Song of Songs 2:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Sin arises from treating something in an inappropriate manner. When you accept something for use, utilize the lower good rightly, so that you may subsequently enjoy the higher good in a proper way. Now, contemplate your own experiences. Reflect on how you engage with various things. If you were a merchant who favored silver over gold or preferred silver to lead, and sand to lead, would not your peers deem you completely irrational... - See also Matthew 10:37.

He does not abolish familial love, whether it be for parents, spouses, or children, but rather establishes it in its rightful order. He did not state: “Whoever loves,” but rather: “Whoever loves more than Me” (See Matthew 10:37-38). This aligns with what the Church expresses in the Song of Songs: “And his banner over me is love” (Song of Songs 2:4). Love your father, yet prioritize your love for your Creator above all.

Act with fidelity in your responsibilities and give due recognition to those deserving of it. Do not prioritize the latter over the former. Love your parents, but let your love for God take precedence (cf. Exodus 20:12 and Matthew 10:37).

Indeed, it is important to comprehend the mystery behind why the Bridegroom’s robes appear red from the tread of the wine press, to which the Prophet inquires, “Why is Your apparel red, and Your garb like one who treads in the wine press?” (Isa. 63:2). For this reason, the bride longs to dwell in the house where this sacred act of wine is celebrated. Upon entering, she desires even more and yearns to be enraptured by love—“God is love” as stated by John (1 Jn. 4:8)—to submit her spirit to Him, of whom David sings is salvation (Ps. 61:2). Thus, the bride implores, as I approach the house of wine, immerse me in love, or "let me be embraced by love." Regardless of the phrasing, whether the soul humbly surrenders to love, or draws love into itself, the meaning remains intact. Perhaps through these words, we receive a profound lesson on the nature of divine love and the required attitudes towards others. For if all things should reflect order and grace, it is even more vital that they are harmonious in these matters. Cain would not have faced judgment for his "thin" offerings if, having made a rightful (Gen. 4:7) offering, he had maintained the proper distinctions between what was meant for God's use and what was for himself. He was called to present the firstfruits to God, but instead offered what seemed more valuable while taking the remainder for himself. Thus, it is crucial to understand the order of love as outlined by divine law—how to love God, neighbors, spouses, and even enemies—so that our expressions of love remain ordered and true. God must be loved wholly—with all one’s heart, soul, strength, and emotions—while one is to regard neighbors as oneself, and to treat one’s wife with the same devotion Christ has for the Church, and to cherish her as his own body; as Paul, the arbiter of such order commands (Eph. 5:25, 28). An enemy should be loved not with retaliation, but with kindness in response to hostility. Today, we observe a plethora of loves that are chaotic and disordered, leading to errant actions due to this inconsistency. Many fervently dedicate their hearts and strength to wealth, accolades, and beloved ones, willing to sacrifice themselves for these, while towards God, their devotion is merely superficial. They often fail to manifest the love owed to their neighbors, and for those who wrong them, vengeance often overshadows mercy. Therefore, the bride urges, "Let me be embraced by love," so that I can love God appropriately, and extend the same to everyone else without falling short. Moreover, the bride reflects, having once been an enemy through my disobedience, I now enjoy the Bridegroom’s love. You, companions of the Bridegroom, will validate this cherished status and ensure that I remain steadfast and open to the best in love.

Thus, ‘Make love to me,’ so that I may be joined with the Bridegroom and hold Him above all others. ‘Establish me in the worlds,’ which means to fortify me with the fragrance of the Bridegroom, so that I do not falter, forget Him, or be led astray by other distractions. Additionally, ‘put me in the apples,’ refresh me with His bounty, so that under His shade, filled with His perfume and abundant fruit, I may eternally cherish His memory. ‘I am wounded with love.’ He is the selected arrow that pierces the hearts of the faithful.

For instance, Jacob, the patriarch with twelve sons, loved all of them with paternal tenderness, but his affection for Joseph was particularly strong, as the Scriptures indicate: his brothers envied Joseph because their father favored him above all (Genesis 37:4). This does not imply that the righteous father lacked love for his other children; rather, his heart held a deeper fondness for Joseph.

A similar distinction can be observed with the Apostle John, of whom it is said, ‘But one of His disciples whom Jesus loved’ (John 13:23). Although Jesus loved all eleven of His chosen disciples with remarkable devotion, as recorded in the Gospel when He commands, ‘As I have loved you, so you must love one another’ (John 13:34), and ‘Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end’ (John 13:1), this particular affection for one does not diminish the love for the others. Instead, it highlights an abundance of love directed towards him, privilege that arises from the purity of his life. Thus, this supreme form of love stands out, not through a comparison to hatred, but by the greater grace of overflowing love.

We see a similar concept in the Song of Songs: order your love to me. This truly reflects an ordered love that bears no malice toward anyone, yet prefers some based on merit and love’s necessity, distinguishing those who warrant a more special affection. Among those who receive the greatest love, there are further distinctions, identifying some who are favored even more than others.