Good Morning Yamon Ki Yesepar:

Song of Solomon 2:11 “For behold the winter has passed, the rain has passed, it goes to itself.”

The picture being painted here is a simple one.  The long hard winter has passed, rains have come and now it is the care free time of spring, a time to renew and refresh. For the young lovers it is a time to once again focus on romance.

Then, of course, we need to see this picture as it illustrates the relationship of Jesus and the Church and/or our personal relationship to Him.

The first thing we need to see is that this is a picture of renewal not of a beginning. Apparently these two lovers have shared some intimate times together and then certain hardships came along (winter) that put the romance on hold.  The next season arises and it is once again a time  when they can again concentration on their relationship. The indication is that the departure from their romance was not due to any problem in their relationship, it was just circumstances that kept them apart.

The word for winter is “hasetha” which finds its root in the word “hasa” which means to cover or conceal, to keep a secret.   Perhaps this “winter” represented a time when the two lovers are forced to be separated, and can not fully express their love for each other, either because of physical circumstances such a job or family obligations, or because of emotional concerns like trying to understand if this love is real.  Then this “passes“, the word is “avar” which means to pass through, having endured and stayed the course.  The romance passed through whatever was testing it and now the rains come.

In our culture the picture of rain tends to be more negative that positive. Rain tends to limit our activities and keeps us from going outside to have some fun.  However, in the ancient culture, rain was something positive.  It was symbolic of healing, of bringing forth life, a time of cleansing.

The writer says that the rains “pass.”  The word used for “pass” here is different than the earlier word for pass.  This word here is “halaph.”  This is the picture of renewal, cleansing or polishing up.  It is sort of  like getting rid of the dust and cobwebs and restoring something to a new condition.

The word “it goes” is “halak” which is closely related to the previous word “halaph” and is actually a play on that word.  “Halak” which is used to express a sense of endurance.  Hence what is renewed will stayed renewed.   Sort of like getting your car washed and then never having to wash it again as it will stay forever clean.

In this case the two lovers have gone through their winter in their romance and now that it is restored, they will live happily ever after.  Except this is no fairy tale, This is the Bible.

When we take this to it’s deeper meaning, ie., our relationship with God, this makes perfect sense and is consistent with the rest of Scripture.  Many of us enter into a relationship with God.  It is a wonderful time, but then we go through a winter season.  Maybe it is a crisis, or doubt or questions.  For some of us it separates us from God.  Eventually, we pass through this winter period, God sends healing or restoring rains and the relationship is renewed, only now that relationship is stronger and more enduring for having passed through that winter season.

Are you going through a winter season?  There is a saying in the Talmud: “This too will pass.”  Soon the healing rains of God will come and as you enter into the spring season you will find your relationship with Jesus to be deeper and stronger for having passed through and endured that winter season.

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