The Song of Solomon
Song of Solomon 3
Chapter III · Vol. II, pp. 1131–1132
1 The church's fight and victory in temptation. 6 The church glorieth in Christ.
2 Id will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: eI sought him, but I found him not.
d ch.5.5. Is.64.7. Pr.1.20,21; 8.3,34. Ps.84.1,2,10.
4 Iti was but a little that I passed from them, but jI found him whom my soul loveth: I kheld him, and would not let him go, until I lhad brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that nconceived me.
5 Io charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he 1please.
o ch.2.7; 8.4,5. Mi.4.8.
1 See ch.2.7.—C.
6 Whop is this that cometh out of the wilderness qlike pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?2
p De.8.2. Is.43.19. ch.8.5. Ps.43.3; 84.7. 1 Jn.5.4. Ga.6.14.
q Phi.4.18. Re.5.8. Col.3.1. Phi.3.20. Ep.1.6. Ro.12.1,2. 1 Pe.2.5.
2 Reference may here be made to sacrifice. The smoke ascended like a tall and graceful pillar from the burning victim, while the air around was filled with the fragrance of the perfumes and incense that were kindled at the same time. Dignity and grace are the characteristics chiefly represented.—P.
7 Behold rhis bed, which is 3Solomon's: threescore svaliant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.
r ch.1.16. Jn.14.21,23. 1 Jn.1.3,7.
3 'Lo! it is the palanquin of Solomon!'—C.
s 2 Ki.6.17. He.1.14. 1 Co.12.28.
8 Theyt all hold swords,4 being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because uof fear in the night.
10 Hex made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 Goy forth, O zye daughters of Zion, and behold aking Solomon with the crown wherewith his bmother6 crownedc him in the dday of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.
y ch.4.8. Re.22.17. 2 Co.5.20.
z ch.1.5; 2.7; 5.8; ver.5. Ps.48.11; 9.14.
A.M. cir. 3009. B.C. cir. 995.
a Mat.12.42. Is.9.6. He.2.9. Phi.2.9-11.
b ch.8.5. Mat.12.50. Ga.4.19. Col.1.27.
6 His mother. The church as she took refuge in this wilderness state, Re.12.1-6.—C.
c Col.1.18. Re.1.5-7; 5.9. Phi.3.8-10.
d Jn.3.29. Re.21.9,10. Ps.110.3. Eze.16.6-14. Re.11.15; 19.7. Is.62.5; 53.11. Lu.15.32.
Notes
Ver. 1. In time of desertion and trouble, and of a secure and slothful frame, in prayer and other private ordinances, I endeavoured to regain the sensible communications of Jesus' love: I persevered therein, but without any discernible success. 2. Stirring up myself therefore to a more active and lively frame of spirit, I attended the public ordinances of his worship, in order to obtain communion with himself. I often repeated my endeavours, but met with nothing but disappointments and discouragements. 3. Faithful ministers, who with care and labour inspect the souls of men, were often directed to speak pointedly to my case, which encouraged me to open it to them in familiar conversation, and beg their assistance in furthering my fellowship with him. 4. Not resting in duties and ordinances, by faith I essayed still more earnest and immediate application to Jesus himself. He graciously vouchsafed me his sensible presence. Then my heart clave to him by a lively exercise of faith, and by the most ardent and resolute affection. I carefully avoided everything which tended to disturb our fellowship or provoke his withdrawment; and not only laboured to get intimate enjoyment and full assurance of his love to myself, but to have his promised presence in the church and the public ordinances thereof. 5. I therefore again charge you, my fellow-professors or saints, to avoid everything which may in the least tend to mar my intercourse with him.
Daughters of Jerusalem. 6. What amazing persons are those who, separated from the world in affection, and delivered from former troubles, mount up heavenward in faith, in love, in spiritual-mindedness, and in holy desires and conversation;—all acceptable to God through Jesus' merits and intercession, and endowed with the manifold and precious graces of his Holy Spirit!
Believers. 7, 8. Nay, admire not us, nor the glories which we have freely received from Christ; but behold that new covenant of grace, and that familiar fellowship with him, which are the causes of everything amiable in us, and in which we are watched over and protected, amidst all our dangers, by almighty perfections, attendant angels, and vigilant ministers. 9, 10. Behold how, according to his deep compassion and universal love, he has not only assumed our nature in the most precious and useful form, but has formed a new covenant, and a gospel dispensation,—reared on stable, precious, and supporting promises,—founded in the unchangeable and everlasting love and purpose of God, in which men are protected by his righteousness and royal power; and his unbounded love makes everything proper, refreshing, and supporting for the members of his church, in order to transport them, in fellowship with him, through this world into the heavenly state! 11. Go forth then, my fellow-professors, from your unregeneracy, your self-righteousness, your filthy lusts, your carnal cares and sluggish frames; and with earnestness, faith, love, and wonder observe Jesus, our Prince of Peace, not only crowned by his Father with the highest glory and honour, but even by all the true members of his church, in their acceptance of him, and submission to him, as their Husband, Saviour, and Lord; particularly in that day of power, and time of love in which, to his inexpressible satisfaction, they are united to him by faith.
Ver. 1. 'In the night.'—That state of comparative darkness in which the believer and the whole church are still surrounded. See Ro. 13. 11, 12.—I sought him in his Word for direction, and in his promises for support.—I found him not. The seeker does not say, I believed him not, but 'I found him not,' because for more exercise of faith and faithful seeking, he calls the soul (the church) to add to private contemplation and prayer the observance and use of Christian converse and public ordinances. See ver. 2. C.
Ver. 6. The emblem here changes to the arrival of a traveller coming out of the wilderness, not like the wayworn Israelites when they emerged from its solitudes, but as a beauteous and beloved bride borne in splendour, and escorted by the mighty.—Note, The Hebrew shows the traveller is a female. C.
Ver. 9. A chariot. Rather, 'a throne,' as the mention of pillars seems to require, and as the word may be translated, 'King Solomon made himself a throne'—the emblem of the King of Zion enthroned in glory, the reward and production of his humiliation unto death, Phi. 2. 5-11. C.
Ver. 10. Its inside strewed over with love-mottoes (after the manner of the East) by the daughters of Jerusalem, the emblems of those records whereby believers have witnessed Christ's love to them, and their love to Christ. C.
Ver. 11. In the day of his espousals, &c. The church restored to paradise, and uninterrupted communion with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. C.
Reflections.—In this world the clearest days of intimate fellowship with Christ are suddenly turned into nights of desertion, trouble, ignorance, and sloth. But precious and dear is Jesus to lively saints;—nothing can content them without his presence and favour; and they count no labour nor suffering too hard to obtain it. Great is his love to them. He is loath to contend long with his people lest their spirit should fail before him. And an hour, a minute of his presence, richly rewards all their pains and sorrows in seeking for it. Promising is the appearance when the Word preached pointedly touches the heart and conscience of hearers, and leads them to careful inquiries concerning Christ. And remarkable fellowship with him effectually animates to an earnest wrestling in behalf of the church and public interests of religion. What extensive honour believers procure to themselves from all around them by an earnest care to maintain fellowship with him, and to follow him in a gracious, upright, and heavenly conversation! But if distinguished saints be so admirable and lovely, how much more is Christ himself and his covenant! With great care ought we to labour to have the heart and eyes of all around us fixed on him: for great indeed is his love, that he should take pleasure in espousing to himself poor, guilty, polluted, diseased, wretched, and mischievous sinners of mankind.