Song of Solomon 8:11-14

Song of Solomon 8:11. Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. My vineyard, which is mine, is before me:

«The great Husbandman has graciously let his vineyard out to me, that I may keep it, and dress it; he has made it mine for the time being. I have some ground to till, some plants to tend, some vines to prune. It may not be a very large vineyard, still, it is mine, and I am accountable for it, and must look well to it. It is before me, I am thinking of it, I am caring for it, I am praying about it.»

Song of Solomon 8:12. Thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.

This is our resolve, that our greater Solomon shall have the profits and proceeds of his own vineyard. It is ours on lease, but the freehold is his. He «must have a thousand,» and we shall be well content with our share of the vintage, joyful and glad that we may have «two hundred.»

Song of Solomon 8:13. Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.

«For to hear that voice will be far better than the ‘two hundred' which shall be my share of the fruit. If I may have thee with me, O my Lord, I will be better pleased, though my portion of fruit should be very small indeed, for in having thee my portion will be great indeed! I hear, my Lord, that some of thy people live with thee until they are called thy companions. There are some whom thou dost call thy friends, there are disciples whom Jesus loves. These ‘hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.' Unstop my deaf ear, give me a sensitive spirit, let my soul thrill, and my heart throb, and my whole being delight to obey every syllable that falls from thy blessed lips. ‘Thou that dwellest in the gardenia, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.'»

Song of Solomon 8:14. Make haste, my beloved,

«Do not let me have to wait long for thee, O my Beloved! Even at the beginning of this service, cause me to realize thy presence.»

Song of Solomon 8:14. And be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.

«Are there mountains that divide me from thee? Come and leap over them; for thou art swift of foot, and sure of standing: ‘Be thou like to a roe or to a young hart,' and when thou comest, the mountains of division shall change into mountains of spices, and all around me shall be sweet.»

This exposition consisted of readings from SOLOMON'S Song of Solomon 8:11; Isaiah 5:1; and Luke 13:6.