We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?
The bride has just come to rest in love. Her first thought after that is not for herself but for a younger sister who is not ready. Two questions run through the verse: who is this little sister, and how do we help her before her day comes?
A love that turns outward
Where this verse sits matters. One writer traces the whole closing chapter as a single line of progress, and this verse is one step in it.
Hamilton SmithSo at last the soul is brought to rest. She has known the dark valleys and the mountain heights, the wanderings in the city and the delights of the garden. Now she rests in the eternal love of Christ (v. 5), in all its breadth and length and depth and height (vv. 6, 7). Now she thinks of others (vv. 8, 9), gladly owns that Christ will have universal sway (vv. 10, 11), and meanwhile holds every possession at His disposal (v. 12).
Concern for the weaker one is not a distraction from love; it is what settled love produces.
Who is the little sister
Several commentators read the Song as the story of God's people Israel. On that reading the little sister is Ephraim, the ten tribes. They were carried away captive long before Christ came, so the events that shaped Judah passed them by.
Andrew MillerThe "little sister" means Ephraim, the long-lost ten tribes; of this we have no doubt. Their captivity had taken place before the birth of Christ. So they know nothing of what Judah, the two tribes, has gone through over the birth, death, resurrection and return of the Messiah. Still, they come to enjoy the blessed results of His first coming in grace and of His second coming in glory.
On this reading the difference in history explains the difference in depth. Grace reaches both, but not by the same road.
William KellyThey suffered for their idolatry, as Judah did later. But they did not return from captivity as Judah did to refuse the Christ, and they are not to receive the Antichrist. So God's later dealings of grace with Israel do not take on the deep and punishing character that will be Judah's portion.
No breasts: undeveloped affection
Commentators also apply the picture to believers today. No breasts means nothing in her has grown up yet, and one writer names what is missing.
F. A. HughesThe Scripture says, "We have a little sister ... and she has no breasts." One would want to treat this with holy delicacy! There is no developed affection for the Beloved! How often that might be said of the children of God! Their affections have not developed in response to Christ!
Others note the same unevenness through the whole book. Weakness in one believer draws something out of the mature, instead of pushing them away.
J. G. BellettIn the actions of this book we see souls at different levels — the betrothed one, and "the daughters of Jerusalem." Not all are fully formed. "We have a little sister, and she has no breasts." Such people draw out the sympathy of the saint who is established in the grace of God. He gives them careful concern and prayer, and he asks the Lord about them.
"What shall we do" — not "what shall I do"
One writer weighs her exact words. She says we, not I, and she calls the girl our sister.
The Song of SolomonHow completely her beloved has come to fill her heart and life. Even her thoughts move in the awareness that she is one with him. She does not think of herself, or think to act apart from him, so it is not "I" but always "we." She also does not think of the girl as her sister only, but as his sister too. So she values the little sister all the more because of this link with him. We must not forget that however weak Christians may be, they all belong to the Lord. We must therefore respect them and treat them as His.
The day she is spoken for
Her question looks ahead to a day, and to being ready for it. On the prophetic reading, that day is Ephraim's opportunity.
Hamilton SmithBut the day of opportunity is coming for Ephraim — the day when she is spoken for. And what will be done for her in that day?
Read as a pattern for helping the immature, the next verse rules out one method.
The Song of SolomonWe cannot produce growth by criticising, or by knocking and harping on their faults and failures. Instead we must seek to add something of beauty and value to them. We must build a palace of silver on the wall.
Summary
- Rested. Love that has come to rest in Christ is the love that starts asking about someone else. Verse 8 follows verse 7, not the other way round.
- Related. She is our sister, and his — the weakest believer belongs to the Lord, so we treat them as His.
- Unready. "No breasts" pictures affection for Christ that has never grown up. Commentators differ on whether this points to the ten tribes or to believers who have not matured.
- Reached. Grace comes to the little sister without the deep exercises her elder sister went through. She enjoys the results without the road.
- Built. The answer to immaturity is not criticism but building. Add something of beauty and value to her before her day comes.