What is the meaning of the foxes in Song of Solomon 2:15?

Cant. 2:15. "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes."

Most graciously the well-beloved links himself with his spouse in the care of the vineyard. Take "us" the foxes … for "our" vines have tender grapes. They are yet green and tender. They are only beginning to blossom. The vineyard must be guarded. The little foxes have sharp teeth, and though little, they are subtle and do great damage amongst the vines. During the bleakness and barrenness of winter there is no cover in the vineyards for the fox. The leafless bough offers no inducement. But with the reviving spring they find abundant shelter, and favourable opportunities to commit their ravages. Watch, then, O my soul, the state of thine own heart. Watch especially against the daily cares of this present life, and the thousand things that tend to mar thy fruitfulness. Abide in the true vine, let thy nourishment be drawn from His roots. So shalt thou bear much fruit to the Father's glory. "Be careful for nothing: but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7)

In times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and of great awakenings, there is need for redoubled care. It is truly pleasing to witness the springing bud, and the unfolding blossoms — to listen to the songsters amongst the branches; the soft and significant voice of the turtle; but the keeper of the vineyard has more to do than contemplate the beautiful, or listen to the sweet sounds of music. He must watch against the subtle intruder, that lurks amongst the luxuriant foliage of the vines to deceive and to destroy. Around thee now, and back over many years' experience thy thoughts instinctively flow. Many a goodly vine hast thou seen marred for a season by the cunning craftiness of him who lies in wait to deceive. Oh, how heart-breaking such disappointments are!

Cant. 2: 15. "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes."

Most graciously the well-beloved links himself with his spouse in the care of the vineyard. Take "us" the foxes . . . . for "our" vines have tender grapes. They are yet green and tender. They are only beginning to blossom. The vineyard must be guarded. The little foxes have sharp teeth, and though little, they are subtle and do great damage amongst the vines. During the bleakness and barrenness of winter there is no cover in the vineyards for the fox. The leafless bough offers no inducement. But with the reviving spring they find abundant shelter, and favourable opportunities to commit their ravages. Watch, then, O my soul, the state of thine own heart. Watch especially against the daily cares of this present life, and the thousand things that tend to mar thy fruitfulness. Abide in the true vine, let thy nourishment be drawn from His roots. So shalt thou bear much fruit to the Father's glory. "Be careful for nothing: but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4: 6, 7)

In times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and of great awakenings, there is need for redoubled care. It is truly pleasing to witness the springing bud, and the unfolding blossoms - to listen to the songsters amongst the branches; the soft and significant voice of the turtle; but the keeper of the vineyard has more to do than contemplate the beautiful, or listen to the sweet sounds of music. He must watch against the subtle intruder, that lurks amongst the luxuriant foliage of the vines to deceive and to destroy. Around thee now, and back over many years' experience thy thoughts instinctively flow. Many a goodly vine hast thou seen marred for a season by the cunning craftiness of him who lieth in wait to deceive. Oh, how heart-breaking such disappointments are!

Notice it is the little foxes, the little things, rather than the greater ones, that come in and spoil our fruitfulness and fellowship with the Lord. And note, too, the gracious way in which the Lord asks us to deal with these sly little foxes that slip in almost unnoticed and mar our fruitfulness and fellowship with Him. Knowing that we can do nothing in our own strength, He invites us to co-operate with Him in taking these little foxes that so spoil the vine that it has no strength left to bring fruit to maturity. "Let us," He says, "take the foxes." He doesn't say, "Now you see to it that the little foxes don't get in and spoil the vine." That would throw us upon our own responsibility and our own strength and would certainly result in failure; but He says, "Let us take the little foxes," thus inviting us in our weakness to count upon His strength and help.

The King has expressed His longing to see the face of His bride, and to hear her voice; but as the foxes, with their young, spoil the vineyards as they break into bloom, so oftentimes evils, of a secret and subtle nature, may be at work which hinder the bride from yielding refreshment to the heart of the King.

Christ longs for the company of His people, His desire is to sup with them and they with Him. To sit at His feet and hold communion with Him, is the "one thing needful." Our busy service He can dispense with, but our company He will not be without. Mary yielded this pleasant fruit to the Lord, but not so Martha. For the moment a fox had made her unfruitful. And how often our case is like Martha's. Some fox — it may be, as nature counts, a little fox — is allowed to work unheeded in the secret of our hearts. Pride, covetousness, lust, unkind and bitter thoughts, murmuring and discontent, irritability and impatience, jealousy and envy, or vanity and levity, may be allowed unjudged, and communion is hindered, and the life becomes unfruitful. We need to keep a sharp watch against the inroads of these foxes, and expel them with ruthless hand if they appear.

Following on this blessed experience, the bride is immediately cautioned to beware of the little foxes which spoil the vines. After the Lord was baptised by John in Jordan and had the manifestation of God's good pleasure in Him, He was immediately subjected to Satan's wiles in the wilderness. Similarly, after seasons of great spiritual refreshment, the Christian will assuredly be tested, and therefore he must guard against the depredations of the little foxes which will ultimately rob him of the fruit of the vine, the joy of salvation!

Solomon's vines, remember, were nipped and spoiled by the "little foxes" (Cant. 2:15). There were plenty of them, and being small, they crept in without attracting much attention.

Cant. 2:10. BRIDEGROOM. He invites her to partake of the pleasant fruits. The foxes must be caught that spoil the tender fruit. The joy must be full.

His mind is set upon winning her out of her place into His. He therefore arouses her with the repeated call, "Arise, My love, My fair one, and come away." (vv. 10, 13.) For this, however, she is not prepared; her heart is more occupied with the blessings than the Blesser, though the blessing be Himself. Her gain is in view, "My Beloved is mine," etc. Conscience tells her that something hinders the power and fruitfulness of her soul. "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines" (v. 15); but she cannot persuade herself to follow Him. It is one thing to have the Saviour, and quite another to follow Him. "Not yet," as it were, she says. "Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my Beloved, and be Thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains" (v. 17), but I cannot yet go with Thee.

The millennial reign will be a time of unparalleled blessing and fruitfulness, because His scepter of righteousness will deal with every evil the moment it appears before it develops into greater harm. The little foxes are taken at once before they have time to spoil the vine or grow into more harmful agents of destruction. Redeemed Israel and especially this godly remnant who stands firm for Christ in the face of such bitter persecution will be associated with Him in the exercise of this righteous government. (See Psalm 149).

Like the vine-dresser who has taken all pains to see that his vines are well watered, trained, and pruned, he leaves them in the evening, full of hope that they may be looking still better in the morning. But, lo! to his bitter disappointment, the destroyer has been amongst his vines — many are sadly nipped; one, to outward appearance, is ruined. While the keeper of the vineyard slept, the fox was accomplishing his work of devastation. Its sharp teeth had gnawed the stem to its core. The lifeblood was running down. It was also stripped of its bark, the branches were broken, the leaves lay scattered on the ground, and the tender grapes were entirely gone. Alas, alas, it was one of his most flourishing vines. It had a goodly stem, well nourished in a rich soil, beneath the genial beams of a southern sun. Its blossom was beautiful, and it promised an abundant vintage. But in one night, in an evil hour, it fell a prey to the enemy. While the husbandman looked thus sorrowfully on his dismembered vine, the thought crossed his mind — thank God! the root remains. For even the foxes of hell may not burrow up the roots of any plant of the Father's planting. But such was the damage done to his hopeful vine, that for a long time to come, it would bear but little fruit.