Song of Songs 2:1-5 NASB
[1] “I am the rose of Sharon, The lily of the valleys.” [2] “Like a lily among the thorns, So is my darling among the maidens.” [3] “Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the young men. In his shade I took great delight and sat down, And his fruit was sweet to my taste. [4] “He has brought me to his banquet table, And his banner over me is love. [5] “Sustain me with raisin cakes, Refresh me with apples, Because I am lovesick. …
One of the things about a lovesick heart for Jesus is that they are always longing for more. The presence and love of Christ is so satisfying, and yet at the same time it causes your heart to long for more. In this section of the song of Solomon the Shulumite is beginning to understand that she is Jesus’s favorite. She confesses about herself that she is the Rose of Sharon, and that she is the Lily of the valleys. Jesus affirms her confidence in his love for her by declaring that she is like a lily among the thorns. In verse three the Shulumite confesses that no one can compare to Jesus, and that she has taken great delight in His presence and is resting under the shade of His glory. She then declares that Jesus has brought her to His banquet hall, and His banner over her is love. She is discovering all the immeasurable riches of Christ who is her life and she is feasting on him, who is the banqueting table, and she is abiding under his banner of love. What an amazing place of advancement in the Lord that the Shulumite has come to. She is confident that He delights in her, and she is feasting on all that he is for her, and she is resting and delighting in his presence, and under his banner love. Even though the Shulumite is experiencing all of this, her heart is not content to just stay there in that place; instead, she prays this great prayer; “Sustain me with raising cakes, Refresh me with apples, because I am lovesick.” The root word “raisin cakes” comes from in the Hebrew is the word for “fire,” and the root word that the word apples comes from in Hebrew is the word for “wind,” or “breathe.” Hang in there with me for a couple more word studies. The Hebrew word “sustain” comes from the phrase “to lay hands on,” and the word “refresh” comes from the word “spread.” Listen to what the Shulumite is asking for. She’s asking, in light of all the Revelation and grace she is already experiencing, for God to lay his hand on her for more fire, and to refresh her with a fresh wind of the Spirit. whenever the refreshing wind breathes on fresh fire, the fire spreads. This should be the heart of every believer no matter how far you’ve gone in the Lord; “More fire,” and “More wind.” This is a prayer that I pray for myself and for other people all the time; “God lay your hand on me (or on others by name) and give me (them) more fire of the Holy Spirit, and give me (them) fresh wind of the Spirit.” This is one of the ways I stay refreshed is by often throughout the day praying for more fire and more wind. I want more fire, and I want the refreshing wind of Holy Spirit to breathe on the fire so that it spreads throughout my entire being. More fire, More wind.