Heart Garden - Part 1

What are we growing in the garden of our heart?

Song of Solomon compares our hearts to a garden and vividly describes the various fruits and spices that are to be growing there.

Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.

Two ways of interpreting these nine choice fruits and spices are:

1. They correspond to the nine fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23.

2. Their meaning is revealed through their original Hebrew root word.

Pomegranates

Fruit of the Spirit: Love

Hebrew: Exalted

• The verse mentions an orchard of pomegranates, meaning above all we are to develop God’s unconditional love in our heart. Like an orchard, we are to possess God’s love in abundance.

• The Hebrew word for pomegranate is taken from a word that means “exalted.” The first and second greatest commandment is to love God and others, and it is the royal law of Scripture (Matt. 22:37-39; James 2:8).

• Pomegranates have no flesh, only seeds. As we die to our flesh, we will better demonstrate and multiply God’s love, like seeds in fruit that produce even more fruit.

  (References 2-3, 5-6)

Camphire

Fruit of the Spirit: Joy

Hebrew: Redemption

• Camphire (henna) was used to represent joy in weddings and celebrations in bridal bouquets, perfumes and table decorations.

• Henna comes from a tree that yields a red die. It signifies Christ’s blood that was shed for our salvation (Mark 10:45; 1 Cor. 6:20). Its Hebrew root word means “to forgive.” We are to receive Christ’s mercy for us demonstrated by His sacrifice on the cross, and also exhibit mercy to others.

• Joy and salvation go hand-in-hand (Ps. 51:12). With joy we draw water from the wells of salvation (Isa. 12:3).

  (References 1-4)

Spikenard

Fruit of the Spirit: Peace

Hebrew: Light

• Spikenard is known for its medicinal properties. The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, is synonymous with health, wholeness and welfare. We can fill the world around us with God’s peace which brings healing and restoration to what is broken.

• Spikenard grows high up in the Himalayan mountains in the strong light of the sun, and Jesus likewise tells us to be lights on a stand and cities on a hill (Matt. 5:14-15).

• The pictographs for the Hebrew word for peace, shalom, mean “destroying the authority that binds to chaos.” When light enters a room, darkness is destroyed because the light exposes it (Eph. 5:13).

  (References 1-4, 7-8)

We can practice love (the greatest of all), joy, mercy, peace and reflecting God’s light.

References

1. Song of Solomon 4:13-14: Parallels with the Fruit of the Spirit – Quick Overview

2. Song of Solomon 4:13-14: Parallels with the Fruit of the Spirit – Part 1

3. Song of Solomon 4:13-14 TPT – See Footnotes for Original Hebrew Meanings

4. Heaven Awaits the Bride by Anna Rountree

5. What is the Significance of Pomegranates in the Bible? – GotQuestions.org

6. Pomegranates in Israel and the Bible

7. Dr. Brian Simmons on “Shalom”

8. Spikenard – Wikipedia