Plants of the Bible
8. The Apple – Love
“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”
(Song of Solomon 2:3)
To become a Christian is the most wonderful thing that can happen to any person. When we are converted our eyes are opened to understand the great truths of the Bible: we see things we never saw before. Also our hearts are opened to experience the love of God: we enjoy things we never enjoyed before. All this is possible because the grace of God has come into our lives and we are now united to Christ by faith.
The Song of Solomon is a song about love. As we have seen already it shows us the relationship between Christ and his church. Like a husband and wife they are devoted to one another. Just as a married couple delight in being with each other so the believer and his Saviour dwell happily together in the bond of a special, holy love.
In this chapter Christ makes himself known by comparing himself to the rose for its glory and the lily for its humility. Then he speaks lovingly of his church and she speaks lovingly of him. What is he like in her eyes? He is like the apple tree. We have all seen this tree. There may be one or more in your garden. In what ways is our Lord Jesus Christ like the apple tree?
Firstly there is the attractiveness of the apple tree. When mature the apple tree has a shapely appearance and bears a fragrant blossom in the spring. It stands out from other trees and we are drawn towards it. Jesus too is “altogether lovely” (Song 5:16). He has no rivals in a believer's eyes. In every way Christ is perfect and he has something precious to give that no-one else has. He has salvation for sinners.
It was love to his people which brought the Lord of glory into this world. His great work was to obey God’s law on their behalf and to suffer and die on the cross for their sins. Jesus courts us in the gospel and enters our hearts. Then we return to him our grateful love. John, a disciple whom Jesus loved, wrote, “We love him, because he first loved us” (1John 4:19). So we will not leave him for another. As Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
Secondly there is the restfulness of the apple tree. Its broad, spreading limbs provide a cooling shade. Under the boughs of the apple tree a man may find relief from the heat of the sun in summer. In the same way a believer takes shelter in Jesus. By faith he sits down there and rests. He has ceased from his every attempt to win God’s favour by his sinful works. Covered with Christ’s righteousness he is safe for all eternity.
Jesus truly loved God with all his heart, soul and mind. Only he could say, “I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29). Jesus laid down his sinless life for his friends, being punished by God for their sins. Because the Father is well pleased with the sacrifice of his Son his wrath which burns against sinners is turned aside from believers. Are you trusting in Christ? Are your sins forgiven? Have you entered into rest? What a joy it is to be justified!
Finally there is the sweetness of the apple tree. In the autumn this tree bears its familiar, luscious fruit. Likewise Christ has blessings to give to us after we have been justified by faith in him. We must now be sanctified or made holy. Working in our souls by the grace of his Spirit Christ develops his own character in us. In justification we are in Christ; in sanctification Christ is in us.
When a person becomes a Christian he finds that he has a desire for things which once meant nothing to him. The world encourages us to seek after position and power and in our sinfulness we lust after such. Qualities like honesty and modesty mean little to us in our natural state. But when we are converted we have a new appetite; we begin to feed upon Christ with great relish. We are now following the Saviour who said, “I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matt.11:29).
Everyone enjoys a tasty apple – perhaps several of them! Have you ever noticed that the best apples, the reddest and shiniest, always seem to be at top of the tree, just out of reach? In a way the blessings of God are like that. We must make real effort if we are to enjoy the very best that God has to give. We need to be like Paul, “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Phil.3:13). Time spent with the Bible, in prayer and in fellowship with other believers will never be regretted.
Perhaps you have heard the gospel of Christ from your earliest days. But has it been blessed to your soul? May the day soon come when you know what it is to sit down under Christ’s shadow and begin to feed upon his fruit.
