Message Four

Satisfied with Christ Mutually
in the Churches

Scripture Reading: S.S. 1:12-14, 16-17; 2:2-6

1. A feast as the expression of the initial result of the mutual gain and enjoyment of Christ and His lover in the churches—1:12:
   1. Christ as the King is feasting with His lover at the table.
   2. The love of His lover toward Him as spikenard spreads forth its fragrance.
2. The lover’s gain of Christ:
   1. A bundle of myrrh, signifying Christ’s sweet death for her—1:13a.
   2. A cluster of henna flowers, signifying Christ in His resurrection in the churches built upon the fountain of His redemption—1:14.
   3. The husband, implied in "couch"—bed—1:16-17.
   4. An apple tree, rich in fruit and shade—2:3.
   5. Raisin cakes for nourishment—2:5a.
   6. Apples for supply of life—2:5b.
   7. Both raisin cakes and apples are for the healing of her sickness of love in longing after her Beloved.
3. Christ’s gain of His lover:
   1. A companion in love—1:12.
   2. The wife—2:6.
   3. A lily, signifying one who lives by His life in trusting in God—2:2.
4. The lover’s enjoyment of Christ:
   1. As a bundle of myrrh between her breasts in the night—Christ in His death for her to embrace—1:13.
   2. As a cluster of henna flowers—Christ in His resurrection for her to express—1:14.
   3. As her Husband in the divine life as the couch, in Christ in His resurrection as the beams, and in Christ in His death as the rafters for their shelter—1:16-17.
   4. As an apple tree as the bountiful supply of life to her and its shade overshadowing her—2:3; 2 Cor. 12:9.
   5. As the nourishing raisin cakes—2:5a.
   6. As the refreshing apples—2:5b.
5. Christ’s enjoyment of His lover:
   1. The fragrance of His companion in love spreading forth as spikenard—1:12b.
   2. As His wife in His embracing—2:6.
   3. As a lily expressing Him in the filthy and unbelieving world—2:2.
6. Unto the mutual satisfaction and rest of Christ and His lover in the churches:
   1. Their mutual satisfaction and rest in their mutual enjoyment of all that they are respectively.
   2. Especially their mutual satisfaction and rest in their bridal love and marriage life—1:16-17; 2:6.
7. The banqueting as the expression of the consummate result of the mutual gain and enjoyment of Christ and His lover:
   1. In the church life—the banqueting house—2:4a.
   2. Christ’s love—banner spreads over His lover—2:4b.
   3. Christ’s bread of life nourishes His lover and His rich supply of life refreshes her—2:5.