In our text verse, the woman sees her Beloved’s beauty, preeminence, and value. And she describes her response, “I sat down under his shadow with great delight.”
First, this shows that the woman sees his preeminence, “his shadow.” She knows if she is in his presence; under his covering, his shadow; under his authority; and under his teaching – she would prosper.
Secondly, she knows that others will see her desire and submission to abide under his shadow, or his name, or all that he stands for. She says, “I sat down” which shows her full submission to his shadow. She is not ashamed to have all to see where she is. She knew who he was; and she was fully aware of what it meant when she sat down under his shadow.
Thirdly, this statement of hers to sit down under his shadow also reveals her attitude, “with great delight.” She is not forced to sit down under his shadow; but rather the opposite, she does it with “great delight.” This great delight indicates her complete submission to him; her knowledge of the benefits she would receive from this action; that she was full of great joy and expectation of what she would receive from sitting down under his shadow. And it also revealed to her Beloved of her love for him.
In this same statement, her next phrase is “and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” Here the Bride begins to explain the benefits that she received by sitting under his shadow; she tasted (or experienced) his fruit and it was sweet to her taste.
Not only did she see the beauty of her Beloved (above all others), but she realized the preeminence of his position and authority. Therefore she “sat down” under him; or she submitted to him completely, in her entire body, soul, and spirit. Now, because of this, her first benefit is that she tastes his fruit. That is, she had interaction with her Beloved; she began to experience all that he was and is and shall be. She is allowed to taste (or experience), to be made a part of all that he is. And her second benefit is that this taste (or experience) was “sweet” (enjoyable, pleasing, fulfilling, satisfying) to her taste.
Now relate this to the spiritual application of the Church; those Born from Above by the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8); those who are regenerated and receive the Spirit of Adoption and cry “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:14-16); those who have been baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). These and only these, as described above, can see Christ in His Beauty, Preeminence, and Value. They, by the Spirit of God, have come to submit their all (body, soul, and spirit) to Christ. This reveals their desire to be under His Authority and Anointing. They desire to wear His Name and bear His Fruit. It is not forced on them; but it is a “great delight” for them to be under His Office as Husband, Lord and Savior.
Also, the Church can proclaim to all that His Fruit (His Love, His Grace, His Mercy, His Redemption, His Justification) is sweet (pleasing, enjoyable, fulfilling, satisfying, and complete) to her taste (to her experience, to her spirit’s perception of feeding on His Body and drinking His Blood; John 6:26-69).
The Beauty of Christ is Holiness; His Righteousness; His Perfection; His Unity; Oneness. The Preeminence of Christ is His Glory (or His Honor as God). And the Value of Christ is His Fruit. The Bride of Christ, being a joint-heir of Christ, is then a part of all His Beauty, Preeminence, and Value.
The Church is robed in the Garment of Salvation, the Robe of Righteousness; standing perfect in Him and His Redemption and Justification.
The Church is given Preeminence in Him, in being brought to where He is (John 17:21-24). That is, being brought to Oneness in Christ; which is Oneness in Knowledge (of His Perfection, His Preeminence, His Perception), and Oneness in His Love (His Power to Perform this Love.)
The Church is able to eat His Flesh and drink His Blood; thereby bearing His Fruit and tasting this fruit for now and all eternity:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
This is the attitude and action of success in marriage to the Lamb of God. It is revealed in the actions of the Bride to her husband in a physical Godly marriage. Her actions must be desire, submission, and obedience to come and sit under his shadow (or all that he is); and to do it with great delight.
Then and only then will the bride be given the fruit; and then will that fruit be sweet to her taste.
Reader, how do you view or esteem your beloved? The answer is: the same as you view Christ, your Beloved.
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