AN IDYLLIC LOVE
THE SHULAMITE
Rightly do they love you ...(male).
5 I (am) dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
Do not look upon me, because I (am) dark, because the sun has looked upon me.
My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards, my own vineyard I have not kept.
(TO THE BELOVED)
Tell me, O you whom I love, where you feed (your flock), where you make (it) rest at noon. For why should I be as one who veils herself/wanders by the flocks of your companions?
THE BELOVED
8 If you do not know, O fairest among women, follow in the footsteps of the flock, and feed your little goats beside the shepherds' tents.
I have compared you, my love, to my filly among Pharaoh's chariots. Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, your neck with chains.
THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM
We will make you ...(female singular) ...((the Shulamite)) ornaments of gold with studs of silver.
THE SULAMITE
12 While the king is at his table, my (perfume) sends forth its fragrance.
A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, that lies all night between my breasts. My beloved (is) to me a cluster of (flowers) in the vineyards of En Gedi.
THE BELOVED
15 Behold, you (are) fair, my love! Behold, you (are) fair! You (have) dove's eyes.
THE SHULAMITE
Behold, you are handsome my beloved! Yes, pleasant!
Also our bed/couch is green. The beams or our houses (are) cedar, our rafters of fir.
2:1 I (am) the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys.
THE BELOVED
Like a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
THE SHULAMITE
3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved among the sons.
I sat down in his shade with great delight, and his fruit (was) sweet to my taste.
THE SHULAMITE TO THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM
He brought me to the (banqueting table), and his banner over me (was) love.
Sustain me with cakes of raisins, refresh me with apples, for I (am) lovesick.
6 His left hand (is) under my head, and his right hand embraces me.
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field, do not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.
THE SHULAMITE
The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.
Behold, he stands behind our wall; He is looking through the windows, gazing through the lattice.
10 My beloved spoke, and said to me: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over (and) gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and vines (with) the tender grapes give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away! 14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely."
THE BROTHERS
15 Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines (have) tender grapes.
THE SULAMITE
My beloved (is) mine, and I (am) his. He feeds (his flock) among the lilies.
(TO HERBELOVED)
17 Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the mountains of Bether.
Their coming together is fitting and ideal. And the ideals begin in the introduction.
She is won over, v2a.
She esteems him above all other pleasures, v2b.
He is honourable in character, and of worthy report, v3;
(fragrance is poetic of spirit and good ointments character refined,
while a name means it is recognised, which a woman esteems.)
They continue when the Shulamite speaks of herself.
She has served her family, v6, even giving it priority over, and at
sacrifice of, her own interests, v6, etc, as you read it.
And continue through the presentation of their initial relationship:
He esteems her above all others, v8.
He will guide her gently, v8.
He will provide for her and protect her, v8.
He has considered her and esteems her as unique among others, v9.
He praises her, v10, etc.
As you continue to read, there are many more figurative meanings you will see, through which the Lord may speak.
Their place is established in good order, solid and orderly, v16, as were their homes before them, v17.
(She is the one who expresses it, v 2:1.)
It establishes her value v 2:1.
He is the courtier, v4.
His motive, and attitude, is love, v4.
She judges it, and declares it, (in this case, fitting and ideal) v6 and 7.
Now she becomes poetic herself, looking at the wider circumstances: v 2:8 – 2:17
This beautiful scene addresses the wider circumstances of their coming
together.
The prospect of their coming together is fitting and perfect in timing and circumstances.
He is well-able, above the world and already above circumstances, v8.
The circumstances and the timing are right, ...a time when things are
coming into natural fruition, v10 - 13.
He calls her, v8 - 14.
His love is perfect, v14 :her voice is sweet to him, and her face, lovely.
(Do you want to know if someone is 'in love'? – Here is your answer.)
She admires him as he is, in freedom, while they are yet separated, v17.
We note:
The love that she requires is there.
The respect he requires is there.
When we see these here in scripture completing the description of their first love, we may understand that each of these ideals (beautifully expressed in poetry) is necessary to success, and to the fullness of God's blessing.
Each poetic meaning here completes the ideal through which is the fullness of God's blessing.
In each falling short, for us there are consequences. And shortly we should discuss how are we supposed to meet these ideals in the world.
For the moment let me say it a blessing to have scripture even when we fall short,because scripture gives us understanding.
