As the Apple Tree - Song of Songs 2:3

In the book of Song of Songs, Solomon shared how the bride and groom said, “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters”, and in chapter two and verse three of Song of Songs, Solomon shared how the bride said the groom was, “as the apple tree among the trees of the wood” where we read,

As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. 

I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

The verse begins, “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons.” Solomon began with the words, “as the apple tree” or “similar and in likeness to the tree that bears apple fruit” “among the trees” which means “in the midst and middle of the trees” “of the wood” or “belonging to the thicket, wooded height or forest”, “so is my beloved” which means “even, also and indeed exists my, the bride's, well-loved groom” “among the sons” or “in the midst and middle of male offspring and progeny”. Solomon shared how the bride likened her well-loved groom to a refreshing “apple tree” that is found in the middle of a forest who stood out among all the other male progeny around him. 

The verse continues, “I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.” Solomon added the words, “I sat down” or “I, the bride, dwelt, remained, abode and was set in place” “under his shadow” which means “beneath his, the groom's, shade of protection” “with great delight” or “by the use of increased desire and pleasure”, “and his fruit” which means “and his, the groom's, produce of act and deeds” “was sweet to my taste” or “existed as pleasant to my, the bride's, palate, mouth and gums”. Solomon shared how the bride was seated and abode beneath the shade of protection of the groom, and she considered his produce of deeds as pleasant to her palate.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon continued to share how the bride thought about the groom as she referred to him as being similar to an apple tree that is found in the middle of the forest. He was far superior to the other male offspring in the city, and she seated herself beneath the shade of his protection while his produce was delightful to her palate. In other words, she loved being with the groom. God wants us to be this way. He knew we were separated from Him because of our sins, and the wages of those sins is death. (See Romans 3:23; 6:23) However, when we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a passion to remain under His protective covering and to enjoy the “fruit” of His deeds for all eternity. 

Next time Solomon shares how the bride says, “he brought me to his banqueting house”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".