The Winter Has Passed

Psalm 55:12–15 (ESV)

12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. 13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. 14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng. 15 Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.

Romans 8:18–30 ESV

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Song of Solomon 2:10–13 ESV

10 My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, 11 for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. 12 The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. 13 The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.

Introduction

The Shulamite has speaking of Solomon talking to her, she loves the sound of his voice now she tells us what he said. We are presented with a glorious picture.

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1. Invitation v10

Song of Solomon 2:10 (ESV) — 10 My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away,

He takes hold of her and takes her with him.

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2. Winter is Over v11

Song of Solomon 2:11 (ESV) — 11 for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.

She has been indoors too long. The winter weather has kept her inside. He takes hold of her, lifts her up and takes her outside with him.[1]

The cold and wet have ceased.

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3. Spring Has Come v12

Song of Solomon 2:12 (ESV) — 12 The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.

Alfred Lord Tennyson famously wrote of how ‘In the Spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.’ Love is sometimes called ‘spring fever’, as spring is often the time of year when young men wake up to realise that there are beautiful young women about.[2]

The connection between spring and love is no doubt the idea of freshness and beauty, liveliness and colour. When two people are in love, whether it is winter or summer, spring is in the air—everything is alive and bright, animated and intense.[3]

The turtle-dove (v.12) is a migratory bird whose distinctive cooing call is one of the signs of spring.[4]

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4. Growth v13a

Song of Solomon 2:13 (ESV) — 13 The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.

Signs of growth are abundant with the promise of fruit to come.

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5. Invitation v13b

Song of Solomon 2:13 (ESV) — 13 The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.

He graciously urges her to be with him.

We turn now to what we see of Christ’s love for us

6. Invitation v10

Song of Solomon 2:10 (ESV) — 10 My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away,

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Matthew 4:19–22 ESV

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

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Acts 2:38–39 (ESV) — 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

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Romans 8:30 (ESV) — 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

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Romans 9:10–11 (ESV) — 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—

7. Winter is Over v11

Song of Solomon 2:11 (ESV) — 11 for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.

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1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) — 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

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Ephesians 2:1–5 (ESV) — 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

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1 John 3:1 (ESV) — 1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

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2 Peter 1:10 (ESV) — 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

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8. Spring Has Come v12

Song of Solomon 2:12 (ESV) — 12 The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.

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2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) — 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

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Ephesians 4:24 (ESV) — 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

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Hebrews 10:19–22 (ESV) — 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

9. Growth v13a

Song of Solomon 2:13 (ESV) — 13 The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.

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1 Peter 2:2 (ESV) — 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

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2 Peter 3:18 (ESV) — 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

1 Corinthians 3:6–7 (ESV) — 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

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Ephesians 4:15–16 (ESV) — 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:11–16 (ESV) — 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

10. Invitation v13b

Song of Solomon 2:13 (ESV) — 13 The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.

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Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV) — 28 Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Conclusion

Heavenly Love: The Song of Songs Simply Explained (2. How a True Lover Speaks to His Beloved)

Mason Jackson ‘O voice of the beloved’ - 1889

Yea, Lord! Thy passion over,

We know this life of ours

Hath passed from death and winter

To leaves and budding flowers;

No more thy rain of weeping

In drear Gethsemane;

No more the clouds and darkness,

That veiled thy bitter tree.

Our Easter Sun is risen!

And yet we slumber long,

And need thy Dove’s sweet pleading

To waken prayer and song.

Oh, breathe upon our deadness,

Oh, shine upon our gloom;

Lord, let us feel thy presence

And rise and live and bloom.

Mason Jackson ‘O voice of the beloved’ - 1889

Isaiah 1:18–20 (ESV) — 18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

[1] Brady, G. (2006). Heavenly Love: The Song of Songs Simply Explained (p. 93). Darlington, England: Evangelical Press. [2] Brady, G. (2006). Heavenly Love: The Song of Songs Simply Explained (p. 93). Darlington, England: Evangelical Press. [3] Brady, G. (2006). Heavenly Love: The Song of Songs Simply Explained (p. 94). Darlington, England: Evangelical Press. [4] Brooks, R. (1999). Song of Songs(p. 63). Ross-shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications.