The fig tree puts forth her green figs, And the vines with the tender grapes Give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away! (Song of Songs 2:13)
The last sign of the harvest is perhaps the most critical for Christians.
7. The vines with tender grapes give a good smell.
Vines like figs are one of the most valuable plants in Israel. Vines are most cherished for their grapes used to produce wine.
Like the fig tree, the vine also symbolized the health and state of Israel as a nation. The term sitting under or eating from one's vine was used to denote prosperity, safety, and well-being. Israel was often compared to vines. When they disobeyed and faced hardship as a result, they were often called wild or sour grapes. When they followed God's ways they were described as fruitful vines or having plenty of new wine. Some examples are Jeremiah 2:21, Isaiah 24:7, Joel 2:22, and many more.
Most importantly, vines are a symbol of joy and love because wine is used in celebrations and gives exuberance. The only thing Christ's love is compared to in SoS is wine.
The word translated tender grapes is more accurately translated as grape buds/blossoms that appear on the vine as spring begins. They are a sign that the vine is reawakening after the dormant winter months. Buds usually appear first before flowers and then fruits.
Also, grape vines are pruned in winter when they are dormant, so the appearance of buds with a pleasant smell/fragrance signifies health. These buds eventually turn to flowers and then the flowers start fruiting.
The appearance of grape buds was also an indication that it was time to cultivate the reawakened vine.
Jesus in John 15 said He is the Vine, we are the branches and God the Father is the Vinedresser. In Lesson 50: Keeping Your Vineyard, we discussed the responsibility of each party in ensuring that the branches bear fruit.
Vines being pruned in winter tell us that in seasons of rest and in the secret place, the Father takes away all that hinders growth. He gets us to focus on what matters so we can produce fruit.
One of the challenges the Bride faced in SoS 1 was neglecting her vineyard while keeping others'. As God reawakens us from rest, it is to partner with Him to cultivate fruit in His church and in our individual lives.
John 15 tells us that to cultivate these fruits, we must abide in Him and let His word abide in us. The fruit and signs of a fruitful vine according to this is love and joy. It is however stated in Lesson 50 that all the fruits of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5 are the products of a cultivated vine.
Fruits of the Spirit like Gifts of the Spirit are resident in the believer from salvation. Unlike gifts, however, every believer has every fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Gifts are inclined to helping us fulfill our ministries while fruits build character and show forth good works.
In the Bible, we'll see that both the fig and the vine were significant for Israel's well-being. So, both the fruit and gifts of the Spirit are very important in a believer's life. Fruits however take precedence. In fact, vines and grapes are mentioned more often in the scriptures than figs and fig fruits.
One fruit of the Spirit trumps all: love. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:1:
If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal. And if I were to have the gift of prophecy with a profound understanding of God’s hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing. And if I were to be so generous as to give away everything I owned to feed the poor, and to offer my body to be burned as a martyr, without the pure motive of love, I would gain nothing of value.
After this introduction, Paul lists all the characteristics of love. When love is present, other fruits of the Spirit appear as well. Joy shows up too. According to 1 Corinthians 8:1, love edifies the body just like the gifts of the Spirit do.
Throughout the Epistles (especially Paul's), the church was admonished to love one another and maintain unity and peace. Without these, the body of Christ cannot thrive. Some examples are 1 Corinthians 16:14, Galatians 5:6 & 13, Ephesians 4:2, Philippians 2:2, etc.
Lastly and most significantly, Jesus gave us only two commandments in the Bible and both are to love. Love God and love people.
Love is the most accurate measure of spiritual growth and maturity. To grow in God is to grow in love for Him and all men. In everything we do, love must be our motive, strategy, and end product. This is the only thing Jesus said that is a sign that we are His disciples. Not signs and wonders or faith moving mountains, only love.
When we develop and see unusual affection for and in the body/church of Christ, it's a sign that the time of harvest has come.
PRAY WITH ME:
Dear Lord, I ask that You fill my heart with love for You again. Fill my heart with love for the body of Christ. Take every bitterness and offense from my heart and flood it with unconditional love for everyone around me. Amen.
REFLECT AND ACT:
- Read 1 Corinthians 13, meditate on it, and use it to test your love walk. How can you improve where you're doing well and get better where you're falling short?
- Ponder this thoroughly: Do you love the body of Christ?
- How can you show and maintain love and unity in your local church?
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