Song of Solomon 2

Notes

Christ. 1. I am indeed glorious in my person as God-man, and in my mediatorial relations, estates, and works; and am infinitely comely, refreshing, and medicinal to every believing soul. 2. And partaking of my comeliness, righteousness, and grace, thou, my church, art incomparably more excellent and useful than all the societies, and true believers than all the persons on earth.

Believers. 3. But infinitely more my beloved Jesus excels angels and men in everything gracious, glorious, and operative. Often have I, under the covert of his righteousness, love, power, and providence, fearless of danger from heaven, earth, or hell, believingly viewed, admired, and applied to my soul, his person, offices, and relations, with all the pardon, peace, acceptance, adoption, sanctification, comfort, and endless glory, which flow therefrom! 4. Powerfully has he admitted me to partake of his fulness, in the most ravishing manner, in his Word and ordinances. And the manifestations of his love have effectually protected me from enemies, and encouraged and animated me to my spiritual work and warfare. 5. Ye ministers and fellow-professors, often have I needed your sympathy, direction, and comfort, under my sad perplexity and desertion. But, oh! if you could now help me to bear up under these ravishing discoveries and communications of Jesus' love! Oh for further and unspeakably more enlarged enjoyment of him, to strengthen me for supporting under, and improving what I have; 6. But why do I ask your assistance? While I enjoy the true, the delightful, and intimate embraces of an incarnate God, and have the joys of his promise imparted to my soul, his word, power, and grace marvellously uphold, delight, and invigorate my heart. 7. I therefore charge you, my fellow-professors, by everything kind, pleasant, or delightful, that ye disturb not my fellowship with him, nor do, nor cause me to do, anything which may provoke him to withdraw this sensible visit of his love. 8. Lo! though he had withdrawn, yet I now hear his voice, in the ministry of his Word and motions of his Spirit. Behold, he comes removing and triumphing over every hindrance of my fellowship with him! 9. Behold, in the most lively, lovely, and affectionate manner, he comes forward in the influence of his grace, and unto an actual assumption of our nature! Behold he, the substance of all our ceremonies, manifests his glorious and gracious excellencies, through them, and vouchsafes some obscure and transient glimpses of himself in every ordinance! 10. In what a heartmelting manner he said to my soul, Rouse up thyself from thy partial deadness, sloth, and security, and disentangle thyself more fully from the snares of the world and thy own lusts. Exercise thy faith in the most active, bold, and assured degree, in partaking of the most delightful fellowship with me: 11. For all impediments, arising from the wrath of God, the guilt, or dominion of sin, or from terrible troubles, are now removed. 12-14. Now are come the days of power and times of love, in which the dispensations of the gospel are attended with almighty influence, and multitudes are, to their everlasting joy and comfort, converted to me, and rendered fruitful in good works. Arise, therefore, my poor, meek, chaste, but often persecuted bride; let no despondency, no sense of thy unworthiness, deter thee from approaching my presence in prayer and other holy duties: for both thy person and services are accepted by me, and are inexpressibly amiable in my sight. 15. And while ecclesiastical rulers take pains, both by doctrine and discipline, to free my church from false teachers, even those who have but begun to vent their errors and irregularities, as they greatly mar her purity, peace, order, and beauty, and are especially apt to mislead weak believers, let every one be careful to search out, and mortify his own inward lusts, as these, if indulged, break up the work of grace in their hearts.—16. This kind inviter is my glorious Husband and Mediator, given of God to, and accepted by, me; and I am his by the Father's goodness, his own love and conquest, and by my surrender of myself to him. And O the infinite delight he takes in his people, and to converse with them in his ordinances! 17. Till the gospel day, in its pleasant light and powerful influence, break, and the shadows of Jewish ceremonies flee away; nay, till the day of perfect glory dawn, and all the shadows of desertion, temptation, and trouble are fled; do thou, blessed Jesus, often surprise me with the discoveries of thy glory and communications of thy grace, notwithstanding whatever hindrances, guilt, and wickedness are found with me.

Ver. 1. 'I am a wild rose of the fields, a lily of the valleys.'— Such a humiliating description as every self-examining believer will give of himself in comparison with the attainments of others. C.

Ver. 3. Judea is not celebrated for the apple, but its citrons were reckoned superior to those of all other lands; and the citron is therefore most probably the fruit-tree of this emblem. C.

Ver. 7. I charge you. This cannot be any form of adjuration, which would be both superstitious and impious. The reference is to the timidity of the startled gazelle, and the fleetness with which it escapes when disturbed in its slumbers. Spiritually, it inculcates 'praying, waiting, and watching,' for the Lord's coming in providence and grace. C.

Ver. 10-13. From verse 10 to 13 is presented one of the most beautiful emblems of Christ, by his Word and Spirit, inviting the soul of a believer, or the whole church, to arise from sleep, Ro. 13. 11, and follow him. C.

Ver. 14. The emblem here changes to a scene descriptive of the safety of the believer, or the church—defended as by a rock, and hid in the 'secret places of the precipices.' C.——In this verse the dove—not the turtle-dove, but the pigeon—is the emblem selected. Its favourite haunts are the clefts of the rocks, and the retired recesses of the steep stair-like ravines. From these its soft cooing is heard during the spring season. P.

Ver. 16. He feedeth among the lilies. 'Let him feed (his flock) among the lilies.'—The emblems of believers, adorned with grace and endowed with righteousness without their own merit, Ro. 3. 20-28; 4. 4-6. C.

Reflections.—O the unbounded glory and infinite usefulness of Jesus Christ, and the glory and usefulness of his people as connected with him! What must be the immediate enjoyment of God and the Lamb, when the imperfect and mediate enjoyment on earth is sometimes so transporting! Unhappy for ever is that heart which would change one hour's fellowship with Christ for all the pleasures, honours, and riches on earth. Tenderly should it be managed, and carefully improved and maintained. A small thing may interrupt it; and with the greatest reluctance and grief should the believing soul mourn over its want. Strong as death must be the love of our Redeemer, which makes him come to his people over every mountain of distance, darkness, wrath, provocation, and pollution. How earnest and affecting are his invitations to familiar intercourse with himself! And what a change in the world is made by his oracles, ordinances, and influence! But wicked ministers in a church, and carnal lusts in a heart, are our greatest plagues, and should be carefully removed. And the assured faith of our relation to Christ will make us effectually to long and cry for frequent and familiar fellowship with him.