My beloved has gone down to his garden to the beds of spices, to graze in the gardens and to gather lilies.
The bride has been searching the city for her Beloved, and the daughters of Jerusalem ask her where He has gone. Her answer names the place at once: He has gone down to His garden. So two questions decide this verse. What is the garden, and how does she know?
From the Streets to the Garden
One chapter earlier her search took her into the city, where the watchmen beat her.
Andrew MillerWhat a lovely scene this is to her eye, compared with chapter 5:7. There she says, "The watchmen found me as they went about in the city; they beat me, they bruised me; they took away my veil, those watchmen of the walls." Such is the difference between walking in fellowship with Jesus and wandering in the world. Now she is out in the countryside with her Beloved. She is entering into the counsels of His heart and the works of His hands. This verse presents a scene of happy communion. The Lord is finding delight in His people; He is in His garden gathering lilies. "As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women." She enters into His thoughts about His people in general, and about herself in particular. This is communion — blessed, solid communion. Her eye is undivided, and the light of heaven fills her soul.
The Garden: His Own People
Where is that garden? The writers do not point to a place on a map.
Hamilton SmithThe bride has dwelt with deep joy on the perfections of the Bridegroom, and being taken up with Him has so quickened her understanding that she can tell at once where the Beloved has gone. She had sought Him in the city, but He was not there. "My Beloved," she says, "has gone down to His garden" — a fragrant spot where He can feed and gather lilies. No one ministers to the heart of Christ in this world except "His own who are in the world." With them is all His delight. There only He finds the bed of spices. His loved ones make up the garden of the Lord, and the restored soul knows full well where to find Christ: with His people.
Scripture traces the same garden picture elsewhere. It covers God's ancient people and His people now.
W. W. FeredayIn earlier times Israel was God's cultivated garden. The Church is His cultivated garden now. So the apostle writes in 1 Corinthians 3:9, "You are God's field." Individual believers are His plants, and He cares for them tenderly in infinite wisdom and love.
A Shepherd Among the Spices
The second half of the verse turns from gardening to shepherding. It answers a question the bride asked at the start of the book.
VariousWe have here the picture of a shepherd feeding his flock on a beautiful spring day. Beds of spices perfume the air, and the lilies spread their glory and beauty everywhere. In chapter 1:7 she asks, "Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon." But now she knows full well where He feeds His flock. How rich and welcoming are those pastures, where everything speaks of contentment, peace, joy and rest. How happy are those sheep that keep close to their shepherd! They feed continually under His eyes in the green pastures of His Word.
How She Came to Know
One writer turns this moment into a rule for anyone whose heart has gone cold.
Edward DennettNote carefully this divine way of restoration. Have souls fallen into a cold, lifeless condition? Do they complain of a lack of spiritual energy? Then let them occupy themselves with the varied perfections and graces of Christ as revealed in the Word. While they ponder what He is to themselves, let them also declare His beauties and attractions to others. They will find that their hearts soon glow with the returning fire of affection. They will be happy again in the sense of His presence and love.
Summary
- Wandering — the city cost her blows and her veil; the garden gives her communion. Where she looks decides what she finds.
- Speaking — she praised who He is, and then she knew where He is. Occupation with Christ, and telling others of Him, is the way back from a cold, lifeless state.
- Garden — the fragrant spot He goes down to is His own people. With them is all His delight; there alone He finds the bed of spices.
- Pasture — at the start she had to ask where He pastures His flock at noon. Now she knows. Sheep who keep close feed under His eye in the green pastures of His Word.
- Delight — the verse is not only her joy in Him but His joy in them. He gathers lilies in His garden, and He tends individual believers as His plants, in wisdom and love.