From Winter into Spring – Song of Solomon 2:8-13

Communion series through the Song of Solomon. In these verses we find the bride in a winter season, she feels distant from her Beloved. He draws near to her and draws her out of her despondency into spring blessing. Touching applications for believers.

Interpretation: Christ is to be found in all the Scriptures. Luke 24:27 “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” “There is no book of the Bible which affords a better test of the depth of a man’s Christianity than the Song of Solomon…it contains the tenderest breathings of the believer’s heart towards the Saviour, and the tenderest breathings of the Saviour’s heart again towards the believer.” (McCheyne)

The Scene: The bride appears to be in a winter house, possibly that of King Solomon’s. It was common for kings to have both winter and summer houses. (Jeremiah 36:22; Judges 3:20; Amos 3:15). There is a distinct change in the mood from Vs. 6-7. There is a sense of distance from the Groom. She is passing through a winter season.

This Lesson: The bride’s experiences in the winter season teach us of our own Christian experience. There are seasons in the Christian life and sometimes God, in His infinite wisdom, allows our souls to go through a wintery experience for our ultimate good. The winter experience could be trials, chastening or even the results of sin and backsliding.

His Approach (Vs. 8-9a)

The Sound of His voice (8a)

1. The bride is awakened by the voice of her Beloved.
2. A mark of a genuine believer
   1. John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”
   2. Jeremiah 15:16 “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:”

The Swiftness of His coming (8b-9a)

1. ‘mountains’ & ‘hills’ = symbolize obstacles to be overcome
2. ‘roe’ or ‘young hart’ = speaks of swiftness. Christ easily overcomes all barriers to draw near to His bride
3. What are the barriers? Could represent a number of things. E.g. sin in the life of the believer; discouragement; trials etc… You may say, “This trial I am going through is such a hindrance to my spiritual life. It’s an insurmountable obstacle.” However, Christ can triumph over any obstacle that stands as an obstruction to our fellowship with Him.
4. The Groom takes the initiative. In this passage we see Him going to great efforts to awaken his bride and to draw her on to new experiences of His love. He comes to her in her times of trouble and tribulation.

His Appearance (Vs. 9b)

1. His Presence – “standeth behind our wall”
2. His Gaze – “looketh forth at the windows” The bride is the object of His loving gaze. He watches over her in all her distress.
3. His Revelation – “shewing himself through the lattice”
   1. ‘lattice’ = a hole or aperture in the wall
   2. Purpose of the lattice was to allow refreshing air to circulate freely in the house
   3. The Groom comforts the bride with His presence

His Announcement (Vs. 10)

1. His Endearment of her (Vs. 10a, 13b)
   1. “my love” = we are the objects of our Saviour’s love and affection
   2. “my fair one” = speaks of one who is beautiful, comely and pleasant. This is how Christ views the believer through Grace.
   3. Same phrase repeated in 13b
   4. Observe the personal pronoun ‘my’. A personal declaration of His love. She is His treasured possession
2. His Invitation to her (Vs. 10b – 13a)
   1. “rise up” = He seeks to arouse and awaken her from her despondency
   2. “come away” = He seeks to draw her into His fellowship

His Argument (Vs. 11-13)

Winter is over

1. She seems unaware of this fact. He reveals it to her. He now seeks to draw her focus away from the cold & darkness of winter to the warmth and light of spring.
2. The winter season of necessity, must precede the spring. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” (Ecc. 3:1)
3. Principle: Trials and tests are God’s preparations for a fresh spring time of blessing. John 15 teaches this principle. The Father cuts us back so that there might be new life and more fruit.
4. Principle: Only the Lord can truly tell you when your winter season (trials & testings) is over.

Spring has arrived

1. Just as the aspects of the winter season have their counterpart in the spiritual realm, so also the spring.
2. He speaks to here of the sights (flowers), sounds (birds) and smells (figs and grapes) of spring. Each of these teach us a spiritual lesson:
   1. Flowers = represent beauty and fragrance. Speaks of the Christian graces. For example, growth in patience and longsuffering, the development of godly character, a deeper walk with God. These are the fragrant, beautiful things that come after the winter.
   2. Singing birds = represents praise and joy. Turtle dove specifically mentioned. Turtle doves leave for winter and come back in spring.
   3. Fruit (figs & grapes) = represent the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit that comes from the experiences of the winter season.
   4. Robert Murray McCheyne: “Christ’s coming changes all things to the believer and His love is more tender than ever. We saw in the parable that when the bride sat desolate and alone, all nature was steeped in sadness. Her garden possessed no charms to draw her forth, for winter reigned without and within. But when her lord came so swiftly over the mountains, he brought the spring along with him. All nature is changed as he advances and his invitation is: “For the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Just so it is with the believer when Christ is away; all is winter to the soul. But when He comes again over the mountains of provocation, He brings a gladsome spring-time with Him.”
3. Prophetic picture: We can’t but also see a picture of the return of Christ in these verses. We walk through this life in a winter season in this world. One day Christ will come for his waiting bride and will usher in the eternal spring. We will hear his voice calling us, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.”

Conclusion

Are you going through a winter season in your life? Christ calls you forth to experience His love and blessing afresh. Trust in Him and anticipate the spring time of blessing that is coming.

Sermon 9 of 22 in Song of Solomon Series

Sermon Audio Id: 5281766260