The Walnut Tree, Gardens and a Feast
There is little doubt that the nut trees mentioned in Song of Songs 6:11 are the trees known as the English, or more precisely as Persian Walnuts that are widely grown in many parts of the world. The origin of this species is not known, but it is widely grown in the Middle East where the seeds of the fruits (‘nuts’) are eaten. A delicacy in some parts of Syria is candied green walnut where the entire fruit including the part that will become bony is eaten.
In’ the Song of Songs Chapter 6, two gardens are mentioned. The first is in verse 2 and is a garden of spices and lilies: My beloved has gone to his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed his flock in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
The second garden is in verse 11 - a garden of nuts, located in the valley and associated with grapes and pomegranates: I went down to the garden of nuts to see the verdure of the valley, to see whether the vine had budded and the pomegranates had bloomed.
Scripture speaks much of the grape (more than any other plant) and often of the pomegranate but what does the walnut tell us? The Walnut is a large, graceful tree. The dark green leaves and the strong thick trunk would tower over the vines and the shrubby pomegranates. In ancient times, the Walnut was a symbol of fertility. Generally, all nuts and fruit are fertility Symbols. The ancients knew that they were the end product of flowering. A nut like Walnut with a big seed and a shell to crack must have seemed appropriate as an encouragement to throw towards the bride and groom like rice. In some middle eastern countries, the bride and groom share a quince on their wedding night as a symbol of the fertility (and sweetness?) they hope for their marriage.
All of this sounds delightful – fertility, sweetness, encouragement. But they are merely types and pictures of much greater things to come at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb:
And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thundering’ saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
(Revelation 19:6-9)
Are you saved? Are you part of Christ’s bride (those who are truly born again.) If you are, then you are blessed, and you are called to be at the marriage supper of the Lamb,
If you are not, there is still time. Call on Jesus whilst you still can!