Song of Solomon 2:3. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
1Preached in Dingwall on 6 August 1882, and edited.
These words refer to Christ, describe His excellency, and tell us what He is to His Church.
The Comparison
This is to show His incomparable superiority to the sons.
* The Church looked forward to His incarnation.
* Some men limit the revealing power of the Spirit of God.
* Abraham saw the day of Christ afar off and rejoiced.
* Should not the Church in Solomon’s day do the same.
Among the Sons of Men
His delight was with the sons of men from eternity.
* He was among them when the Word was made flesh.
* But He was there as the apple tree among the trees of the wood.
* He was so in respect to beauty, shade, and fruit.
* His beauty excels all in truth, work, life and death.
His Shade
His Divine glory was shaded by human nature.
* He shades from wrath by the merit of His blood.
His Fruit
- All the blessings of the covenant are connected with Him.
- All the promises in the Gospel are in Him.
The Exercise of the Church
- She desired Christ.
- She came to Him.
- She sat under His shadow.
- She delighted in His fruit.
- She rejoiced in regeneration, justification, adoption and sanctification.
Application
- Are you a partner in this mutual love?
- Have you made your calling and election sure?
- Can you profess your faith and hope?
- Grace and Glory.