“His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases” (vs3-4)

When Christ comes to us, then we keep Him: it is love experienced, the answer to our desires, which makes us love Him back. He returns to us suddenly, after a sudden absence, and we receive Him. Do not say, “I don’t deserve His presence”. He comes to you because He saves sinners, and He willingly returns to transgressing saints. Receive Him, and you’ll love Him after! His love is enough to put away your sins, and He loves YOU enough to make you love Him back. Do not fear. You will do good to others, because Christ is more than example - He is a life giving Savior who gives power to love by suddenly revealing His love and the pleasure of it to the unworthy. He delights us, so that we can love His joy.

Secondly, His love makes us speak of love with power (vs5-7). We read, “Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved”. The new believer responds, “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave; its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised.” The daughters of Jerusalem have heard the gospel and sought Christ for eight chapters in the Song of Solomon, and now, they find Him. They’ve asked, “What is your beloved more than another beloved, O fairest among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved”, and, “Where has your beloved gone, O fairest among women? Where has your beloved turned aside, that we may seek him with you” (Song 5:9; Song 6:1). But now, they know His love for themselves. They are members of Christ’s church, not only elected, but also called… not only under the gospel, but conscience of its power, which transforms head-knowledge into worship, peace, and holiness. They have passed from death to life, and what they didn’t know, they now proclaim.

They speak of love strong as death, love that will give up every possession for love’s object. This testifies of Christ dying for sinners, Christ patiently returning to us in fellowship, Christ giving us the pleasure of His love, and the powerful love that we have to Him, which makes us lay down our lives willingly and breaks us from the bondage of sin. They believed, and now they speak, and this must happen to you. Paul said, “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed and therefore I spoke,’ we also believe and therefore speak” (2 Cor 4:13). Before you can understand, you must believe, and then Christ will give you power to testify of the love you’ve seen, the love that’s more glorious than ANYTHING than anything that can be compared unto it.

Finally, Christ gets all glory in salvation, and those who love His people have a reward (Song 8:8-14). We read, “Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon; he leased the vineyard to keepers; everyone was to bring for its fruit a thousand silver coins. My own vineyard is before me. You, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those who tend its fruit two hundred”. If we live for His honor, giving Him our hearts, then those who love us will rejoice in His exaltation within us. In heaven, we’ll cast our crowns at His feet, and saints will look upon their loved ones – the ones they’ve cared for and helped – and they will say, “Hallelujah, praise God”. Paul says, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy” (1 Thess 2:19). It is the same now. John writes, “For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4).