"Thy Love Is Better Than Wine" (Song Of Songs 1.2)

by H. CALDWELL | Category: General | Mar 1961

In many instances in the Scriptures wine is set forth as a symbol of joy. It makes man's heart glad, but over-indulgence causes looseness, both morally and spiritually (Isaiah 5.11, 22; 28.7; Ephesians 5.18). Many are the tragic warnings found in God's word for the unwary. In Genesis 9.20-27 we read, "And Noah began to be an husbandman, and planted a vineyard: and, he drank of the wine, and was drunken; ... And Noah awoke from his wine ... and he said, "Cursed be Canaan." What a sad plight for this early preacher of righteousness ! (2 Peter 2.5). The humiliating circumstances of Lot in the cave of Zoar, recorded in Genesis 19.30-38, afford another warning. Moab and Ammon became the fathers of two nations, each of which proved a thorn in the sides of the children of Israel (Judges 3. 13; Deuteronomy 23. 3-6).

Was it the inordinate drinking of wine on the part of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, that led to their grievous sin with its disastrous results ? (Leviticus 10.1, 2). We wonder in the light of the subsequent command to Aaron, "Drink no wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tent of meeting, that ye die not" (Leviticus 10.8-11).

Complete abstinence from all that pertained to the grapevine formed part of the solemn vow of the Nazirite (Numbers 6). In compensation for such deprivation and other obligations imposed upon the man of Israel who vowed to separate himself to the LORD, he had the greater joy of intimate communion with the God of Israel. Such joyous communion, however, was not exclusively the portion of the Nazirite, for David's experience with God led him to confess,

"Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than they have when their corn and their wine are increased" (Psalm 4.7).

True abiding joy is not found in material things. In the Lord Jesus Christ, God has provided for all our needs, both in this life and in that which is to come. God, the Father, has found complete satisfaction and complete delight in His well-beloved Son, as we often sing,

0 God, what perfect rest is Thine, Thy rest is in Thy Son;

'Tis all unspeakable, divine, Thy rest and ours are one.

Inside the circle of Thy love joined to His life are we above

How sweet with Thee, 0 God, to share the joy which is Thy portion there.

Thou findest in that Spotless One, where all perfections dwell,

All that Thy heart could wish for us, all that Thou e'er couldst tell

Thou findest ransomed, righteous, fair, where all Thy joys transcendent are,

In Him a people for Thy praise, Thy glory through eternal days."

What wealth the believer has in the riches of Christ ! No need is his to feed on ashes (Isaiah 44.20), nor to hew out cisterns for himself (Jeremiah 2.13). He can join with the Psalmist and say, "All my fountains are in Thee" (Psalm 87. 7). Communion with Christ is bound up with the keeping of His word (John 14.21). If we love Him, we shall strive to keep His commandments, and thus please Him.

To Him we may well say

We will be glad and rejoice in Thee,

We will make mention of Thy love more than of wine"

(Song of Songs 1.4).

Her Beloved's unchangeable love, which she desired to be expressed in the kisses of His mouth (verse 2), featured in the greater part of her conversation. In that we are a people destined for heaven God desires that our conversation should be of a heavenly character (Ephesians 4.29; 5.19; Colossians 4.6).

Divine appreciation of love far exceeds our own, so He says,

"Thou hast ravished My heart ... Thou hast ravished My heart,

How fair is thy love! ... How much better is thy love than wine!" (Song of Songs 4.9, 10).

How dear to the heart of the Man of Sorrows were all the tokens of love shown to Him in His earthly sojourn!

"She loved much" was His commendation of the woman in the soul-chilling atmosphere of Simon the Pharisee's house (Luke 7.47). How sweet to Him the fellowship in Bethany with Mary and Martha and Lazarus! And what a comfort to His broken heart in the hour of His deep suffering were those faithful women whom He saw standing by the cross! (John 19, 25, 26). How grieved was the risen Lord over the lack of first love in the church of Ephesus! (Revelation

2.4). It is pure, unstinted love for Christ that ravishes His heart and leads to closer communion with Him who in grace deigns to walk with us.

"Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in uncorruptness" (Ephesians 6.24).

H. CALDWELL | Mar 1961
General