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And my Beloved’s mine,<br />
He brings a poor vile sinner<br />
Into His house <strong>of</strong> wine;<br />
I stand upon His merit,<br />
I know no safer stand,<br />
Not e’en where glory dwelleth<br />
In Immanuel’s land.”<br />
Rutherford<br />
11 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge [rest] in the<br />
villages.<br />
12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the<br />
tender grape appear [open]], and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee<br />
my loves.<br />
7:11-12 come. Having received fresh tokens <strong>of</strong> abiding faithfulness the Shulamite maiden is<br />
anxious to respond to love. In like manner the goodness <strong>of</strong> God in grace is designed to lead the<br />
heart to repent <strong>of</strong> sin and live a more holy life. Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches <strong>of</strong> his<br />
goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness <strong>of</strong> God leadeth thee<br />
to repentance?<br />
13 The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner <strong>of</strong> pleasant fruits,<br />
new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.<br />
7:13 mandrakes. The Hebrew word signifies "love plants." The mandrakes are associated with<br />
increasing a person’s sexuality (Gen. 30:14). The plant grows in the valley <strong>of</strong> Jordan and along<br />
the waters running into the Jordan, in the plains <strong>of</strong> Moab and Gilead. The mandrake appearance<br />
is that <strong>of</strong> lettuce with wavy dark green leaves. The flowers are violet, white, or deep blue. In early<br />
May a fruit appears resembling a small tomato and gives a pleasant odor to the Orientals. The<br />
fruit is good to eat. The Arabs refer to the fruit as "devil's apple." Mandrakes were also used as a<br />
narcotic.<br />
SONG OF SOLOMON 8<br />
The Shulamite Maiden’s Love for <strong>Solomon</strong><br />
and the Church’s Love for Christ<br />
69