SPIRITUAL EXPEREINCE: Part 3

 PUSUIT AND FELLOWSHIP

Song of Solomon 1:8 - 2:1

In the chambers of the King, the maiden’s spiritual journey begins with the revelation of three profound insights. First, she is made aware of the deep contrast between the fallen nature of Adam and the resplendent beauty of the Son of God, the object of the Father's love. This revelation brings her face to face with the blackness of her own condition, yet it also draws her into the fairness and glory of Christ, who represents the perfection and fulfillment of God’s desire for humanity. Second, she realizes the vanity and futility of outward works, which, through God’s dealings, are shown to be insufficient in the pursuit of true spiritual growth and fulfillment. This understanding signifies the stripping away of human effort and self-reliance, preparing her for a deeper dependence on God’s grace. Finally, the maiden becomes aware of the great spiritual need within herself—a hunger for God’s presence and a yearning for the divine life that only He can supply. It is at this point of seeking that the Lord responds to her heart’s cry, offering both praise for her spiritual beauty and a promise of His continued work in her life.

 “For your soul to be fully transformed, it must be dealt with only in the light of divine revelation.”

The King addresses the maiden’s inquiry with a gentle yet corrective tone: “If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.” While His words affirm her beauty, calling her the “fairest among women,” they also carry a subtle rebuke, as if to suggest that she should already have known the answer to her question.

The reference to “the footsteps of the flock” holds deep spiritual significance. On one level, it points to the gathered believers of today, walking in unity as one flock under the church’s covering, where food and rest are found. However, the flock also represents the saints who have gone before, those who, through their faith and endurance, have already found spiritual nourishment and rest in God.

“It is through faith and endurance that a man can find spiritual nourishment and rest in God.”

 By following their footsteps, the maiden—and all believers—can find the same sustenance for their souls. Yet the King’s words carry an additional instruction: as the maiden seeks her own spiritual growth, she must not neglect the “kids,” the younger and less mature disciples entrusted to her care. The kids, though not part of the main flock, require her attention and nurturing. In this, the King reminds her that while she seeks her own rest and edification, she must still fulfill her responsibility toward others, particularly those less advanced in their spiritual journey.

“In the pursuit of spiritual growth, one must not neglect the responsibility to nurture those who walk behind, for it is in feeding others that our own souls are fed”

The King’s words of praise begin with a striking comparison: “I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots.” In the biblical context, horses are often symbolic of strength and swiftness, and the horses of Pharaoh, the mightiest in the land, signify the best of this natural power. Spiritually, the King acknowledges the maiden’s swift pursuit of God, but this swiftness is still rooted in her natural abilities—strength and zeal that come from the flesh rather than from God. The beauty the maiden possesses is described in natural terms: her cheeks are adorned with rows of jewels, and her neck is graced with chains of gold. The rows of jewels signify the natural strength and beauty she brings into her relationship with the King, while the chains of gold on her neck symbolize her natural gentleness, refined but still bound by her human nature. Yet the King does not leave her in this state; He promises a transformation. “We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.” This is no ordinary promise, but a pledge from the Triune God to replace her natural beauty with the divine. The borders of gold represent the most refined and precious work of God’s life in her, replacing the natural braidings of her strength with the glory of divine righteousness. The studs of silver signify redemption, anchoring her transformation in the finished work of the cross. 

 

“True beauty is not in the swift vigor of our nature, but in the delicate borders of gold that God weaves through the trials and redemption of our souls."

 “Beauty that is born of earth fades, but beauty born of God is eternal.”

 “True adornment is found in the refining fires of God’s grace.”

 

The scene shifts as the maiden begins to speak of her deepening experience of Christ. “While the King sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.” The King’s table, mentioned in 1 Kings 4:22-23 and 10:5, is a place of royal provision, abundance, and spiritual nourishment. It is here that the believer finds sustenance, partaking of both the life and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The flour and meal speak of Christ’s life, while the meats refer to His work and sacrificial death. As the maiden sits in the King’s presence, her spikenard—a costly perfume that represents her devotion and praise—pours forth its fragrance. This aroma is not produced by human effort, but flows naturally from a heart that has entered into the enjoyment of God’s accepted sacrifice. Just as Mary poured spikenard on the feet of Jesus, so too does the maiden’s worship arise from her recognition of Christ’s love and sacrifice. Her praise leads to consecration—first, the Lord gives, and then she offers herself in return.

 

“As a believer, your worship comes from your recognition of Christ's love and works”

 “Spiritual maturity is an inward fellowship with Christ that blossoms into an outward testimony for all to see”

 In verse 13, she deepens this imagery, saying, “A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.” Myrrh, a bitter spice associated with suffering and death, points to the cross of Christ. Just as Nicodemus and Joseph anointed the body of Jesus with myrrh after His death, so too does the maiden carry within her the memory and reality of the crucified Christ. The reference to “night” speaks of a time when the Lord’s presence is absent, and in these moments, the maiden is sustained by her faith and love—symbolized by the two breasts—anchoring her in Christ’s finished work on the cross. 

"It is through love and faith that believers are anchored

in Christ's finished work on the cross." 

In this verse, the maiden continues to describe her relationship with Christ, saying, “My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.” Camphire, or henna, was used by Jewish women for outward adornment, symbolizing the public display of Christ’s beauty in the believer’s life. The vineyards of Engedi, located in a barren wilderness, provide a stark contrast to the lushness of the camphire flower. Spiritually, this speaks of Christ’s distinctiveness being manifested in the believer even in the midst of a dry and desolate world. While myrrh, mentioned in the previous verse, represents the inward Christ and His work of suffering, camphire represents the outward Christ, the testimony that the believer bears before the world. As the maiden walks through the wilderness of life, her outward confession of Christ—her “henna flower”—makes His beauty and fragrance known to those around her. 

Once again, the King speaks, offering words of encouragement and praise: “Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes.” His repetition of the phrase “thou art fair” serves both to affirm and to deepen her understanding of her beauty in His eyes. The reference to “doves’ eyes” is significant, for the eyes of a dove are known for their purity and their ability to focus on one thing at a time. Spiritually, this speaks of the maiden’s single-minded devotion to Christ and her growing spiritual insight. Her eyes, once clouded by natural strength and beauty, are now focused purely on the Lord, enabling her to see with clarity and understanding. This spiritual vision is the result of her time in the chambers, where she has received revelation and seen the contrast between the natural and the divine. The King’s praise is not merely for her outward beauty, but for her inward purity and spiritual sight. 

“Spiritual vision is one of the outcomes of your

consistency in the secret place.”

 

“A heart set on Christ, like the dove’s gaze, sees only

Him and remains steadfast, undistracted

 by the World.”

 

“In the eyes of purity, the vision is clear, and the heart is single.”

It is this spiritual vision, that elicits the Lord’s praise 

and He delights in those whose eyes are fixed

 solely upon Him.”

 

The maiden, in response to the King’s praise, acknowledges His beauty and pleasantness, saying, “Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant.” This expression of affection highlights not only her recognition of His fairness but also His pleasantness—His desirability and goodness in her eyes. She then speaks of the rest she has found in Him, declaring, “Our bed is green.” This green bed, much like the green pastures of Psalm 23, symbolizes a place of nourishment, satisfaction, and rest. In this place, the maiden has found the rest she had been seeking—rest not only for her soul but also for her spirit. The beams of their house, made of cedar, and the rafters of fir, symbolize strength, glory, and permanence. Cedar, known for its height and strength, represents Christ’s glorious humanity, while fir, associated with cypress, signifies the Lord’s death. Together, these materials form the structure of their dwelling, providing the maiden with a place of security and rest. Finally, the maiden acknowledges her own lowliness, calling herself “the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys.” These humble flowers, often overlooked in the wilderness, symbolize her recognition that she is nothing apart from God’s care and provision.

This means that she is not worth anything in herself and that she is but an ordinary person cared for by God

"True beauty and rest comes from yielding to the hands of the

 One who refines and restores us.”

 

“True worth is found not in what we are, but in whose we are.”

#Discp. Samuel ✍