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The image of a wilderness gives way to the image of the apple tree (the symbol of the devotional life - used as a symbol of love and romance in the ancient world). This is first seen in 2:3 and was the place where the Beloved ‘ awakened’ His Bride to love. The ‘awakening’ is a metaphor for new life or rather a new way of perceiving life which his love brought to her. |
Much as she was a product of her parent’s love (‘..there your mother brought you forth..’) and was brought into the world by physical birth, the Bride has now received a second ‘birth’ or ‘awakening’ through the love of her Beloved. As we spend time in His presence, having a stronger devotional life (under the apple tree), then we will experience an ‘awakening’!
Our 'spiritual mother' (Discipler) begot us again in Christ in the place of devotion - awakening comes through this kind of nourishing discipleship.