Song of Solomon 2:3
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
The shadow in the Scriptures is not always presented in a good way. Yet, we see that there is great delight if you sit down under God’s shadow. Not only is there great delight, but the bride says his fruit was sweet to my taste. How in the world could something like a shadow bring great delight and become sweet to the taste of the one who must endure the shadow? It is not the cause of the shadow that is delightful, but it is the God on the other side of the shadow that makes the shadow a great delight and fruit that is sweet to your taste. There are several times we find a shadow in our lives.
First, we see the shadow of death in Psalm 23. The Scriptures say in Psalm 23:4, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Death is often a shadow that nobody likes to have, but death is a part of life we all will face. However, when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you can be assured that God is with you in that valley.
Second, we see the shadow of God’s wings. Psalm 36:7 says, How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. The wings we see resemble the hen that puts her chicks under her wings in the time of the storm. Whenever the believer goes through a storm, God lovingly hides the believer from the elements of the storm. Notice that God does not remove the storm, but He protects you while you go through the storm. Oh, the shadow of God’s wings brings great delight because we know we are protected through any storm that life brings our way.
Third, we see the shadow of His hand. Isaiah 51:16 says, And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people. The shadow of God’s hand means that His hand is on my life and that my life is His workmanship. That God would keep His hand on my life no matter what I do is a great delight and a fruit that is sweet to my taste because I know He is constantly working on my life.
Fourth, we see the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 says, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. This shadow reminds me that His power is on my life as long as I stay under His shadow. That God would give me His power to do His work is a great motivator to stay under His shadow. As long as I stay under His shadow, I can enjoy His power to help me see the miraculous done through my life.
Why is it a great delight and a fruit that is sweet to my taste to be under God’s shadow? It is a great delight and fruit that is sweet to my taste because God is with me at all times. No matter what you face, you can rest in the shadow of the Almighty. You have a choice to run from the shadow or choose to sit down under His shadow with great delight. However, if you run from the shadow, you are running from the presence of God. If you stay under that shadow, you will be safe from anything life brings your way, and you will enjoy His power and protection as He does His work in your life.
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