Heart Garden - Part 2
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.
Two ways of interpreting these nine choice fruits and spices are:
They correspond to the nine fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23.
Their meaning is revealed through their original Hebrew root word.
Saffron
Fruit of the Spirit: Patience
Hebrew: Crocus
This spice is collected from the three tiny stigmas of the flowers of the autumn crocus. About 225,000 of these stigmas must be picked out by hand to produce 1 pound of saffron. Now that definitely requires a lot of patience!
Saffron is yellow-gold in color when dried, and it is literally worth its weight in gold. It represents faith, which is “more precious than gold” (1 Pet. 1:7).
The tedious process of extracting saffron and its great worth is synonymous with faith and patience. Both faith and patience are needed to inherit and manifest the promises of God into our lives (Heb. 6:12).
(References 1-2, 4-5)
Calamus
Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness
Hebrew: Uprightness
Both the Hebrew and Greek words for kindness mean uprightness. Uprightness (righteousness) and kindness go together (Prov. 21:21).
Along with uprightness, the Hebrew word for calamus can mean “purchased” or “redeemed.”
God showed His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus who purchased and redeemed us by His blood (Eph. 2:7). Christ’s sacrifice makes us righteous (upright) in God’s sight (2 Cor. 5:21).
(References 1, 4-6)
Cinnamon
Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness
Hebrew: Emitting an Odor
Cinnamon is very common in baked goods, so it can be likened to the saying, “Home baked goodness.”
The goodness of God leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4). It is God’s sweet goodness, like the attractiveness of cinnamon, that causes us to turn to Him.
The Hebrew root word for cinnamon means “emitting an odor.” Its fragrance represents holiness to the Lord. It was one of the ingredients in the holy anointing oil that was used to set apart the priests unto God (Exod. 30:23-25, 30). We are royal priests who are set apart and holy to the Lord (1 Pet. 2:9; Col. 3:12).
(References 3-5)
Today we have explored patience, faith, kindness, uprightness, goodness and holiness.
These will make for great additions to our heart’s garden!
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: Parallels with the Fruit of the Spirit – Part 2
4. Song of Solomon 4:13-14 TPT – See Footnotes for Original Hebrew Meanings
5. Heaven Awaits the Bride by