Song 7:12 | KingComments | STEP | In follows the third “let us”. After the night we do not sleep in. The bride wants to “rise early [and go] to the vineyards”. Here we can think of a service in the midst of God’s people. The vineyard is a picture of Israel, where God has done everything to make it fruitful ( ). There are several ‘vineyards’ here. We can apply this to all work that happens for the Lord with the intention that He may receive fruit from it. The vineyard is the area of care, of attention to the fruit. For that care and attention, the mind of a shepherd is necessary. In the beginning of the book Song of Songs the bride spoke about her ‘own vineyard’ ( ). This indicates that everyone has his own area, which is given to him by the Lord Jesus to work there for Him. In Song of Songs 1 she says that she has not guarded her own vineyard. But she has learned in the meantime and now she can go out to other vineyards to discover fruit there. The application is about people who do not yet have an insight into the glorious connection between God and His people. If we know and enjoy them ourselves, we want to tell others who are in churches and groups that know nothing about that. For example, that woman who had been visiting a particular church for fifty years and said that she had never heard a sermon about the rapture of the church. Or someone who said she had never heard about the true meaning of marriage as a picture of Christ and the church. The Lord’s purpose for us is to be so busy for Him in our own area that it makes Him happy. The vineyard speaks of joy. We can think of our families, the local church and society. These are all areas where we have a responsibility. In all these areas we may testify of our connection with the Lord Jesus and the joy He finds when we are doing everything for Him. When we realize that, we will look “whether the vine has budded [and its] blossoms have opened” that is, whether new life is coming and the first signs of that new life are already visible. Shepherds in the church will take care to ensure that in the lives of young people there is a promise of a dedicated, Spirit-led life which the Lord Jesus rejoices in. We will be careful in the local church to see if there are such promising young people who grow up to the glory of God (cf. ). This is to help them in their spiritual growth, so that they can reach maturity. “Let us see” means that there is spiritual vision. It may also be about believers who have been weak for a while in their being a Christian, but now show signs of renewed interest in the things of the Lord. There will also be a focus on “[whether] the pomegranates have bloomed”. As noted in an earlier consideration of the pomegranate ( ), this fruit indicates a fullness of life because of the many seeds it contains. Each seed is juicy, sweet and red. The joy of which the vineyard speaks is part of the fruit of the Spirit. But there are more parts of that ( ). It is about the fullness of the fruit of the Spirit becoming visible in our lives. That is what caring for the believers is all about. The whole action of the bride shows that she is delivered from her self-centeredness. She wants to give Him her love. This is the result of the connection with Him and being busy for Him and with Him in His work. Then He is the center of all life with all its activities. This gives rise to a desire to let others share in it. True service is not the result of obligations or because there is no one else to do the work, but of being engaged with Christ. If we are drawn to others, are concerned about their spiritual growth and want to be helpful in this, we give our love to the Lord Jesus. For the believer, life is not just about giving and taking, but only giving. God is the Giving God, and we may imitate Him therein. Rachel, in her superstition, used “mandrakes” (‘love apples’) ( ) in her relationship with Jacob, because she believed it would relieve her of her barrenness ( ). There is no such superstition with the bride. She mentions “the mandrakes” because of their fragrance. It points out that her relationship with the groom is profound and spreads a fragrance that anyone can smell. The true, profound, mutual love between the Messiah and Jerusalem is a matter that provides others with “all choice [fruits]”. These fruits hang over the doors of the house of the groom and the bride. The house of Israel has doors through which people can enter the city. In the kingdom of peace, a visit to the city yields a ‘food package’ of all kinds of delicious fruits. These are not, in the first place, literally edible fruits, but they are the fruits that the Spirit works and through which everyone is richly blessed. There is no greater blessing in a family imaginable than when its members live together in harmony and do everything in their power to make life as pleasant as possible. That will characterize the city. What is enjoyed in the city, consists of “both new and old” fruits. It is about new experiences, such as the bride has gained in the recent great tribulation. These are also experiences the city has gained in the past from the faithfulness of God. These are the fruits that Jerusalem has saved up for Him and offers Him when He comes to her. We may also save up our experiences for Him and offer them to Him when we are with Him. He will ask us about it ( ). The new experiences are connected with the old experiences the fathers have gained in their lives with LORD. They are old and new things (cf. ). Even old truths have to be made true over and over again. It must all come from a living relationship with Him. Because of what we experience, old truths that we did know, acquire their true meaning through our experiences or deeper study of the Word. Then they will shine all the more. We see that meaning and radiance because we discover Him in His Word. If we seek Him, He cannot “escape notice” ( ).

‏ Song of Solomon 7:12

Fresh and Old Fruits

In Song 7:12 follows the third “let us”. After the night we do not sleep in. The bride wants to “rise early [and go] to the vineyards”. Here we can think of a service in the midst of God’s people. The vineyard is a picture of Israel, where God has done everything to make it fruitful (Isa 5:1-7). There are several ‘vineyards’ here. We can apply this to all work that happens for the Lord with the intention that He may receive fruit from it.

The vineyard is the area of care, of attention to the fruit. For that care and attention, the mind of a shepherd is necessary. In the beginning of the book Song of Songs the bride spoke about her ‘own vineyard’ (Song 1:6). This indicates that everyone has his own area, which is given to him by the Lord Jesus to work there for Him. In Song of Songs 1 she says that she has not guarded her own vineyard. But she has learned in the meantime and now she can go out to other vineyards to discover fruit there.

The application is about people who do not yet have an insight into the glorious connection between God and His people. If we know and enjoy them ourselves, we want to tell others who are in churches and groups that know nothing about that. For example, that woman who had been visiting a particular church for fifty years and said that she had never heard a sermon about the rapture of the church. Or someone who said she had never heard about the true meaning of marriage as a picture of Christ and the church.

The Lord’s purpose for us is to be so busy for Him in our own area that it makes Him happy. The vineyard speaks of joy. We can think of our families, the local church and society. These are all areas where we have a responsibility. In all these areas we may testify of our connection with the Lord Jesus and the joy He finds when we are doing everything for Him.

When we realize that, we will look “whether the vine has budded [and its] blossoms have opened” that is, whether new life is coming and the first signs of that new life are already visible. Shepherds in the church will take care to ensure that in the lives of young people there is a promise of a dedicated, Spirit-led life which the Lord Jesus rejoices in.

We will be careful in the local church to see if there are such promising young people who grow up to the glory of God (cf. Song 6:11). This is to help them in their spiritual growth, so that they can reach maturity. “Let us see” means that there is spiritual vision. It may also be about believers who have been weak for a while in their being a Christian, but now show signs of renewed interest in the things of the Lord.

There will also be a focus on “[whether] the pomegranates have bloomed”. As noted in an earlier consideration of the pomegranate (Song 4:3), this fruit indicates a fullness of life because of the many seeds it contains. Each seed is juicy, sweet and red. The joy of which the vineyard speaks is part of the fruit of the Spirit. But there are more parts of that (Gal 5:22-23). It is about the fullness of the fruit of the Spirit becoming visible in our lives. That is what caring for the believers is all about.

The whole action of the bride shows that she is delivered from her self-centeredness. She wants to give Him her love. This is the result of the connection with Him and being busy for Him and with Him in His work. Then He is the center of all life with all its activities. This gives rise to a desire to let others share in it.

True service is not the result of obligations or because there is no one else to do the work, but of being engaged with Christ. If we are drawn to others, are concerned about their spiritual growth and want to be helpful in this, we give our love to the Lord Jesus. For the believer, life is not just about giving and taking, but only giving. God is the Giving God, and we may imitate Him therein.

Rachel, in her superstition, used “mandrakes” (‘love apples’) (Song 7:13) in her relationship with Jacob, because she believed it would relieve her of her barrenness (Gen 30:14-16). There is no such superstition with the bride. She mentions “the mandrakes” because of their fragrance. It points out that her relationship with the groom is profound and spreads a fragrance that anyone can smell.

The true, profound, mutual love between the Messiah and Jerusalem is a matter that provides others with “all choice [fruits]”. These fruits hang over the doors of the house of the groom and the bride. The house of Israel has doors through which people can enter the city. In the kingdom of peace, a visit to the city yields a ‘food package’ of all kinds of delicious fruits.

These are not, in the first place, literally edible fruits, but they are the fruits that the Spirit works and through which everyone is richly blessed. There is no greater blessing in a family imaginable than when its members live together in harmony and do everything in their power to make life as pleasant as possible. That will characterize the city.

What is enjoyed in the city, consists of “both new and old” fruits. It is about new experiences, such as the bride has gained in the recent great tribulation. These are also experiences the city has gained in the past from the faithfulness of God. These are the fruits that Jerusalem has saved up for Him and offers Him when He comes to her. We may also save up our experiences for Him and offer them to Him when we are with Him. He will ask us about it (Mt 25:19-23).

The new experiences are connected with the old experiences the fathers have gained in their lives with LORD. They are old and new things (cf. Mt 13:52). Even old truths have to be made true over and over again. It must all come from a living relationship with Him.

Because of what we experience, old truths that we did know, acquire their true meaning through our experiences or deeper study of the Word. Then they will shine all the more. We see that meaning and radiance because we discover Him in His Word. If we seek Him, He cannot “escape notice” (Mk 7:24).