| Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
| 1 Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee. |
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| 2 My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. |
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| 3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies. |
I am my beloved's – The Bride rejoices in the Bridegroom's assured love, and her desires and longings are not questionings as to the relationship in which she stands to him, which is to her a settled thing. R303:2*
Only a few will be able to say this. This union with the Beloved (Christ) implies that the step of justification through repentance and faith in the precious blood has first taken place. R4783:5
A positive compact or contract with Christ is implied. R4783:5
There is no possibility for any to get into this elect class without knowing it. R4783:5
My beloved is mine – So long as we continue to be faithful. "He that hath the son hath life"--eternal life. (1 John 5:12) R4784:1
Those who have Christ are really possessors of "all things." (1 Cor. 3:22, 23) R4784:1
The Bridegroom's care, provision, protection and comfort belong to the betrothed even now. R4784:2
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| 4 Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners. |
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| 5 Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead. |
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| 6 Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them. |
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| 7 As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks. |
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| 8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number. |
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| 9 My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. |
My dove – Symbol of peace and purity. E212
She is the only one – There is but one Bride of Christ. R4655:1
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| 10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners? |
As the morning – Symbol of the Millennial age. A9; E359
Fair as the moon – Symbol of the Law in Matt. 24 and Rev. 12. R499:4; D590
Clear as the sun – Symbol of the gospel light, the truth, in Matt. 24 and Rev. 12. R499:4; D590
With banners – Symbol of the standard of the truth in Isa. 13:1, 2. D40
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| 11 I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded. |
To see the fruits – Symbol of the fruits of the spirit. E206
The pomegranates – Symbol of the fruitage of redemptive work. T30
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| 12 Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib. |
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| 13 Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies. |
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