Solomon composed a beautiful song, though we may have to admit that we find some of its details difficult to understand. It portrays the relations between Jehovah and Israel, but surely we can apply it to ourselves as God’s heavenly people whom the Lord Jesus loves, and from whom He yearns for a response (Song 2:14).

Often, successive passages of Scripture look at the same subject from various angles rather than presenting it in a single line of truth. So it is here: chapter 3 describes the marriage of the King and His beloved in the day of His glory, while chapter 4 looks at their relationship in the aspect of their delight in each other. The first thing we note is that it is full of the King’s delight in her; she does not express her appreciation of Him until chapter 5. The second thing is that she confesses she has been slow to respond to Him (5:1–9). What about us? Yes, our Lord’s love always comes first, “we love Him because He first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19). Sadly, it can also be true that we are not as full and fresh in our response as we should be when He presents Himself to us in His Word.

In the verse at the top of this meditation, the King describes His beloved as a walled garden. He calls her His sister, meaning that she is related to Him. He says that as His spouse she is “a spring shut up,” that is only for Him; “a fountain sealed” against anything that would spoil her ability to refresh Him.

This surely tests us regarding our affection for Christ in a world that always wants to gain access to our garden. Are we only for Him as His spouse should be? The apostle Paul writes, “I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:2). May it be so with me and with you.