Song of Solomon 4:10

The bride has already said that the Bridegroom's love is better than wine, and that His name is like ointment poured out. Now the King uses the same pictures, but with greater force, to express His delight in the love of the bride. Not only is her love better than wine, it is "much better," and the fragrance of her ointments exceeds all spices. So to the heart of Christ, His people's love is much better than every earthly joy. The graces of His people are beyond compare with anything in nature that can give delight.

Wine speaks of earthly joy. There will be a joy for the Lord on earth when He reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords. But what is more precious to His heart than all that outward glory will be the love and affection of His bride. He gave His life for His people, and the love and affection flowing from their hearts is what He most delights to see. How much are we delighting His heart in this way?

The views from the top of Amana, Shenir, and Hermon were matchless. These glorious fields of nature were beautiful and delightful to the eye, and these spicy mountains were fragrant with the richest scents. Yet the eye and the heart of the Bridegroom turn from all of them, to admire the loved one at His side. He sees in her what He can see nowhere else — the feelings and affections of His own heart, reflected back to Him from hers... He sees in her the blessed fruit of His own unquenchable love. He sees the anguish of His soul, and He is satisfied. (Isa. 53:11)

"You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride." He now takes the place of Brother as well as Bridegroom. "My sister, my bride." Blessed relationship! Happy union! He knows this relationship well and prizes it highly, though she still knows little of it. But the main question here is one of heart — of feelings — of the Saviour's love, not to the Jew only but to all who believe in Him.

These verses begin another description by the Lord of His loved one. It is a prophecy of what Israel will be for the Lord. He will redeem her, deliver her from the power of the enemy, and place her in royal glory at the head of the nations.

In Song of Solomon 1 she says, "Your love is better than wine." She knows His love, and to her it is better than everything else. But His words go further than hers. Hear what the Bridegroom says to her: "How much better is your love than wine!" (Song of Solomon 4:10). What grace in Christ to say this of such poor heartless ones as you and me! Yet this is the estimate Christ forms of any little love He now finds in our souls to Him.

Is there not an even deeper joy to Him in noticing every little stirring of love towards Himself? He delights to inspire that love in our hearts, as the Holy Spirit shows us the attractiveness of His blessed and adorable person. For this see the Song of Solomon. See how 4:9 to 5:1 opens up the interest He takes in the love His saints have for Him! And that showing of how He values their love is well suited to produce it and to deepen it more and more, as He always longs and loves to do.