QUESTION: To whom or what does the "garden" refer in Song of Solomon 4:12-5:1?

ANSWER: Bible students have seen the garden as picturing:

• Solomon's bride or wife.
• The church.
• Israel—especially the remnant during the tribulation.
• The individual believer.
• Any wife or bride.

Although many Christians say that the garden represents the church, I believe that the primary significance of the garden has to do with Israel. (The church was a mystery or secret that was not revealed until after the death and resurrection of Christ. Ephesians 3:9-11; Colossians 1:24-26.) Although Israel has not yet been the garden of delights for the Lord, the day is coming when a remnant will turn to the Lord and they will truly be a garden that will produce those fruits that will please Him.

Isaiah gives us a description of that wonderful time. "The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious" (Isaiah 60:13). "The Lord shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody" (Isaiah 51:3).

Although the primary relationship of the garden is to Israel, it is not wrong to see the garden as typifying what the church is to Christ, or what the believer is to the Lord, or what the wife or bride is to the husband. Let's look at some of the features of the garden that are described for us in Song of Solomon.

The spouse of the Lord is likened to:

• A garden with flowers and aromatic shrubs and plants.
• An orchard with different kinds of fruit trees.
• A fountain to irrigate the garden.

Notice that the garden is enclosed, the spring is shut up, and the fountain is sealed. This no doubt signifies that the garden is only to be enjoyed by its owner. As we would apply these thoughts to the church or the individual believer we are reminded of two things:

• What the church or individual believer is to Christ.
• Our responsibility to be a fruitful garden for our Lord.

The garden very beautifully pictures the love of Christ for His church. The church is composed of all true believers and is very special to the Lord Jesus. The local church or assembly is to be a garden for the Lord. We are here on earth to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by walking in His truth. "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10).

The garden also is a beautiful picture of the love of Christ for each Christian. The individual believer is to be a garden for the Lord. The Lord has said, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples" (John 15:8).

Each Christian needs to ask himself: "Am I bearing fruit for the Lord Jesus?" John 15:1-11 tells us that the only way we can bear fruit for Him is by abiding in Him.

—John D. McNeil