Song of Solomon 8:13

Is this what he cared about? Would the thousand pieces of silver satisfy him? Listen to his answer: "O you who dwell in the gardens, with companions listening for your voice; let me hear it." Her voice was more refreshing to him than any gift of money she could bring. It was the sound of her voice he wanted; nothing less would fully please him. What he had said in Song 2:14 is what he ends with here. His last recorded wish is to listen to her voice. "Let me hear it." In him there was — in Him who is really pictured here there is — no change.

The Bridegroom is heard for the last time. He delights to own what His love has done. The bride's wanderings are over: love has brought her to dwell in the gardens. How happy for us when the love of Christ draws us! Then we find our portion outside this poor world, in the company of His people — in the gardens of the Lord. Only from that happy place of fellowship can we bear a true witness to others. But the Lord is not content that others should hear our voice as witness. He Himself longs to hear our voice in worship, answering His own voice.

In verse 5 we see the bride coming up from the wilderness, leaning on the arm of her beloved. Here we see her dwelling in the gardens. The wilderness with all its hard times is past forever, and the desert will have blossomed like a rose. The nations, her companions, listen to her voice. She gives them spiritual instruction and leads them in their worship and praise. The Lord delights in this, but He especially delights to hear her voice addressed to Him in personal and intimate communion with Him.

He now addresses, for the last time in these songs of love, His beautiful and highly favoured spouse. He invites her praise. She is to sound the keynote for the companions — for the whole earth. Then all peoples, tribes, and tongues will catch the flying joy. They will roll out the glad hosannas, "from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth." Creation is filled with joy and gladness. Its long, loud anthems of praise and thanksgiving reach the ear of its glorious King. "Let ME hear it."

There is a very touching appeal in the Song of Solomon from the Bridegroom to the Bride. It is as though our Lord said to us, "You come together, and you talk to each other about Me. You are dwelling in the garden I planted by My grace, and you have sweet things to say. Let Me hear you talk to Me." The Lord chose the disciples so that they might be near Himself. He wanted them in His company as His friends, with the most intimate exchanges of love between them. It is the same today.