The Springtime of Love

Chapter 2:8-17 anticipates one of the most beautiful seasons of vibrancy, exhilaration and enjoyment of each other anywhere in the book (Vs. 8-13). It opens with the beloved leaping over the mountains calling her out of the home to enjoy the freshness—the sights and sounds—of the newly arrived springtime. But the anticipation of this is somewhat dampened by the shyness and apprehension of the spouse (Vs. 14-15). He reasons with her, explains to her that the long dark winter nights are over and that the heavy rains are completely gone (Vs. 11). He tells her that the blossoms are on the plants and the migrating turtledove has arrived back (Vs. 12). And he encourages her with the thought that the vine and the fig tree will soon bear their fruit (Vs. 13).

Whatever happened between verses fourteen and fifteen is unknown, but it seems that she emerges from the house and walks with him in the springtime. Perhaps it is this walk, as they past the vineyards she remembers those pesky little foxes that spoil the vines. This prompted the thought of those little niggling annoyances that spoil the relationship and she reminds him that they need to address these little things before they can move on (Vs. 15). But she is assured that, despite her failures and little annoyances, she knows and is comforted by the confidence that he belongs to her and she to him. With this confidence she petitions him to come back again when the day breaks.