Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
the winter--the law of the covenant of works (Matthew 4:16).
rain is over-- (Hebrews 12:18-24; 1 John 2:8). Then first the Gentile Church is called "beloved, which was not beloved" (Romans 9:25). So "the winter" of estrangement and sin is "past" to the believer (Isaiah 44:22; Jeremiah 50:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:1). The rising "Sun of righteousness" dispels the "rain" (2 Samuel 23:4; Psalms 126:5; Malachi 4:2). The winter in Palestine is past by April, but all the showers were not over till May. The time described here is that which comes directly after these last showers of winter. In the highest sense, the coming resurrection and deliverance of the earth from the past curse is here implied (Romans 8:19; Revelation 21:4; Revelation 22:3). No more "clouds" shall then "return after the rain" (Ecclesiastes 12:2; Revelation 4:3; compare Genesis 9:13-17); "the rainbow round the throne" is the "token" of this.
Loving reassurance given by Jesus Christ to the bride, lest she should think that He had ceased to love her, on account of her unfaithfulness, which had occasioned His temporary withdrawal. He allures her to brighter than worldly joys (Micah 2:10). Not only does the saint wish to depart to be with Him, but He still more desires to have the saint with Him above (John 17:24). Historically, the vineyard or garden of the King, here first introduced, is "the kingdom of heaven preached" by John the Baptist, before whom "the law and the prophets were" (Luke 16:16).
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Job 37:6
Song of Solomon 6:11
Ezekiel 16:8
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