Difference between revisions of "Lily"

<p> LILY, LILY OF THE VALLEYS </p> <p> (&nbsp;Song of Song of Solomon 2:1-2) Those are fragrant flowers, well known by name in this our climate; but there is reason to suppose, that what are distinguished by those names in [[Scripture]] very far excel in beauty, fragrancy, and medicinal use, the lilies of those colder countries like ours. However, even with all those disadvantages, the lily, and the lily of the valley with which we are acquainted, may merit a place in our Concordance, in that Christ and his church are spoken of under the similitude. The original name in the [[Jewish]] Scriptures, is Susan or Schuschan. Some have said, that this is the Persian lily, or the crown imperial; but it is evident, that what the church saith of Christ, &nbsp;Song of Song of Solomon 5:13. (that his lips are like lilies,) must prove, that this was a red flower. But be this as it may, one thing I beg to observe, that all historians agree in this, that this lily was common in Judea, and grew in fields. Hence Jesus saith, (&nbsp;Matthew 6:28-29) "Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do the spin; and vet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." </p> <p> There is a great beauty in the similitude of this flower to Jesus. Jesus is the flower of the field; Jesus is also imperial; Jesus is open to the traveller by the way. And as the flower of the field is not of man's planting, neither cultivating, so this plant of renown is wholly raised up by the Lord [[Jehovah]] himself. (See &nbsp;Ezekiel 34:29) And if we consider the lily of the vallies also, (as Jesus speaks of himself, &nbsp;Song of Song of Solomon 2:1) There is no less the same striking resemblance in every view. Nothing surely could be more suited, to denote the unequalled humility of the Son of God, than the figure of the lily, which loves the retired, low, and obscure spot of the valley. It was in the valley of this our lower world the Son of God came, when he came "to seek and save that which was lost." And when we consider the modesty, the whiteness, the fragrancy, the fruitfulness, in short, the whole loveliness of this beautiful flower, what can more pointedly set forth the Lord Jesus, under all these endearednesses of character, than the lily of the vallies? Oh, thou holy, harmless, undefiled Lamb of God, without blemish, and without spot! </p> <p> But we must not stop here. It is a sweet and interesting part of this subject to consider, that while Jesus compares himself to the lily of the vallies, so doth he no less compare his church to the same lovely flower. "As the lily among thorns, saith Jesus, so is my love among the daughters." There is this difference indeed between the comparison; for while Jesus saith, that he is the lily of the vallies, he only saith of his church, that she is as the lily. And the reason is very plain: what Jesus is, he is in himself, underived, and of himself; whereas, what the church is, she is wholly in him, and from him. But while this distinction is never to be lost sight of, but thankfully preserved in the recollection, it is very blessed to see, that from our union with him, and interest in him, such as Jesus is so are we in this world. Is Christ the lily of the vallies? so, saith Jesus, is my love among the daughters. Is Jesus JEHOVAH our righteousness? then shall his spouse the church be called by the same name. (&nbsp;Jeremiah 23:6; Jer 33:16) Is Jesus fair and lovely, sweet and fragrant as the lily of the vallies? so shall the church be in his sight, from the comeliness that he hath put upon her, (&nbsp;Ezekiel 16:14) In a word, all that Jesus is as the glorious Head of his body the church, such shall be his body, glorious in his glory, and lovely in his loveliness, because in him, and from him all is derived, for "we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." There is one thought more the subject suggests concerning the church, and that is, that as a lily the church is said to be among thorns; meaning, that in this world Jesus's church is in a wilderness. Corruptions within, and persecutions without, the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of the heart, the lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life, the reproaches of some, and the heresies of others, </p> <p> These make the situations of the godly but too strikingly resembled by the lily in the midst of thorns. For, as the prophet speaks, "the good man is perished out of the earth, and there is none upright among men; the best of them is a brier, the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge." (&nbsp;Micah 7:2; Mic 7:4) How truly blessed is it thus to prove the doctrine of Christ by testimony, and yet more when a child of God discovers, through the [[Holy]] Ghost, his own personal interest in it. </p>

<p> shuwshan . &nbsp;Matthew 7:28-29. The white lily plant is used as fuel when withered; but it does not grow wild in Syria. Rather the scarlet martagon (Lilium chalcedonicum ). "The lily at [[Huleh]] is large, the three inner petals meet above, forming a gorgeous canopy such as art never approached, and king never sat under even in his utmost glory. Our flower delights in the valleys, grows among thorns, and I have sadly lacerated my hands in extricating it. Nothing can be in higher contrast than the velvety softness of this lily and the tangled hedge of thorns about it. Gazelles still feed among these flowers, and you can scarcely ride through the woods N. of [[Tabor]] without frightening gazelles from their flowery pasture" (Thomson, Land and Book, 2:18). Compare &nbsp;Song of Solomon 2:1, "lily of the valleys" (&nbsp;Song of Solomon 2:2) "among thorns," (&nbsp;Song of Solomon 2:16) "he feedeth (in &nbsp;Song of Solomon 4:5 'roes') among the lilies." </p> <p> The words of Solomon's Song (&nbsp;Song of Solomon 5:13), "his lips like lilies," require a ruby or scarlet color, not white. But as" lily" was used also in a general sense for a lovely, bell-shaped flower, the [[Egyptian]] lotus of the Nile is probably meant in the "lily work" ornamentation of the capitals ("chapiters") of Solomon's temple pillars, and the rim of the brazen sea (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:22-23). So Egyptian architecture delights in lotus headed capitals. "He shall grow as the lily" (&nbsp;Hosea 14:5), i.e. rapidly selfpropagating, one root often producing 50 bulbs (Pliny, Nat. Hist. 21:5). Stanley thinks "lily" includes numerous flowers of the tulip or amaryllis kind blooming in the early summer or the autumn of Palestine. J. [[Hamilton]] (Imperial Dictionary) remarks on "consider the lilies," "wondrous is God's chemistry who out of black mould and invisible vapour builds up that column of chrysolite, and crowns it with its flaming capital. </p> <p> How strange is God's husbandry! Instead of taking the lily into a conservatory, He leaves it out among the thorns. The same soil from which one nature can only extract the harsh astringent sloe with its cruel spines yields to another flexile leaves and balmy blossoms. So the life of faith is not lived in the convent or in the sanctuary (alone), but out of doors in the unsympathising world, in the midst of secular men. From the same soil and the same atmosphere from which others derive repulsive attributes, the believer can absorb grace and give forth excellence. The same bounties of providence which make [[Nabal]] more churlish make [[Joseph]] more generous, tender, and forgiving; the same sunshine which elicits the balm of the lily matures in the blackthorn its verjuice, the same shower which makes thistles rank fills the lily cup with nectar, and clothes it in raiment eclipsing Solomon." </p>

<p> &nbsp;Song of Solomon 2:1 (b) This flower is a type of [[Christ]] in His beauty and loveliness. We should notice that the word "valley" is in the plural. The Lord knew we would have many valleys between the cradle and the grave, and would need the [[Saviour]] in His beauty and sweetness in every one of them. This lily is a type of CHRIST, first because it is always pure white. Then, it is always fragrant, with an unusual sweetness of its own. It is also a universal flower, found wherever man lives and vegetation can grow. It always droops with its beautiful little bells hanging toward the ground; one must be low and lowly, and then look up into the beauty of CHRIST in order to enjoy Him. This lily does not live on public highways, but is found in sheltered nooks. So it is with CHRIST JESUS. He is not found in the public markets, nor in the busy throng, but in the secret place of the Most High, under the shadow of the Almighty. </p> <p> Some think that this lily is a type of the Bride, the Church of CHRIST. </p> <ul> <li> because it grows on the earth and though the earth is black the lily grows up white, thus showing the transforming power of the Lord. </li> <li> because it brings joy to the heart of its owner by it's beauty and fragrance even as the church brings joy to the Lord. </li> <li> Because there are so few of them compared with the number of weeds and worthless plants even as the [[Christians]] are few in number compared to the sinners. </li> </ul> <p> &nbsp;Hosea 14:5 (a) This is a type of [[Israel]] in the regeneration when they will be restored to the Lord and shall bring joy to His heart by the beauty and fragrance of their testimony. </p> <p> &nbsp;Luke 12:27 (a) Here we see a picture of GOD's gracious care for each child of GOD. GOD beautifies them and supplies their needs. They, in turn, give forth loveliness and perfume for the blessing and the joy of GOD. </p>

<div> '''1: κρίνον ''' (Strong'S #2918 — Noun Neuter — krinon — kree'-non ) </div> <p> occurs in &nbsp;Matthew 6:28; &nbsp;Luke 12:27; in the former the Lord speaks of "the lilies of the field;" the "lily" referred to was a flower of rich color, probably including the gladiolus and iris species. The former "grow among the grain, often overtopping it and illuminating the broad fields with their various shades of pinkish purple to deep violet purple and blue. ... Anyone who has stood among the wheat fields of [[Galilee]] ... will see at once the appropriateness of our Savior's allusion. They all have a reedy stem, which, when dry, would make such fuel as is used in the ovens. The beautiful irises ... have gorgeous flowers, and would suit our Savior's comparison even better than the above. But they are plants of pasture grounds and swamps, and seldom found in grain fields. If, however, we understand by 'lilies of the field' simply wild lilies, these would also be included in the expression. Our Savior's comparison would then be like a 'composite photograph,' a reference to all the splendid colors and beautiful shapes of the numerous wild plants comprehended under the name 'lily'" (G. E. Post, in Hastings' Bib. Dic.). </p>

<p> <i> shushan, </i> κρίνον.The well-known flower of graceful form, of which there are several species that grow in the fields and valleys of Palestine. One of great beauty grows near the [[Merom]] waters, and is called the Huleh-lily. In the [[Canticles]] the bride calls herself 'a lily of the valley,' to which the [[Bridegroom]] responds, "as the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters." &nbsp;Song of Solomon 2:1,2 . Israel is to grow up as a lily in a future day. &nbsp;Hosea 14:5 . The pattern of the lily was among the ornamental work of the temple. The lily is extolled by the Lord as exceeding in beauty all the glory of Solomon. &nbsp;1 Kings 7:19,22,26; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 2:16; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 4:5; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 5:13; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 6:2,3; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 7:2; &nbsp;Matthew 6:28; &nbsp;Luke 12:27 . Some suppose the <i> Lilium Chalcedonicum, </i> the 'red Turk's-cap lily,' to have been the plant referred to by the Lord. Others think it was probably the <i> Anemone coronaria, </i> which they judge to have been included in the Greek κρινον.The term may be general, as the modern Arabic <i> susan. </i> LILY-WORKis ornamentation in resemblance to lilies. &nbsp;1 Kings 7:19,22 . See SHOSHANNIM. </p>

<p> ''''' lil´i ''''' ( שׁוּשׁן , <i> ''''' shūshan ''''' </i> (&nbsp; 1 Kings 7:19 ), שׁושׁנּה , <i> '''''shōshannāh''''' </i> (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 4:5; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 2:1 f; &nbsp; Hosea 14:5 ); plural (&nbsp;Song of Solomon 2:16; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 4:5; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 5:13; &nbsp;Song of Solomon 6:2 f; &nbsp; Song of Solomon 7:2; [[Ecclesiasticus]] 39:14; 50:8); κρίνον , <i> '''''krı́non''''' </i> (&nbsp;Matthew 6:28; &nbsp;Luke 12:27 )): The Hebrew is probably a loan word from the Egyptian the original <i> '''''s''''' </i> - <i> '''''sh''''' </i> - <i> '''''n''''' </i> denoting the lotus-flower, <i> Nymphaea </i> <i> lotus </i> . This was probably the model of the architectural ornament, translated "lily-work," which appeared upon the capitals of the columns in the temple porch (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:19 ), upon the top of the pillars (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:22 ) and upon the turned-back rim of the "molten sea" (&nbsp;1 Kings 7:26 ). </p> <p> Botanically the word <i> ''''' shōshannāh ''''' </i> , like the similar modern Arabic <i> ''''' Sūsan ''''' </i> , included in all probability a great many flowers, and was used in a way at least as wide as the popular use of the English word "lily." The expression "lily of the valleys" (&nbsp; Song of Solomon 2:1 ) has nothing to do with the plant of that name; the flowers referred to appear to have been associated with the rank herbage of the valley bottoms (&nbsp;Song of Solomon 4:5 ); the expression "His lips are as lilies" (&nbsp;Song of Solomon 5:13 ) might imply a scarlet flower, but more probably in oriental imagery signifies a sweet-scented flower; the sweet scent of the lily is referred to in Ecclesiasticus 39:14, and in 50:8 we read of "lilies by the rivers of water." The beauty of the blossom is implied in &nbsp;Hosea 14:5 , where [[Yahweh]] promises that repentant Israel shall "blossom as the lily." A "heap of wheat set about with lilies" (&nbsp;Song of Solomon 7:2 ) probably refers to the smoothed-out piles of newly threshed wheat on the threshing-floors decorated by a circlet of flowers. </p> <p> The reference of our Lord to the "lilies of the field" is probably, like the Old Testament references, quite a general one. </p> <p> The Hebrew and the Greek very likely include not only any members of the great order <i> Liliaceae </i> , growing in Palestine, e.g. asphodel, squill, hyacinth, ornithogalum ("Star of Bethlehem"), fritillaria, tulip and colocynth, but also the more showy irises ("Tabor lilies" "purple irises," etc.) and the beautiful gladioli of the Natural Order. <i> Irideae </i> and the familiar narcissi of the Natural Order <i> Amaryllideae </i> . </p> <p> In later Jewish literature the lily is very frequently referred to <i> symbolically </i> , and a lotus or lily was commonly pictured on several Jewish coins. </p>