Part 2 of 2
We saw yesterday how the "wells" of God are far superior to any counterfeit cisterns that men may carnally manufacture.. a "well" is the only means by which we become an avenue for refreshment.. whereas a cistern is an end in itself - it serves a single vain purpose. Such a "well" is to be the fruit of our lives (Ps 84:6).. Jesus wants you and I to become sustenance to the earth - to become a valid source of the life of God (Isa 23:18; 32:2; 55:1-2; 62:8-9; 65:13; Acts 11:29; Matt 25:40; 1 Jn 1:3; Rev 22:17; Rom 8:19). Isaiah tells us that "a man shall be... as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land" (Isa 32:2). The natural context here is regarding Hezekiah.. Hezekiah would be the protector of his people, and would save them from the calamities to which they had been subjected in former reigns. The defeat of Sennacherib would be followed by the peaceful and prosperous state of the kingdom under a righteous prince; under whose reign there would be ample protection. As Bible students, we know that these verses continues to speak to us today, both of Christ Jesus (Ps 31:2-3; 63:1), and of His sons who are to be renewed and regenerated into His same image (2 Cor 3:18; Tit 3:5; Col 3:10; Eph 4:22-24; Gal 6:15; 4:19; 1 Cor 15:49; Rom 8:29; 12:2; 13:14; etc). A "man" shall be a "well"! But these "wells" must be dug! They don't appear overnight, willy-nilly. Isaac had to push through the Philistine's attacks in order to dig and re-dig the wells of Abraham (Gen 26). Even when strife and contention met him at every corner, he was faithful to keep digging! And so it must be with us. This is the avenue by which real fruit will be wrought in the lives of God's people. This is the avenue by which the nations will find substance to drink of in YOU!
Not surprisingly, we see this instance repeat itself in the Song of Solomon. In chapter 1, the Shulamite is found lacking. She has little fruit, and cannot feed herself, nor those around her: "Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents" (Song 1:7-8). Sovereignly, however, a dramatic transformation takes place.. and for good reason.
Of this bride, Scripture later tells us that she has become "a spring shut up, a fountain sealed" (Song 4:12). "Fountain" in the Hebrew means "fountain, spring, well"; she's become a well! Though she is "sealed" now, she eventually will be sustenance to the earth.. Of her, the Lord soon says, "eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved" (Song 5:1).
But how did this occur in just a few short verses? What happened between Song of Solomon 4:12, where she is a sealed well, to Song of Solomon 5:1, where the well is suddenly opened, and the "friends" of God are invited to come and drink? I believe the answer is found in verse 16 of chapter 4: "Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits". This verse references the dealings and judgment of God! North in Scripture speaks of judgment (Ps 75:6-7; Prov 25:23; Isa 41:25; Jer 1:13-15; 4:6; etc), while south speaks of spiritual blessing and refreshment (Ps 126:4; Job 37:17; Lk 12:55; Acts 27:13; etc). Job has said, "Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north" (37:9). Therefore, here in 4:16, the bride is asking for God to fully mature her, both by His judgment and by His blessing: "In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him" (Eccl 7:14)! She invites the potter's hands, both for judgment (dealing) and embrace (blessing): "His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me" (Song 2:6). The effect of such a thing is monumental: "...blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out..." This phrase, "flow out", can also be translated "increase". The bride is asking for her personal fragrance and fruit to increase! What a precious rendering that God's judgment upon our flesh will create: "Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live" (Ezek 37:9)! For the bride, glorious fruit was clearly accomplished by the judgment of God upon her! She not only endured His judgment upon her carnality, but she willingly and radically asked for it! Can you likewise cry "blow!" Do you welcome and desire God's judgement? The bride surely does. The bride will be a remnant who radically beg for the judgment of God upon EVERY ungodliness in their lives! We don’t need to begrudge the dealings of God – Rather, let's be grateful for them!
Dear reader, we may never be ever to adequately explain, nor comprehend these great benefits! Here, they provided the emerging bride with sustenance that was offered to the earth! What a ministry! This is the fruit of righteousness that's birthed from enduring the dealings of God: "For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Heb 12:10-11)! Do you want to have fruit for the nations to eat of? Then allow God's purging wind to come and blow away the dross (Prov 25:4; Isa 1:25-27)! Jesus wants to fashion in us such a great and glorious substance that His people can come and drink from: "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor 4:17)! Though the harsh and purifying winds may be blowing, it's gonna be worth it!
"The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life... the lips of the righteous feed many" (Prov 10:11, 21).
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