with him, and he with Me,” for we do
open to You. You said unto the woman of Samaria, “Give Me to drink,” and
will you not now accepta draught of love from us? She had no husband, but
You are our Husband; will You not drink from the cup which we now hold to
You? Receive our love, our trust, our consecration. DelightYourselfalso in
us, as we now delight ourselves in You. We are asking a greatthing of You,
but Your love warrants large requests. We will now come to Your table,
where You shall be our meat and drink, but suffer our spices to be the
perfume of the feast, and let us eachsay, “While the King sits at His table my
spikenard sends forth the smell thereof.” Fulfill this wish of our soul, divine
Lord and Master!Amen.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Even So, Come, Lord Jesus!
S. Conway

Songs 4:16
Awake, O north wind; and come, you south; blow on my garden, that the
spices thereofmay flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden…
This is the state of mind produced by the consciousnessofChrist's gracious
estimate of us. We can scarcebelieve that it is as he says, but that he counts us
such makes us long to be such. Therefore in this verse we may hear the cry of
the soul, that he would make us to be what he says we are. "Evenso, come,"
etc. Note -
I. WHAT THIS ASPIRATION OF THE SOUL CONFESSES.
1. The power of Christ to produce all this. Hence the appeal, "Awake, O north
wind," etc.
2. That poweractually at work. There are various precious plants of his own
planting; his garden is not a wilderness. And there are the heavenly gifts of
sun and rain and dew.
3. But nevertheless the full results of his grace are not forthcoming. The
fragrance so delightful and desirable is not yielded; there are fruits, but not
yet ripened, so that they might be pleasantto him who eats them. The soul
lives, but does not flourish. It has life, but not abundant life. How common all
this is! Hence how ineffectual the lives of many Christians are!

4. And the causes ofthis are indicated. The gloomand mist, the clouds so
earth-born and dense, which overhang the garden of the soul and hinder it
from yielding its fragrance and fruit as it otherwise would. So the sin-and-
sorrow-ladenclouds, and those which doubt and unbelief produce - these will
mar the soul's life, and make it ineffectual for joy or help.
II. FOR WHAT IT IS WILLING.
1. Forthe north wind. (Cf. Proverbs 25:23;Job 38:22.)The north wind, often
stern and terrible, and very trying to plant life. Yet here it is invited to come.
The spirit of the well knownlines -
"Nearer, my God, to thee,
Nearerto thee;
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me" - is in this invocationto the bitter blast - the north wind.
And the Christian soul is willing for whateverof trial and distress God may be
pleasedto send, so only as it may lead to more full likeness to God. As the
inhabitants of the Valais, in Switzerland, love the strong, stern winds which,
sweeping wildly down their close gorgesand shut up vales, scatters anddrives
awaythe miasma, bred of the stagnantair, which for far too long a time
broods over them, unchanged, and hence full of evil, until the welcome wild
wind tears down the valley, and then the bad air is driven away, and that
which is healthful comes instead;so the soul, consciousthat its health and joy
are hindered, would welcome that which corresponds to the north wind told of
here (cf. Romans 5:8-5).

2. The south wind. (Forits effects, cf. Job 37:7.)The soul knows that without
the genialinfluence of Christ's love realized in her she cannotprosper.
Therefore she prays for this also.
"He sendeth sun, he sendeth shower -
Alike they're needful for the flower;
And joys and tears alike are sent
To give the soul fit nourishment."
III. WHAT IT SUPREMELYDESIRES. "Letmy beloved come into his
garden," etc. This, translated, means that the soul's supreme solicitude is, as
Paul's was, to be acceptedof her Lord (cf. 2 Corinthians 5., "I labour,
whether present or absent, to be acceptedofhim"). The renewedsoul seeks,to
be well pleasing to her Lord; she cares little for any other approval (cf. Paul,
"It is a small thing to me to be judged of you, or by man's judgment; he that
judgeth me is the Lord"). "To give pleasure to those whom we love, to know
that any achievements ofours will gratify them, is a greaterpleasure than any
derived from the applause of strangers, howevernumerous or distinguished.
The lad laden with prizes at his schoolis pleasedenough with the clapping,
and the praise of masters and fellow pupils; but his real pleasure is to come,
when he gets his prizes home and shows them to his loved ones there. To see
his mother's eyes glistenwith gladness, that is better than all the other praise,
were it from all the world beside. And so to be approved of Christ, to please
him, that, to souls like Paul's, is everything."
IV. THE BLESSING IT OBTAINS. Suchsupreme solicitude cannotexist
without obtaining for the soul that cherishes it some of the choicestfavours of
God.

1. It will be an ever-present regulating force in our souls. It will actas a law to
ourselves, prompting, checking, directing, impelling, as needs be.
2. It will win blessedfreedom from the tyranny of the world. Such soulwill
fear neither the world's frown - so formidable to wellnigh all - nor court the
world's favour, all but universally covetedthough it be. The Son will have
made him free, and he will be free indeed.
3. It will make every cross fight. Such cross being his cross, borne for him, its
sharpness, weight, shame, vanish.
4. Deathis abolished. It becomes for him "an abundant entrance into the
kingdom" of Christ. Freedom, strength, peace - these are some of the blessings
which that soul wins whose supreme desire is to be acceptedofChrist. - S.C.
My Garden -- His Garden
Biblical Illustrator
Songs 4:16
What a difference there is betweenwhat the believer was by nature and what
the grace ofGod has made him! Naturally we were like the waste howling

wilderness, like the desertwhich yields no healthy plant or verdure. But now,
as many of us as have known the Lord are transformed into gardens; our
wilderness is mane like Eden, our desert is changedinto the garden of the
Lord. In a garden there are flowers and fruits, and in every Christian's heart
you will find the same evidences of culture and care;not in all alike, for even
gardens and fields vary in productiveness. Still, there are the fruits and there
are the flowers, in a measure;there is a goodbeginning made wherever the
grace ofGod has undertaken the culture of our nature.
I. Now coming to our text, and thinking of Christians as the Lord's garden, I
want you to observe, first, that THERE ARE SWEET SPICES IN
BELIEVERS. Forinstance, there is faith; is there anything out of heaven
sweeterthan faith — the faith which trusts and clings, which believes and
hopes, and declares that, though God shall slay it, yet will it trust in Him?
Then comes love; and again I must ask, Is there to be found anywhere a
sweeterspice than this — the love which loves God because He first loved as,
the love which flows out to all the brotherhood, the love which knows no circle
within which it can be bounded, but which loves the whole race of mankind,
and seeksto do them good? And there is also hope, which is indeed an
excellentgrace, a far-seeing grace by which we behold heaven and eternal
bliss. You do not need that I should go over all the list of Christian graces, and
mention meekness,brotherly kindness, courage, uprightness or the patience
which endures so much from the hand of God: but whatsoevergraceI might
mention, it would not be difficult at once to convince you that there is a
sweetness anda perfume about all grace in the esteemof Him who createdit,
and it delights Him that it should flourish where Once its opposite alone was
found growing in the heart of man. These, then, are some of the saints' sweet
spices. Nextnotice that these sweetspices are delightful to God. He has joy
over one sinner that repenteth, though repentance is but an initial grace and
when we go on from that to other graces,and take yet higher steps in the
Divine life, we may be sure that His joy is in us, and therefore our joy may
well be full. These spices ofours are not only delightful to God, but they are
healthful to man. A man of faith and love in a Church sweetens allhis
brethren. Give us but a few such in our midst, and there shall be no broken

spiritual unity, there shall be no coldness and spiritual death; but all shall go
well where these men of God are among us as a mighty influence for good.
And, as to the ungodly around us, the continued existence in the earth of the
Church of Christ is the hope of the world. It sometimes happens that these
sweetodours within God's people lie quiet and still. You cannotstir your own
graces,you cannot make them move, you cannot cause their fragrance to flow
forth. At such times, a Christian is very apt to ask, "Am I indeed planted in
God's garden? Am I really a child of God?" Now, I will saywhat some of you
may think a strong thing; but I do not believe that he is a child of God who
never raised that question.
II. What is wanted is that THOSE SWEET ODOURS SHOULD BE
DIFFUSED. Observe, first, that until our gracesare diffused, it is the same as
if they were not there. We may not know that we have any faith till there
comes a trial, and then our faith starts boldly up. We can hardly know how
much we love our Lord till there comes a test of our love, and then we so
behave ourselves that we know that we do love Him. Notice next, that it is very
painful to a Christian to be in such a condition that his graces are not Stirring.
He cannot endure it. We who love the Lord were not born again to waste our
time in sinful slumber; our watchwordis, "Let us not sleep, as do others."
"QuickenThou me, O Lord, according to Thy word" — whichever word
Thou shalt choose to apply, only do quicken Thy servant, and let not the
graces within me be as if they were dead! Remember, however, that the best
quickener is always the Holy Spirit; and that blessedSpirit can come as the
north wind, convincing us of sin, and tearing awayevery rag of our self-
confidence, or He may come as the soft south wind, all full of love, revealing
Christ, and the covenantof grace, and all the blessings treasuredfor us
therein. You see, also, from this text, that when a child of Godsees that his
graces are not diffused abroad, then is the time that he should take to prayer.
Let no one of us ever think of saying, "I do not feel as if I could pray, and
therefore I will not pray." On the contrary, then is the time when you ought to
pray more earnestlythan ever. Say, "O my Father, I cannotendure this
miserable existence!Thou hast made me to be a flower, to shed abroadmy
perfume, yet I am not doing it. Oh, by some means, stir my flagging spirit, till

I shall be full of earnestindustry, full of holy anxiety to promote Thy glory, O
my Lord and Master!'
III. "Let my Belovedcome into His garden, and eat His pleasantfruits."
These words speak ofTHE COMPANY OF CHRIST AND THE
ACCEPTANCE OF OUR FRUIT BY CHRIST. I want you speciallyto notice
one expressionwhich is used here. While the spouse was, as it were, shut up
and frozen, and the spices of the Lord's garden were not flowing out, she cried
to the winds, "Blow upon my garden." She hardly dared to callit her Lord's
garden; but now, notice the alteration in the phraseology:"Let my Beloved
come into His garden, and eatHis pleasantfruits." The wind has blown
through the garden, and made the sweetodours to flow forth; now it is no
longer"my garden," but "His garden." It is wonderful how an increase of
grace transfers our properties; while we have but little grace, we cry, "my,"
but when we get greatgrace, we cry, "His." He planted every flower, and gave
to eachits fragrance;let Him come into His garden, and see what wonders His
grace has wrought. Do you not feel, beloved, that the one thing you want to
stir your whole soul is that Christ shall come into it? The bestcondition a
heart can be in, if it has lost fellowshipwith Christ, is to resolve that it will
give God no rest till it gets back to communion with Him, and to give itself no
rest till once more it finds the Well-beloved. Next observe that, when the
Belovedcomes into His garden, the heart's humble but earnestentreaty is,
"Let Him eatHis pleasantfruits." "The greatestjoy" of a Christian is to give
joy to Christ; I do not know whether heavenitself can overmatch this pearl of
giving joy to the heart of Jesus Christ on earth. It can match it, but not
overmatch it, for it is a superlative joy to give joy to Him — the Man of
sorrows, who was emptied of joy for our sakes,and who now is filled up again
with joy as eachone shall come and bring his share, and cause to the heart of
Christ a new and fresh delight.
( C. H. Spurgeon.).

North and South Winds
M. Brokenshire.
Songs 4:16
There is a law of classificationand contrasts in all life. Things are paired off.
They present themselves in sets or classes. We have stars in galaxies, and the
rolling worlds arranged into systems. Vegetable and animal life be knownby
their genus and species. The principle of order characterizes the conditions of
man in the complexity of his nature and the diversity of his life. Our main
purpose is to trace the Divine plan of working in the developing and
perfecting of God's image in a human soul. In the text we are taught that it is
by contrary and conflicting forces that perfection of characteris attained.
I. THE TEXT IS TRUE OF NATURAL LIFE. "Northand south" are the two
extremes of this sphere. Betweenthese two extremes exist all the fluctuating
variations of the earth's condition. The day's weatherdepends very largely
upon the point from which the wind will blow. We divine the meteorological
conditions of the day by the prophecy of the morning. North winds bring cold,
hail and snow;south winds are balmy and warm. These facts find their
analogue in our higher experiences. Whatcontrasts there are in the conditions
of our everyday life! This is true socially. When all things are going smoothly
in the home, when health and plenty abound — when children are dutiful and
diligent, parents revel in the gentle breezes as they waftdown from the
southern sky. But, alas!the wind sometimes veers round to the opposite point
with a surprising suddenness, and the chilly blasts beat upon us with pitiless
fury and pierce our spirits to the quick. How true is the text to business life.

Prosperity is verily a congenialsouth wind. We all aim at and desire success.
But the winds of commercial enterprises do not always blow from the south;
and for aught we know to the contrary, there may be more perfect
developments of characterunder the latter than by the agencyof the former.
The two winds are useful and necessary. The south for the comfort and
nourishing of young elements and principles in their more incipient stages,
and the north wind for giving setness andendurance to these essential
qualities.
II. THE TEXT IS ALSO TRUE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE. The life of the soul is
promoted by principles similar to those which rule in our physical nature.
There are opposing elements even in our food. Some are alimentary, building
up the body, repairing waste tissue;while others are poisonous, rendering
innocuous, or eliminating elements that are deleterious, and that would, if
permitted to operate unchecked, kill the body. The value of foods depends
upon their adaptation to the peculiar and varying states and requirements of
the physical system. In the childhood of our divine life we need the tender and
sympathetic. Either through sin or neglectof duty, or strange providences, or
the wearing powerof temptation and persecution, or the ordinary and
inevitable friction of life, we become attenuated in our spiritual proportions
and correspondinglyfeeble. The "north wind" is too strong for us, and so we
need the southern breezes to soothe back into strength the weakenedenergies
of the soul. But then spiritual athletes are not braced into might by south
winds only. We need to cry, "Awake, O north wind." Too many of the avowed
followers of Him "who was rich yet for our sakes becamepoor," "who pleased
not Himself," who "had not where to lay His head," are resting in the warmth
of the southern sphere, thus taking no part in the greatactivities of the
Christian Church. If all were as they are what would be the future of
Christianity, aye, and of the world, too? It is a goodthing to get out into the
refreshing breezes which come even from the northern regions. Many a
Christian will have to thank God for pain and trial and losses. As the north
and south winds are essential, we do wellto keepourselves in the line of both.
True greatness is attained by a combination of opposite qualities. It is the
strong man tender, the greatman lowly, the rich man humble, the wise man

with condescending simplicity we most admire. Do not arraign the Divine
government if north winds blow, but keepwell in mind the greatfact that He
is designing and evolving your good in all things so that you may attain the
stature of a perfect man; and in the last day you shall be presentedperfect,
wanting nothing.
(M. Brokenshire.)
The Church's Prayer
E. Blencowe,M. A.
Songs 4:16
Let us considerthe prayer of those who are planted in this garden, and who
are representedin the text, as imploring the Holy Spirit to descendupon
them.
I. IN HIS CONVINCING AND HUMBLING POWER, AS THE PIERCING
NORTHWIND. As the cold north wind prepares the soil, and fits it for
vegetation, so are the sharper operations of the Spirit needful for the believer,
when, as too often happens, he is under a decay in grace;when the things that
are in him are ready to die. When He thus comes, He uses various means of
awakening.

1. His grand instrument is "the swordof the Spirit, which is the Word of
God," "sharperthan any two-edgedsword," etc. When a believer grows cold
and carelessin his walk, God directs to him some text, some threatening, or
warning, or promise.
2. He often comes with awakening powerin the shape of afflictions.
II. IN HIS COMFORTING AND ENLIVENING POWER, AS THE GENTLE
SOUTH WIND. When He has pierced the backsliding heart with sorrow for
sin. He binds up the wound; shines upon the heart, like the cheering sun; and
breathes, like the mild and gentle south.
(E. Blencowe,M. A.)
The Response ofLove
J.R. Thomson
Songs 4:16
The impassionedencomium of the bridegroom is not disregarded, is not
ineffectual; it not only yields satisfactionand pleasure to her who is the object
of unstinted praise;it elicits the response of appreciative gratitude and
affectionate welcome. If Christ delights in the Church, the Church also
delights in Christ, and yields to him the tribute of loyal obedience.

I. DIVINE INFLUENCES ARE ENTREATED. The breath of the Spirit of
God passing graciouslyand gently and yet mightily over the Christian society
alone can call forth all its spiritual fragrance. The silent, unseen, benignant
influences are to be soughtwith fervent, earnestprayer: "Awake, O north
wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden!"
II. THE EXHALATION OF SPIRITUAL FRAGRANCE IS DESIRED.
"Thatthe spices thereofmay flow out." Becausethe Church is Christ's, it has
greatcapacities forgood;yet the actual exhibition of the vital qualities, in
proofs of piety, in deeds of holiness, in services ofbenevolence, is dependent
upon the "Lord and Giver of life," whose quickening grace is the greatest
privilege of the Christian dispensation. There is an aroma of spiritual
excellence in the Church of the Lord Jesus which is beyond comparisonthe
sweetestand divinest quality which human societyhas ever manifested.
III. THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD HIMSELF IS REQUESTED. "Letmy
beloved come into his garden." True, he has given his Church the promise,
"Lo, I am with you alway." He is among his people to know their works, to
accepttheir service, to inspire their devotion. He ever visits his vineyard;
comes, "seeking fruit." The Church speaks ofitself as both "my" garden and
"his" garden; and it is both. When the Lord is invited and welcomed, it is to
his ownchosenand congenialpossession.
IV. THE FRUIT THAT IS DUE TO THE LORD IS OFFERED.
1. In what do these precious, pleasantfruits consist? Praise, devotion, love,
obedience.

2. To what are they owing? To Divine care and protection; to the tilling of the
wise and forbearing Master;to the genial influences of the Holy Spirit. Hence
they are "his" fruits. The weeds are ours; the fruits.are his.
3. How are they regarded? Christ delights in them, for they are the results of
his purpose and of his sacrifice. Christ"eats" ofthem; i.e. uses them in his
condescension. His people may wellsay to him, "Ofthine ownhave we given
thee." There is no satisfactionpossible to Christ's people so greatand so pure
as that they feel when their Lord accepts their offering and approves their
endeavours. - T.
The King's Garden
J.D. Davies
Songs 4:12-16
A garden enclosedis my sister, my spouse;a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
The Church of Christ is fitly likened to a garden. It is a piece of territory
separatedfrom the rest, enclosedfrom the beaten road of this world's traffic.
The distinguishing mark of a Christian Church is separation;i.e. separation
from evil, separationas a means of blessing. As in a garden a king finds great
delight and solace, so in this sacredgardenJesus Christ has a specialjoy. He
calls it "my garden." We do not hear him say, "My star; my snow-capped
mountains; my veins of gold;" but we do hear him say, "My garden; my
people; my sister; my spouse." Suchlanguage is not merely the language of
proprietorship; it is the language ofendearment. Every plant and tree in this

garden has been planted and pruned by himself. The unfolding of every
blossomon the fruit trees he has watchedwith delight; and when the blossom
has matured into fruit, his delight has become an ecstasy. One high ambition
fills him, viz. that his gardenmay bear much fruit.
I. OBSERVE THAT THIS EMBLEM OF A GARDEN SUGGESTSMANY
TRUTHS.
1. There is the factof separateness. In this text the writer lays emphasis on
this point. Every garden is more or less marked off from other ground, but
this is speciallydescribedas "a garden enclosed."It is made inaccessible to
thieves, to cattle, and to wild beasts. Boars outof the woodwould soonlay it
waste. So is it with the life of God in the believer's soul. He is thereby
separatedfrom the ungodly world. The chosenof God are separatedby God's
eternal decree. Theirnames are registeredin the book of life. They have been
separatedby redemption. "Christhas redeemed us from the curse of the
Law." They are separatedby virtue of the new birth. They are separatedby
their own personalchoice. Theyhave gone to Christ "without the camp,
bearing his reproach." They are no longer"conformedto the world." As
Jesus "is not of the world, neither are they." "My kingdom is not of this
world."
2. There is the idea of secrecy. This is not altogetherthe believer's choice;it is
inevitable. The new life of the Christian is "hid with Christ in God." As a
spring or fountain has its source out of sight - yea, far down in secretcaverns
of the earth - so the believer has the roots of his new life in Christ. He has
experiences now which others do not share, and which he had not aforetime;
but these are entirely hidden from the public eye. New fellowship with God;
new aims in life; new motives and impulses; new peace and hopes;new
springs of joy he has, with which a "strangercannotintermeddle." As the
wind in its vagaries defies allthe predictions of man (none can "tell whence it

cometh, or whither it goeth"), so is every one that is born of the Spirit. "The
natural man cannotunderstand the things of the Spirit; they are foolishness
unto him." All life is mysterious; spiritual life is speciallyso.
3. There is set forth the fact of security. As a shepherd guards his flock, so the
greatHusbandman secures from adversaries his garden. "No wolf shall be
there, nor any ravenous beast." The enclosure resists successfullyeven the
"little foxes," who spoil the precious vines. The Christian is secure againstthe
world, the flesh, and the devil; for all the attributes of God envelop him for his
protection. He dwells under the shield of the Almighty. The omnipotence of
Jehovahis his fortress. Godis "a wall of fire round about him." Hence "no
weaponthat is formed againsthim can prosper." As a garden enclosed, he
enjoys impregnable security.
4. Here is the idea of sacredness.The enclosedgardenis setapart for the use
of the king. It is devoted to one personand to one purpose. So Jesus claims
this gardenas his own, and what is true of the Church is true of every person
composing that Church. The believer is a sacredperson, a priest consecrated
to holy service. He is God's man, attachedto the court of heaven. Jesus said
that he had "sanctified(or consecrated)himself, that they also might be
sanctified(or consecrated)through the truth." Every part of the Christian is
consecrated, viz. his endowments, his learning, his property, his time. For "we
are not our own; we are bought with a price." Our business is to serve the
kingdom. "Forus to live is Christ." We are part of the "sacramentalhostof
God's elect."
II. OBSERVE THAT THIS GARDEN IS FAMOUS FOR FRUITFULNESS.
"Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, withpleasantfruits," etc.

1. Abundant fruitfulness is asserted. It was the earnestlonging of Jesus Christ
that his disciples "should bear much fruit, and that this fruit should abide."
Very soonrich clusters of fruit did appearin his Church. The prayerfulness
culminating on the Day of Pentecost;the generous communism of the saints;
the courage andzeal of many; the fervid piety of Stephen; the practical
sympathy for the poor; the magnanimity of Barnabas;the whole-hearted
consecrationof Paul; - these were the firstfruits of discipleship. And from that
day to this fruit has abounded in the Church. The noble qualities of mind and
heart; the splendid virtues; the patience, fortitude, and zeal; the consecrated
heroism of believers, have been the admiration and astonishment of the world.
"Whatsoeverthings are lovely, excellent, pure, and of goodreport," these
have been conspicuous in the Church. The elite of mankind is within the
Church.
2. There is also variety of fruit. In nature God has made his goodnessmost
manifest in the vast variety of fruits with which our earth teems. Equally in
the Church may we find a splendid variety of gifts and graces. The earlyfruits
of humility and repentance and tenderness of conscience soonappear. The
spice trees of prayer and sympathy send forth a goodly odour. The trees of
righteousness andholiness bear large stores of precious fruit. In each
succeeding age new excellenceshave appeared, new fruits have made this
garden famous. Here and there you will find a gnarled and crookedtree that
bears little fruit. But this is the exception; a blot upon the garden. You will
find even in a royal garden some withered branch, some rank shootthat is
unlovely and unfruitful. Still, we do not on that accountcondemn the whole
garden. All temperance reforms, all hospitals and asylums, all plans for the
betterment of humanity, all alleviations of misery and woe, have appeared
among us as the fruits of Christ's life. The fruit abounds in Variety almost
endless.
3. Mark the utility of this fruit. The fruit was choice;the rarest fruits were
there. Some were full of cooling juice, pleasantto the taste in hours of

scorching heat. Some had a value as medicines for the cure of disease, andfor
soothing burning pains. Some yielded rich perfumes (as spikenard), and
added to the joy of royal or marriage banquets. Others produced myrrh and
frankincense, and were consecratedto Divine worship. Others, again,
conferreda delicious flavour to human food. Eachand an had a mission of
usefulness among mankind. So is it also in the Church of Christ. You cannot
put finger on a genuine Christian who is not more or less a blessing to the
race. His piety has a delicious savour in the circle in which he lives. His
prayers bring blessing upon a thousand besoms. As GodblessedEgypt for
Joseph's sake, as GodblessedIsraelfor David's sake, so for the Church's sake
he often blesses the world. Every Christian is a light, illuminating the world's
darkness. "Ye are the salt of the earth." Since Christ lived, and because he
now lives in others, the moral and socialaspectsofthe worm are changed.
Tyrannies have disappeared. Warhas lost its barbaric rigour. Industry is
productive of substantial good. Agriculture prospers.
III. OBSERVE THE DEPENDENCE OF THIS GARDEN UPON SOURCES
OF PROSPERITYOUTSIDE ITSELF. It needs the "fountain;" "the well of
living waters;" "the streams from Lebanon."
1. This may wellteach us that the Church needs God in the way of providence.
While yet the Church remains on the earth it needs earthly good. It needs, at
least, tolerationor sufferance from earthly governments. It needs human
teachers, andall the aids of human learning. It needs the use of books and
printing. It needs material buildings for public worship. It needs earthly
wealth to carry on all the agencies ofinstruction and of blessing. Likewise the
individual disciple receives much from God in the way of providence. We have
the priceless ministry of angels. We have the pillar of cloud, and the pillar of
fire. We have the stimulating influence of godly companions. We have the
benefits of parental teaching and holy example. We have the inspirations that
come from the biographies of heroic men. These are wells in the desert;
"streams from Lebanon." All that is requisite to make this garden fertile, rich

in umbrageous shade, rich in luscious fruits, rich in aromatic spices, has been
lavishly supplied. No lack can be found in the thoughtfulness of the
husbandman.
2. Equally the Church needs God it, the wayof spiritual gifts. "Awake, O
north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices
thereof may flow out." The Hebrew word for "wind" means also "breath," or
"spirit;" hence we have here a striking emblem of the work of the Divine
Spirit. To him belongs the sole prerogative to impart life to the trees of the
garden. We invoke his presence because he is the Lord and Giver of life. For
the largestprosperity of the Church the goodSpirit of God is neededin all his
offices, in all his fulness of power. A blustering gale from the north scatters
noxious blight, but the soft wind from the south will quicken the flow of vital
sap, and will nurse the tender blossoms into ruddy fruit. So do we often need
that the Spirit of God should come like a northern tornado, and scatterto the
ground our false hopes and flimsy errors and earthly ambitions. And we need
him also as the Comforter, who shall revealto us the virtues of our Divine
Healer, and shall melt us into sweetobedience by the warmth of Immanuel's
love. As the fragrant odours of flowers lie hidden in their tiny cells until the
fresh south wind coaxesthem forth, so, too, the precious graces ofthe
Christian remain concealedandslumbering within until the Spirit of life and
powerbrings them forth, and diffuses them through the Church. Then do the
disciples of Christ become "living epistles, knownand read of men." "Awake,
O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden."
"Come as the wind, the dew, the rain;
Come, make this heart thy temple home;
Spirit of grace, come as thou wilt,
Our souls adjure thee - only come!" D.

Prayer and its Quick Response
J.D. Davies
Songs 4:16-5:1
Let my beloved come into his garden, and eathis pleasantfruits. I am come
into my garden." It is a sign of spiritual health when we heartily desire God's
best gifts; when our prayer is the prayer of faith; when we ask and have. But
it is a sign of higher attainment yet when we have but one desire, viz. the
desire to have the Giver with us rather than his gifts. A wife highly prizes the
love tokens she receives from her absentlord, but she values far more highly
his personalreturn. So, if we are wise, we shall more desire to have Christ in
our hearts than any gift of light or strength. "Let my Belovedhimself come."
To have the source of life is better than having the streams. If Christ is with
me I shall want nothing.
I. THE CHURCH'S INVITATION TO HER LORD.
1. She addresses him by an endearing title, "My Beloved. In dealing with
Jesus we need make no reserve of our affection. He will never resent our
largestconfidence. The mere suggestionborders on the profane. If we know
anything, we know whether we love the Saviour. Love to him is the same thing
in kind, as love to an earthly friend. We may stand in doubt whether Jesus has
love to us personally, although such a doubt is sin. But we need never be in
doubt whether love to him glows in our hearts. Many tests are available; and

when love, howeverscanty, is found, Jesus delights to hear himself thus
addressed, My Beloved!" Then is he King within, firm seatedon the throne.
2. She recognizes the gardento be his property. Yes; and not only is the
garden his, but eachparticular tree, eachseparate fruit. Every holy principle
within us he himself planted. It was planted by his own right hand. It has been
trained and pruned by his watchful care. Every blossomhas been under his
protection. The fruit has been storedwith juice from his treasuries. It is a
delicious joy if I canfeel that every grace in me is the handiwork of Jesus. Am
I prayerful? Jesus has been teaching me. Am I meek and self-forgetting? Jesus
has been busy in me, and has gently moulded my nature. Much trouble has he
takento bend my proud will. No earthly gardener has such labour to produce
fruit in his trees as Jesus has to make us fruitful in holiness and love. And the
more abundant our spiritual fruits are, the more readily shall we ascribe all
the praise to him.
3. Here is a strong desire to give our Masterpleasure. "Let him come;let him
eat his pleasantfruits." This is spokenafter the manner of men. It is a
peculiar joy for a man to walk in his own garden, and to eat the ripe fruit he
himself has carefully nurtured. A similar joy our Lord tastes. Butis any virtue
or goodness in us so ripe and sweetthat Jesus canfind joy in it? What
generous condescensiondoes he show in partaking of our meekness, and
patience, and faith, and sacredzeal!Just as a father finds peculiar pleasure in
listening to the first imperfect lispings of his child, and hears sweetmusic in
the brokenwords, so Jesus seesin our imperfect graces the promise of future
good, the promise of illustrious service, the promise of high attainment. Never
did a friend show such generous appreciationof our loyalty. To be fruitful in
Christian graces is in itself an ample reward, but to know that every
attainment in goodness we make adds to our Saviour's joy is a higher reward
still. Who will not brace every nerve to bring new pleasure to Immanuel! We
seek our joy in the heavenly paradise; Jesus seekshis joy in us. "I am glorified
in them."

II. THE BRIDEGROOM'SPROMPTRESPONSE. "Iam come."
1. Observe how swift is the reply. No advantage, in this case, willcome from
silence or delay. The Church has askedthe best thing, and she shall at once
have it. Here he has actedup to his own promise, "Before they callI will
answer." Thatselfsame desire to have Christ's presence was a desire planted
and nourished by himself, therefore he answeredthe desire before it
developed into spokenprayer. Already he had visited that garden, and sowed
the seedof noble ambition. Now it has grownto fruitage, and he has come to
enjoy it. We have never to wrestthis gift from a clenchedhand; it is a gift
waiting our acceptance.Before the invitation is despatchedhe is knocking at
the door. "I am come."
2. Mark the harmony of feeling and purpose betweenChrist and his people.
The Church has learnt a lessonofunselfishness from her Lord. Aforetime she
had desired him to come for her profit, or for her pleasure; now she asks him
to come for his own gratification. She thought that he would find delight in the
graces andexcellenceswhichflourish in the Church, and her spiritual
instincts were true to fact. This is a delightful discovery. When our thoughts
harmonize with Christ's thoughts, when our dispositions are the counterpart
of his, when one mind, one will, one aim, dwells in the Saviour and the saint,
then is heaven begun on earth. This is joy unspeakable;the foretaste of
beatific rest. This is the completion of the sacredcovenant. This is his seal
impressed on us.
3. Note the satisfactionwhich Jesus finds in his saints. This series of
metaphors is suggestive ofmany meanings. In our holy principles, in our
sacreddispositions, in our prayers and our praises, in our words and self-
sacrificing deeds, Jesus takesdelight. The myrrh and spice may indicate the
perfume of our intercession, orthe pleasure which he finds in our harmony of

praise. Since he has constructedall musical harmonies, and fashionedthe
human voice to produce this minstrelsy, surely he is moved to delight when
love to him stirs all the powers of song. Every endeavourto please him, every
aspiration after holiness, everynoble purpose, every actof self-denial, all
efforts towarda freer communion with him, - these are fruits of the Spirit, in
which Jesus finds delight. Blurred as these are with imperfection, we count
them very unworthy, and perhaps too much underrate them. If Jesus
appreciates them, and derives satisfactionfrom them, is not this great
encouragementto bring forth more fruit? Many products of nature are here
brought into service to illustrate a Christian's spiritual fruitfulness. One has
said that wine may representthose labours of ours which result from deep
thought, self-denial, and generous consecration, forwine must be pressed
from the grape with toil and care. But milk is a natural production, and may
representthose little deeds of kindness which flow from a quiet outgushing of
daily love. A vigorous fancy will find a hundred suggestionsin these
similitudes. The essentiallessonis this, that the Sonof God has a large
accessionof joy from all forms of genuine piety. His people are his vineyard,
his inheritance, and in them he finds delight.
III. A GENEROUS PARTICIPATION. "Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink
abundantly, O beloved." The satisfactionwhich Jesus finds, he forthwith
shares with his chosen. If there be a smile on the Bridegroom's face, it will
sooncommunicate itself to the bride. If the Head have gladness, so will all the
members in the mystical body.
1. Jesus uses very tender titles to designate his saints. He calls them "friends."
The old explanation of a friend suits well in this place, viz. one souldwelling in
two bodies. Jesus completelyidentifies himself with us. Once we were aliens,
enemies, rebels, but the old enmity is changedinto a sacredand inseparable
friendship. Jonathan gave proof of his friendship with David when he stripped
himself of raiment and put it upon his friend. But our Immanuel has
surpassedall orders of creatures in his practicaldeeds of kindness. Further,

he calls them his "beloved." He pressethinto service everyhuman form of
speech. MayI take this word as addressedto me? Mostcertainly I may, for I
am not excluded. No saint has attained to this rapturous privilege by any
personalmerit. "He died for the ungodly." Though the chief of sinners, "he
loved me; he gave himself for me. Yes; mystery though it is, it is also plainest
among facts, that into my penitent heart Jesus comes to dwell, and into my ear
he whispers this endearing word, Beloved."
2. Observe the provisions prepared. They are of two kinds, viz. food and
drink. Very properly may we regardthe food as revealedtruth. To appreciate
the eternalfacts of God's redemption, this is solid food. This is the manna
which cometh down from heaven. The only food for the hungry soul is truth.
"Christ said not to his first conventicle,
Go forth and preach imposture to the world,'
But gave them truth to feed on." This is heavenly nutriment, and is
indispensable. And what else can the drink be, but the mercy of our God,
flowing from the fount of his eternal love? All truth and all grace are in Jesus;
hence he says to us, "He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that
believeth on me shall never thirst."
3. Mark the fulness of the entreaty. "Drink; yea, drink abundantly." No
generous hostlikes to see his guests making pretence of eating or drinking. It
implies that they doubted his welcome, and took care to have a meal before
they came. This is dishonouring to the giver of the feast. And Jesus will have
none of that. He knows well that the thirst of the soul can be allayed nowhere
but from him. He knows wellthat no one can have a surfeit of his mercy. Of
other things we may eat and drink more than is for our good, but of the love
of Christ we cannot have too much. The love we partake in shall become in us
"a well, springing up unto everlasting life." Howevermuch we take, we do not

diminish the supply. Trembling at his table, I have sometimes said, "Lord, I
am too unworthy to sip a drop of thy mercy. My sin is unusual, crimson,
aggravated."But he straightwayreplies, "Forthee it is provided. Drink; yea,
drink abundantly, O beloved." - D.
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(16) Blow upon my garden.—Afterthe description of his beloved’s charms
under these figures, the poet, under a companion figure, invokes the “airs of
love” to blow upon the garden, that its perfumes may “flow out” for him—
that the object of his affections may no longer keepherselfreservedand
denied to him. Tennyson’s melodious lines are recalledwhich describe how,
when a breeze of morning moves,
“The woodbine spices are waftedabroad,
And the musk of the roses blown.”
Let my beloved . . .—This should form a separate verse, being the reply made
to the appealin the first part of the verse. The maiden yields to her lover’s
suit.
BensonCommentary
Song of Solomon 4:16. Awake, O north wind, &c. — These winds may signify
the severaldispensations ofGod’s Spirit. Blow upon my garden — This verse
is spokenby the spouse. And she calls the garden both hers and his, because of
that oneness whichis betweenthem, Song of Solomon 2:16. That the spices
may flow out — That my graces may be exercised. Let my beloved come into
his garden— Let Christ afford his gracious presenceto his church; and eat

his pleasantfruits — And let him delight himself in that service which is given
him, both by the religious worship, and by the holy conversationofhis people.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
4:16 The church prays for the influences of the blessedSpirit, to make this
garden fruitful. Graces in the soulare as spices in these gardens, that in them
which is valuable and useful. The blessedSpirit, in his work upon the soul, is
as the wind. There is the north wind of conviction, and the south wind of
comfort. He stirs up goodaffections, and works in us both to will and to do
that which is good. The church invites Christ. Let him have the honour of all
the gardenproduces, and let us have the comfort of his acceptanceofit. We
can invite him to nothing but what is his own already. The believer can have
no joy of the fruits, unless they redound some way or other to the glory of
Christ. Let us then seek to keepseparate from the world, as a garden
enclosed, and to avoid conformity thereto.
Barnes'Notes on the Bible
The bride's brief reply, declaring her affectionfor the king and willingness to
belong to him.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary
16. Awake—literally, "arise."All besides is ready; one thing alone is
wanted—the breath of God. This follows rightly after His death (So 6:12; Ac
2:1-4). It is His call to the Spirit to come (Joh 14:16); in Joh 3:8, comparedto
"the wind"; quickening (Joh6:63; Eze 27:9). Saints offer the same prayer (Ps
85:6; Hab 3:2). The north wind "awakes,"orarises strongly, namely, the
Holy Ghostas a reprover (Joh 16:8-11);the south wind "comes" gently,
namely, the Holy Ghostas the comforter (Joh 14:16). The westwind brings
rain from the sea (1Ki 18:44, 45;Lu 12:54). The eastwind is tempestuous (Job
27:21;Isa 27:8) and withering (Ge 41:23). These, therefore, are not wanted;
but first the north wind clearing the air (Job37:22; Pr 25:23), and then the
warm south wind (Job 37:17);so the Holy Ghost first clearing awaymists of
gloom, error, unbelief, sin, which intercept the light of Jesus Christ, then
infusing spiritual warmth (2Co 4:6), causing the graces to exhale their odor.

Let my beloved, &c.—the bride's reply. The fruit was now at length ripe; the
last passover, whichHe had so desired, is come (Lu 22:7, 15, 16, 18), the only
occasionin which He took charge of the preparations.
his—answering to Jesus Christ's "My." She owns that the garden is His, and
the fruits in her, which she does not in false humility deny (Ps 66:16;Ac
21:19;1Co 15:10) are His (Joh 15:8; Php 1:11).
Matthew Poole's Commentary
Awake;or, arise;either,
1. To be gone, as being commonly hurtful to plants and gardens;or rather,
2. To come, as the next clause explains it. For both the north wind and the
south wind have their severaluses in gardens;the former to purge and cool
the air, and to bring fair weather;the latter to warm and moisten the earth,
and cherish the plants. And these winds may signify the severaldispensations
either of God’s providence, or rather of his Spirit, which is comparedto the
wind, John 3:8, whereby the following effects are produced.
My garden: this verse is spoken;by the spouse, as appears from the lastclause
of it. And she calls the garden both hers and his, because ofthat oneness
which is betweenthem, Song of Solomon2:16, whereby they have a common
interest one in another’s person and concerns.
That the spices thereofmay flow out; that my graces maybe exercisedto thy
glory, the edification of others, and my own comfort.
Let my Belovedcome into his garden, let Christ afford his gracious presence
more and more to his church, and eathis pleasantfruit; and let him delight

himself in that service and glory which is given to him, both by the religious
worship and by the holy conversations ofhis people.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Awake, O north wind,.... These words, according to some (l), are the words of
the church continued, praying for the spirit; to which sense the order and
connectionof the words seemto incline; though the language suits best with
Christ, who has the command of the winds, and a right and property in the
garden, the church: nor does it seemso agreeable,that the church should
petition Christ to let loose the north wind upon her, if by that are meant
afflictive dispensations of Providence;but agrees wellenoughwith Christ,
since these come not without his will and order, and by him made to work
togetherfor good;by which he nips the corruptions of his people, tries their
graces,and causes them to come forth into exercise:though some (m) think
this is a command to the north wind to remove, and be gone, and blow no
longer, since it was spring, Sol 2:11; and would be harmful to the plants in the
garden; and the verb "blow" is singular, and only in constructionwith the
south wind; and, besides, winds diametrically opposite (n) cannot blow
togetherin the same horizon, with a continued blast: though others (o) are of
opinion, that both winds are designed, being both useful to gardens;the one to
scatterthe clouds, and make the air clearand wholesome, and restrainthe
luxuriance of the plants; and the other, being moist and warming, of use to
bring plants and fruits to maturity; and both may design the Spirit of God, in
his different operations and effects, through the law and the terrors of it, and
by the Gospeland its comforting doctrines;
and come, thou south, blow upon my garden; the church, Christ's property, as
she asserts inthe latter part of the verse:the Spirit of God is intended by the
"south", or south wind; who is comparedto the "wind", because it blows like
that, freely, and as he pleases, when, where, and on whom, and imperceptibly,
powerfully, and irresistibly, John 3:8; and to the "south wind", because it is a
warm wind, brings serenity, and makes fruitful with showers ofrain: so the
Spirit of Godwarms the cold heart of a sinner; thaws his frozen soul, and
comforts with the discoveries ofdivine love; brings quietness and peace into
the conscience;and makes fruitful in grace and goodworks, by causing the

rain of Gospeldoctrines to descend and distil upon men. The end to be
answeredis,
that the spices thereofmay flow out; the spices in the garden, the odoriferous
plants, might emit a fragrant smell; though Virgil (p) represents the south
wind as harmful to flowers;so it might be in Italy, where it dried them up, as
Servius on the place observes;and yet be useful to them in Palestine, where it
blew from the sea, and is sometimes so called, Psalm107:3. Spices denote the
graces ofbelievers, rare, precious, and odorous;and their "flowing out" the
exercise ofthem, their evidence, increase, andthe ripening of them; when they
diffuse a sweetodourto Christ and others, and make it delightful to walk in
his garden;as it is to walk in one after a delightful showerof rain, and when
the wind gently blows upon it. And hence what is prayed for being granted,
the church speaks again, and invites Christ, saying;
let my beloved come into his garden; which "coming" is to be understood, not
of Christ's first, nor of his secondcoming; but of his spiritual coming, to visit
his people, grant his presence, and manifest his love; which is very desirable
by them; and, when granted, is reckoneda great favour, and is an instance of
the condescending grace ofChrist, John 14:22; the church is "his garden" by
his ownchoice, his Father's gift, the purchase of his blood, and the power of
his grace:and here he is invited to come,
and eathis pleasantfruits; meaning either the graces ofthe Spirit, which are
his fruits; and calledChrist's, because they come from him, and are exercised
on him, and he is the author and finisher of them: or the goodworks of
believers, which are performed by virtue of union to him, and abiding in him;
are done in his strength, and designedfor his glory: and both are "pleasant",
that is, wellpleasing and acceptable to him; the graces ofthe Spirit, when in
exercise, as appears from Sol4:9; and goodworks, whendone in faith, from a
principle of love, and to his glory: and he may be said to eat them when he
expresses his well pleasednesswith them, and acceptationofthem.
(l) So Cocceius, Marckius, Michaelis. (m) Foliot, Sanctius, & Tig. Not. in loc.
So Ambrose is Psal. i. 5. p. 686. (n) Aristot. Meteorolog.l. 2. c. 6. (o) Jarchi &
Aben Ezra in loc. (p) "Floribus austrum perditus", Bucolic. Eclog. 2. v. 58.

Geneva Study Bible
Awake, O {i} north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that
its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his
pleasantfruits.
(i) She desires Christ to comfort her and to pour the gracesofhis Spirit on
her, which is meant by the North and South wind.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges
16. It is doubtful whether this whole verse is spokenby the Shulammite, or the
latter clause only, her lover being still the speakerin the first half of the verse.
That he is still the speakerin the first clause is suggestedby ‘my garden’in
Song of Solomon 4:16 b and ‘his garden’ in Song of Solomon4:16 c. But the
change of pronoun is quite compatible with the view that the bride is the
speakerthroughout. My garden would then be ‘myself,’ ‘my person,’ as in ch.
Song of Solomon 1:6, ‘my vineyard.’ His garden again, in the mouth of the
Shulammite indicates, as Oettli wellremarks, “a certainshamefastmodesty.”
Probably the view that the bride speaks the whole verse is preferable.
Awake, O north wind] The north wind is coolin Palestine, andthe south or
south-westwind is warm. They are here calledupon to bring forth, by their
alternation, the perfumes (not the spices)of the garden, that they may flow
out, i.e. she desires that the graces ofher personand her mind may come to
their highest perfection. This would be more appropriate in the mouth of the
bride, who like all true lovers would desire to be nobler and more beautiful
than she is, that her lover might find her worthy, than in the mouth of her
lover, who would naturally think of her as being altogetherfair.
Let my beloved come into his garden, &c.]This last clause of the verse is
spoken, it should be remembered, by a loving woman shut up in a royal

dwelling awayfrom her lover, and expressesher longing for the time when
she shall be wholly his.
pleasantfruits] R.V. precious fruits, as in Song of Solomon 4:13.
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 16. - Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my
garden, that the spices thereofmay flow out. Let my beloved come into his
garden, and eat his precious fruits. This is the answerof the bride to the lavish
praises of her husband. I am all his. She is yet unworthy of the king and of his
love until the seasonalchangeshave developedand unfolded and spreadforth
her excellences.The north represents cold; the south, heat. Let the various
influences from different quarters flow gently over the gardenand call forth
the fragrance and the fruits (cf. Esther2:12). There is rich suggestionin such
words. Whether we think of the individual soul or of the Church of Christ, the
true desire of those who delight in the love of the Saviour is that all the gifts
and graces whichcanbe bestowedmay make them worthy of him who
condescends to callhis people his delight. Surely it is no mere romantic idyll
that is before us. Such significance cannotbe a mere coincidence whenit is so
transparent and so apt.
Keil and DelitzschBiblical Commentary on the Old Testament
He proceeds still further to praise her attractions.
10 How fair is thy love, my sister-bride!
How much better thy love than wine!
And the fragrance of thy unguents than all spices!
11 Thy lips drop honey, my bride;

Honey and milk are under thy tongue;
And the fragrance of thy garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
Regarding the connectionof the pluralet. ‫םידוּד‬ with the plur. of the pred., vid.,
at Sol 1:2. The pred. ‫ופי‬ praises her love in its manifestations according to its
impression on the sight; ‫,ּובי‬ according to its experience on nearerintercourse.
As in Sol4:9 the same power of impression is attributed to the eyes and to the
necklace, so here is intermingled praise of the beauty of her person with
praise of the fragrance, the odour of the clothing of the bride; for her soul
speaks outnot only by her lips, she breathes forth odours also for him in her
spices, whichhe deems more fragrant than all other odours, because he
inhales, as it were, her soul along with them. ‫,תפנ‬ from ‫,תפנ‬ ebullire (vid.,
under Proverbs 5:3, also Schultens), is virgin honey, ἄκοιτον(acetum, Pliny,
xi. 15), i.e., that which of itself flows from the combs (‫.)םיפוּד‬ Honey drops
from the lips which he kisses;milk and honey are under the tongue which
whispers to him words of pure and inward joy; cf. the contrary, Psalm 140:4.
The lastline is an echo of Genesis 27:27. ‫המלׂש‬ is ‫הלמׂש‬ (from ‫,הלמ‬ complicare,
complecti) transposed(cf. ‫המתׂש‬ from ‫ההוׂש‬,‫הימׂש‬ from ‫.)הבהׂש‬ As Jacob's
raiment had for his old father the fragrance of a field which God had blessed,
so for Solomonthe garments of the faultless and pure one, fresh from the
woods and mountains of the north, gave forth a heart-strengthening savour
like the fragrance of Lebanon (Hosea 4:7), viz., of its fragrant herbs and trees,
chiefly of the balsamic odour of the apples of the cedar.
PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
BRUCE HURT MD
Shulammite (young woman)...

Song 4:16 "Awake (imperative = command ), O north wind, and come (
imperative = command ) , wind of the south; Make my garden breathe (
imperative = command ) out fragrance, Let its spices be waftedabroad. May
my belovedcome into his garden And eatits choice fruits!"
THE YOUNG WOMAN'S
INVITATION TO INTIMACY
NET - Awake, O north wind; come, O south wind! Blow on my garden so that
its fragrant spices may send out their sweetsmell. May my beloved come into
his gardenand eat its delightful fruit!
NLT Awake, north wind! Rise up, south wind! Blow on my gardenand spread
its fragrance all around. Come into your garden, my love; taste its finest
fruits.
Awake...come...make...breathe - Three imperatives. She is calling for the wind
to carry the fragrances (describedin Song 4:13-14)to the young man
POSB - The word awake (‘uwr) is the same word the young woman had used
in her admonitions to her friends in Song 2:7 and Song 3:5. She had charged
them to not stir up the passions oflove until they were married. This had been
her faithful, diligent practice, and now the right person and the right time had
arrived to awakenher full, unrestrained, sexualdesires. She continued the
love language ofher groom, and invited the winds to carry her fragrance to
her beloved husband. Her call to both the north and south winds told her
husband that she desiredtheir lovemaking to be strong and passionate as well
as tender and caring. (Ibid)
Criswell- The Shulamite tastefully, poetically, and directly invites her lover to
come and fully possessherin intimate lovemaking. She is available and willing
for him to enjoy her as one would enjoy the choice fruits of a garden.
Longman on north wind...wind of the south - The mention of these two winds
coming from opposite directions is a merism that signifies that the womanis
opening herself completelyand without reservationto the man.

Glickman - As the breezes of spring are the fragrant messengersofa garden
sent to lure the outside world within, so now she requests those breezes to
blow upon her garden and bring her lover to her … With poetic beauty and
propriety she asks her lover to possessher. (Ibid)
Deere - The beloved’s request that the winds blow on her garden, that is,
herself (cf. Song 4:12, 15) was a delicate, poeticallybeautiful invitation to her
lover to fully possessher (come into her).
Guzik on may my beloved come into his gardenAnd eat its choice fruits - This
is the moment of yielded virginity, where the beloved is invited to enjoy the
previously protectedand sealedsexualityof the maiden. A line before, the
maiden calledit “my garden”;now it was his garden. Her virginity, her
sexuality, was protectedso that it could be fully given to her beloved. “And
she calls the garden both hers and his, because ofthe oneness which is
betweenthem … whereby they have a common interestone in another’s
person and concerns.” (Poole). The description is poetic and shy; the
experience was deepand moving.. He and he alone has the right to eatthe
pleasantfruits of her garden; only he can enjoy the pleasure and blessing of
the maiden’s sexuality.
My garden...his garden- Notice the change of pronouns as she invites her
beloved to possessher. She was now fully his, withholding nothing from him.
(cp 1Cor7:4).
My beloved - The young woman's term of endearment for the young man.
This specific phrase "my beloved" occurs 24xin 23v - Song 1:13, 14, 16; 2:3,
8, 9, 10, 16, 17; 4:16; 5:2, 4, 5, 6 (twice), Song 5:8, 10, 16; 6:2, 3; 7:9, 11, 13;
8:14. (There are only 2 other uses in the entire OT - Isaiah 5:1, God referring
to Israel and Jeremiah 11:15).
Guzik - Seeing the high value of virginity also helps us to understand the
Biblical commands againstpre-marital sex. It is helpful to refute many myths
about pre-marital sex:
• Myth: “The Bible says nothing againstpremarital sex.” Fact:The high value
placed on virginity, seenhere and in other passagessuchas Deuteronomy

22:13–29 showspremaritalsex is wrong. But it also clearlyfound in the
passagesthat speak againstthe sexualsin knownin the New Testamentas
porneia, and commonly translated “fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:13 and
6:18; Ephesians 5:3 and 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3. Porneia broadly refers to all
types of sexual activity outside of marriage (including homosexuality); it
encompasses practicallyallsexual behavior outside of that which is practiced
betweena husband and a wife in the bonds of their marriage.
• Myth: “He wants to have sex with me because he loves me.” Fact:His love
for you will be proved by his willingness to wait for marriage. The desire for
sex does not prove love in a man. In one survey, 55% of men said“yes” to the
following question: “If you could be certainthat your wife or girlfriend would
never know, would you have sex with any of her friends?” And to the
question, “Have you ever had sexwith a woman you have actively disliked?”
58% of men said “yes”. You are foolish if you think a boy loves you—or even
likes you—because he wants to have sexwith you.
• Myth: “My boyfriend is a Christian and loves the Lord. I don’t have to
worry about that.” Fact:Christian men face the same challenges as non-
Christians when it comes to sexualdesires and lusts. They have the ability to
overcome those lusts by the powerof the Holy Spirit, but it isn’t easyand
many who thought they were strong enoughhave fallen to these sins.
• Myth: “We are going to getmarried, so it doesn’t matter.” Fact:It does
matter. First, you are setting a value on your own sexuality; there is a sense in
which a woman then gives her future husband the right to treat her as an
object. Second, you are setting a pattern; you are agreeing that in some
circumstances, sexoutside of marriage is acceptable, andthis is something you
don’t want in your mind or in the mind of your marriage partner; especially
because onof the most important aspects ofa long lasting, fulfilling sexual
relationship is trust. Third, you are only taking awayfrom the blessing God
intends for your sexual relationship when married.
• Myth: “We canbe married before God.” Fact:If you were on a desertisland
without any intuitions of government or society, this might be an argument.
But marriage in both the Biblical and cultural sense is being joined together in

a public ceremonythat is recognizedas legaland legitimate by the law and the
culture. You aren’t on a desertisland.
><>><>><>
TODAY IN THE WORD - Despite evidence that indicates they are effective,
abstinence programs continue to be a controversialapproach to sex education
in many public schools. Mostabstinence programs do not use the Bible to
convince young people not to have sex before marriage, but their strategyis
basedupon the old-fashioned biblical value of chastity.
Usually supporters argue that they do a better job of protecting young people
from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. One program
in Tennessee, forexample, was credited with helping the county drop its state
ranking in teen pregnancies from first to sixty-fourth, accomplishedin three
years.
In today’s reading, we find another important benefit to chastity. It not only
protects from disease and unwanted pregnancy, it also enhances the beauty of
sex in marriage.
The groompraises the chaste characterof his bride by describing her as a
“gardenlockedup,” a “spring enclosed” anda “sealedfountain.” The practice
of abstinence did not make her seemlike a prude, but rather like a beautiful
private garden. Old TestamentcommentatorFranz Delitzsch notes, “To a
lockedgardenand spring no one has accessbut the rightful owner, and a
sealedfountain is shut againstall impurity.”
The practice of chastity is not rootedin a hatred of sex but an understanding
of its true value. The chaste personrecognizes the beauty of moral purity.
Abstinence did not make the bride less attractive to Solomon, it increasedhis
longing for her. Moralpurity enhances one’s enjoyment of sex.
Chastity is a relevant issue for single and married alike. Both have an
obligation to control their ownbodies that today’s verse describes as “in a way
that is holy and honorable” (1Th 4:4). For the single personthis means
abstaining from sexualactivity until marriage. For the married person it
means keeping the gate to this garden of secretdelights lockedto all but one’s

spouse. Hebrews 13:4 warns, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the
marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually
immoral.”
GO TO...
Song of Songs 3 Commentary <> Song of Songs 5 Commentary
Joe Guglielmo's Sermon Notes
SONG OF SOLOMON 4
Song 4:1-5
Do you think Solomon loves her? You bet he does and he tells her that there is
no one who can compare with her! He is showing her how much he loves her
by what he is saying to her.
Now what I want you to notice is that this love is not conditional. He does not
say, “I’ll love you if you do this.” Or “I’ll love you when you do that.” Or “I
love you but . . .” He tells his bride “I LOVE YOU - PERIOD!”
It is as Paul saidin I Corinthians 13:4-8a, “Love suffers long and is kind; love
does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave
rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice
in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes
all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” If that is the kind of love we
have for eachother in our marriage then we would not have any problems.
But once we move away from this Agape love, this unconditional love and
start focusing on self, there are many problems. But Solomonshows
unconditional love here for his bride!
There is greatcomfort in that. That kind of love removes fear. The wife canbe
who she is and does not have to live up to his standard. She sees his love for
her and she can restin that. That is how it should be in marriage men! It is as
John said regarding God’s love for us in I John 4:18. He said “There is no fear
in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fearinvolves torment. But he
who fears has not been made perfect in love.” May we have that kind of love
for our wife!

Now I would not encourage youto use the phrases he is using to describe your
wife, but back then they meant something and I guess something better than
they do today. I am not sure if dove’s eyes are beautiful, I have never looked
that closelybut to Solomonthey were!
In regards to the goat’s hair, their hair was black and as they gatheredon the
mountain side it lookedlike black silky hair. It was beautiful. If you say that
about your wife today, that her hair is like goats hair, she might be a little
mad. But back then, it was thought of as beautiful.
She has beautiful white teeth that were straight and she wasn’t missing any I
think is the idea here. Her lips were beautiful, no Botox here! Her temples
were beautiful, her neck like “the tower of David” may be speaking that it was
long! And he even speaks ofher breasts as being satisfying to him.
Solomonis in love, he is head over heels in love with her! He is not
embarrassedby speaking of her beauty and we should not be embarrassedto
let others see that we love our wife! Now this might blow you awaybut God is
head over heels in love with us!
Song 4:6
We are not sure who is speaking here. Some feelit is Solomonand he is just
expressing his desire to be alone with his bride. It could be. But I lean more to
this being his bride speaking, maybe embarrassedby what was said of her
because as you getto verse 7 you see Solomonspeak ofhis bride once again
and how there were no imperfections in her, none at all!
I think this is also a beautiful picture of how we feel. We feel we don’t deserve
God’s love and we don’t. We don’t think we are beautiful and I guess we are
not in our owneyes but the Lord sees us as beautiful. But as we read on and
see what Solomonsays and as a picture of Christ and what He says to us, His
bride, it does fit.
Song 4:7-8
Men, here is a lessonfor us to learn. Our wives need to be comfortedand that
is exactly what Solomonis doing here. He comforts her insecurity by telling

her she is perfect; there is no spot or blemish that he sees in her. Now I also
like that because thatis how God sees us. Not as we are, but what we will be in
glory.
We have not reachedthat perfect state, Godis bringing us to it, as Philippians
1:6 tells us, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good
work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Notice that I am not confident in myself that I will complete the work, but in
God that what He began in my life He will complete. He beganthe work of my
salvationsome 30 plus years ago and what He started He will finish. You see,
we should not have confidence in our flesh, only in Him. He chose me, called
me, and will perfectme in Christ and the same with you. He will complete the
work He has begun as Jude 24 says, “Now to Him who is able to keepyou
from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory
with exceeding joy.”
We are told that he has come to pick up his bride in the area of Lebanon and
is now bringing her home to Jerusalem. Glickmansums what is going on here
for us as he wrote, “In asking her to come from such fearful places, he is
really asking her to bring her thoughts completely to him and leave her fears
behind and perhaps to leave the lingering thoughts of home behind as well . . .
he wished her to leave her fearand anxiety about the new life of marriage and
simply come to him . . . So he calls her from her fears to his arms.”
Song 4:9-11
Do you think Solomon is in love? You bet he is, Solomonis love struck! Was
Solomonphysically attractedto her? You bet he was but that love was even
deeper than that, he loved the beauty that was in her and that overflowed
outwardly.
One of the things that attractedme to my wife, well, it was everything but
there was one thing that drew me to her and that were her eyes. They are
beautiful. “PastorJoe,you were drawn to Julie because ofher outward
beauty?” Yes, you bet! I know, some will tell you that physical attraction is
wrong. They will say that it is of the flesh. I disagree.

I think we should be physically attractedto the one we love, and as that
relationship grows, it no longeris just a physical attraction, but runs much
deeper. If it doesn’t, the relationship will fade away, break up. Solomon was
attractedto her beauty and like I have said, that beauty was not only
outward!
Solomonis so excitedthat the one he loves is going to be his bride. And he
speaks ofthis love that they had togetherand the word used here for “love”
speaks ofromantic love expressedwith physical contact. He is telling her that
the love they share togetherwas more refreshing and more intoxicating than
wine. All their senses were involved in this romantic love; sight, smell, touch
and sound!
I can’t imagine being married to someone thatyou did not love that way.
Coming home day in and day out and there is no spark, there is nothing. That
would be horrible. I realize that some would have you believe that intimacy,
this kind of love is wrong, some even go to the extreme and feel that sexis
wrong betweena husband and wife if you are not trying to have children.
Give me a break. Godhas given us sexto enjoy betweena husband and his
wife. Do I have Scripture to support that? You bet I do, for Paul tells us in
Hebrews 13:4,“Marriageis honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but
fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” So if you are not enraptured with
your spouse, why not?
Song 4:12-15
That phrase, “A garden enclosed”is a euphemism speaking of her virginity.
He speaks ofhow much he valued her purity. I wish people would value their
virginity today. The world has takensomething that God has given us, the joy
of sexual relations betweenmarried couples and has cheapenedit, there seems
to be no real value to being a virgin prior to your marriage today. And if you
are people make fun of you, go figure!
How wrong a conceptthat is and I wish people would understand that. For
those of you who aren’t married, don’t believe a person who tells you they
love you and then want to have sexwith you outside of marriage. They don’t

love you, they lust you! The relationship betweenSolomonand his bride was
rich and deep and they did not have sexualrelations until they were married.
Song 4:16
Keep in mind that they are married and she is calling for him to come and
enjoy the fruits of her garden, to be intimate with her. Please understand what
is going on here. The wedding ceremony beganwith a processionofthe
bridegroom coming to pick up his bride at her home. They were then escorted
to the home he had built for them to live in, and that night the couple
consummated their marriage. Then, the feastwould continue on, sometimes
lasting severaldays. It is on this first night that she is beckoning for him to
come into her and consummate the marriage.
In a spiritual sense, we are to let the beauty of the Lord come upon us so that
His fragrance may flow through us and touch the lives of others. And the only
way that the fragrance of the Lord is going to permeate your life is if you
come in contactwith Him.
Paul tells us in II Corinthians 2:14-17, “Now thanks be to God who always
leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance ofHis
knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among
those who are being savedand among those who are perishing. To the one we
are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life
leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so
many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we
speak in the sight of God in Christ.”
I think many times, because we are so far removed from that culture we miss
what is going on. Paul takes this illustration from the Roman Triumph Parade
that was given to generals who were successfulin battle, returning home in
victory. Of this Barclaytells us:
In a Triumph the processionofthe victorious generalmarched through the
streets of Rome to the Capitol . . . first came the state officials and the senate.
Then came the trumpeters. Then were carriedthe spoils taken from the
conquered land . . . Then came the pictures of the conquered land and models

of conquered citadels and ships. There followedthe white bull for sacrifice
which would be made. Then there walkedthe captive princes, leaders and
generals in chains, shortly to be flung into prison and in all probability almost
immediately to be executed. Then came the lectors bearing their rods,
followedby the musicians with their lyres; then the priests swinging their
censers with the sweet-smelling incense burning in them. After that came the
generalhimself . . . finally came the army wearing all the decorations and
shouting lo triumphe! Their cry of triumph. As the processionmoved through
the streets, alldecorated and garlanded, amid the cheering crowds, it made a
tremendous day which might happen only once in a lifetime. . . . That is the
picture that is in Paul’s mind. He sees Christmarching in triumph throughout
the world, and himself in that conquering train. It is a triumph which, Paul is
certain, nothing can stop.”-William Barclay
As Christ marches in He is leading us, and as we are close to Jesus the
fragrance of our Leader, Jesus Christpermeates our lives and those around
us will smell the fragrance ofJesus. The question is, “What kind of smell are
you leaving behind?”
Now how does the world respond to the aroma that we leave behind? Paul
says that to all we are the aroma of God just as the incense burnt to the gods
in a Roman Triumph Parade spoke of the aroma, the powerof the Roman
generaland Rome itself. This smell though did affectpeople differently. If you
were part of Rome it was wonderful, joyous but if you were the defeated
enemy it was the smell of death! For those that believe and receive Jesus into
their lives it speaks oflife, but for those that reject Jesus it is the smell of
death, eternal separationfrom God!
We also needto remember that we were createdfor His pleasure, for God to
enjoy, and the fruit that is born in our lives is for Him to enjoy, it is for His
glory. We think it is all about us and it isn’t. I am not saying that God does
not bless us, He does. But what we tend to do is put the cart in front of the
horse and seek afterall that we want, all that we desire instead of bringing
God pleasure. Jesus saidin Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness, andall these things shall be added to you.” He is first
and if we have that right God will take care of our needs, not our wants. Focus

is everything and our focus needs to be on the Lord. Remember what we are
told in Revelation4:11, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and
honour and power:for thou hast createdall things, and for thy pleasure they
are and were created.” (King James Version).
You see, people can’t find satisfactionin their life even though their life is
filled with all kinds of things because they are not doing what they have been
createdfor, to bring pleasure to God! Folks, I can’t imagine not coming to
worship the Lord, I would be here every night if I could, but that is not the
only way we worship the Lord. We worship the Lord in all that we do! And
thus, if you want true satisfactionin your life, if you want peace like a river
flowing from your life, if you want true fulfillment in your life, you need to
submit your life to the King of kings and Lord of lords! He has createdall
things and for His pleasure we are and were created, may we not forgetthat!
(Song of Solomon) -
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges
Song of Solomon 4:16
Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the
spices thereofmay flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eathis
pleasantfruits.
16. It is doubtful whether this whole verse is spokenby the Shulammite, or the
latter clause only, her lover being still the speakerin the first half of the verse.
That he is still the speakerin the first clause is suggestedby ‘my garden’in
Song of Solomon 4:16 b and ‘his garden’ in Song of Solomon4:16 c. But the
change of pronoun is quite compatible with the view that the bride is the
speakerthroughout. My garden would then be ‘myself,’ ‘my person,’ as in ch.
Song of Solomon 1:6, ‘my vineyard.’ His garden again, in the mouth of the

Shulammite indicates, as Oettli wellremarks, “a certainshamefastmodesty.”
Probably the view that the bride speaks the whole verse is preferable.
Awake, O north wind] The north wind is coolin Palestine, andthe south or
south-westwind is warm. They are here calledupon to bring forth, by their
alternation, the perfumes (not the spices)of the garden, that they may flow
out, i.e. she desires that the graces ofher personand her mind may come to
their highest perfection. This would be more appropriate in the mouth of the
bride, who like all true lovers would desire to be nobler and more beautiful
than she is, that her lover might find her worthy, than in the mouth of her
lover, who would naturally think of her as being altogetherfair.
Let my beloved come into his garden, &c.]This last clause of the verse is
spoken, it should be remembered, by a loving woman shut up in a royal
dwelling awayfrom her lover, and expressesher longing for the time when
she shall be wholly his.
IRONSIDE
Verses 12-16
ADDRESSESON THE SONG OF SOLOMON
by H. A. Ironside, LITT. D. Author of “Notes onHebrews,” “Lectures on
Romans,” “Colossians,”“Revelation,” etc.,etc.
Loizeaux Brothers, Inc. Bible Truth DepotA Non-ProfitOrganization,
Devotedto the Lord’s Work and to the spread of the Truth Copyright @ 1933
CHAPTER FIVE SONG OF SOLOMON 4:12-5:1

“A garden inclosedis my sister, my spouse;a spring shut up, a fountain
sealed. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates,with pleasantfruits;
camphire, with spikenard, spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon,
with all trees of frankincense;myrrh, and aloes, with all the chief spices:a
fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the
spices thereofmay flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eathis
pleasantfruits. I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse:I have
gatheredmy myrrh with my spice;I have eatenmy honeycomb with my
honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink
abundantly, O beloved” (Song of Solomon4: 12-15;5: 1).
WE have been noticing in chapter after chapter how the blessedLord puts
before us our privileges as those who are permitted to enter into communion
with Himself, and now in this little sectionwe have the believer (if you think of
it as the individual), or Israel, or the Church, whichever you will, pictured as
a wateredgarden setapart for our Lord Himself to bring forth fruit that will
be to His delight. It is a lovely figure, one used on a number of other occasions
in Scripture. In the fifty-eighth chapter of the prophet Isaiah, God pictures
His people as such a garden. In verse eleven, He says, “The Lord shall guide
thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and
thou shalt be like a wateredgarden, and like a spring of water, whose waters
fail not.”
This is a beautiful picture. Primarily it refers to Israel, and morally it speaks
of any believer, of that which God would see in all His saints as they walk with
Him. In the book of the prophet Jeremiah, chapter thirty-one, verse twelve,
we read, “Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall
flow togetherto the goodnessof the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil,
and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a
wateredgarden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.” It is the Risen
Christ Himself from whom we draw abundant supplies of mercy and grace;
but did you ever think of your own heart as a gardenin which He is to find
His joy? Your very life is as a gardenwhich is to be for His pleasure. Thatis
the figure you have here. It is the bridegroom looking upon his bride with his

heart filled with delight as he says to her, “You are to be for me, you are like a
lovely garden yielding its fruit and flowers for me, setapart for myself.”
“A garden inclosedis my sister, my spouse;a spring shut up, a fountain
sealed.” We in America like open gardens that anybody can enjoy, but in
Syria and in other parts of the old land, they have many inclosedgardens,
gardens that are walled in. This is necessaryin some of those countries, as
otherwise they would be destroyed by marauding creatures and robbers. It is
as though the Lord says, “Thatis what I want My people to be, separatedto
Myself; I want them to have about them the wall of holiness, for I have
marked them off as My own.” In the Psalms we read, “The Lord hath set
apart him that is godly for Himself.” Some Christians shrink from the idea of
separation. If it is only a legalthing, it may become mere Phariseeismwith no
heart to it, but if it is to Himself, if it is the soul going out to Him, if one turns
awayfrom the world for love of Him, then separationis a very precious thing
indeed, and one does not need to think of it as legalbondage, for it is being set
apart for God Himself. Could one think of a higher privilege on earth than
that He might find His joy in us and we might find our joy in Him?
“A garden inclosedis my sister, my spouse.” How Satanlikes to break down
the wall, to destroy that principle of holy separationwhich would keepour
hearts for the Lord alone;but what a loss it is to our own souls, and what a
loss it means to Him, when His people become like a garden trodden under
foot, as it were, by every wayfarer. That is what the Christian becomes who
does not keepthe path of separation.
Then notice the next figure, “A spring shut up, a fountain sealed.” Pure water
is a very precious thing in the Far Eastand so often, when a spring is
discovered, it is walledabout, covered, and locked, and the owner of it keeps
the keyso that he cango and drink when he will, and the wateris keptfrom
pollution and waste.
That is what our Lord would have in His people. He has given His Holy Spirit
to dwell in us, and the Holy Spirit is Himself the Fountain of Waterwithin
every believer’s heart, that we might be to His praise and to His glory. This

Jesus Visits His Garden of Believer's Souls

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