Page 309 - Radical Love by Linda Robinson_FEB2025
P. 309

SESSION 4



          His likeness and will celebrate our love and worship, drinking it in like

          wine.

          As we consider these verses further, I want us to imagine the following

          scenario:  Jesus  is  standing,  beholding  a  vast  palm  plantation  (the
          Ecclesia  of  God),  for  which  He  has  paid  the  ultimate  price—

          HIMSELF. Imagine the level of anticipation and hopeful expectancy

          as He decides to go up to—or even climb (as written in the NIV)—one
          of these trees (symbolised by the Shulamite), in order to see for Himself

          what quality of tree His constant feeding, pruning, watering, and tender
          loving care has produced.


          As  He  climbs  up,  He  prophesies  increasing  fruitfulness,  and  as  He

          reaches the top, where the fruit is produced, the Bridegroom-King is
          delighted by what He finds. His sacrifice of love has not been in vain,

          as here before Him is the fulfilment of what is written in Psalm 92:12–
          15 (NIV): “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow

          like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will
          flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age,

          they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming: ‘The Lord is upright; he is

          my rock, and there is no wickedness in him.’”

          She has become all that He desired. The power of the Holy Spirit is

          now so strong within her that it has the potency to awaken even those
          who do not yet know Him. The exuding fragrance from her mouth is

          compared to “apples,” which are a symbol of love, and likened to the

          best wine. The best wine was the wine served last at the wedding feast

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