Song of Solomon 4

Notes

Ver. 1-5, 7. Behold how glorious is the state of my church decked with ordinances, officers, and saints! How comely is she when ministers, her lights, or eyes, are intelligent, modest, humble, and holy, walking in all godly simplicity!—when converts, rooted in me as their Head, grow up in grace and perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord—feeding on the rich pastures of my Word, and surrendering themselves acceptable sacrifices to God!—How comely is she when ministers, who prepare spiritual nourishment for others, are sound in their doctrine, holy in their conversation, harmonious and meek in their behaviour, and active and successful in winning souls to me!—when their ministrations mark the soundness of their hearts!—when their dwelling on redemption through my blood, as their principal theme, renders themselves and their ministrations lively and pleasant; and when, with modesty, singleness, prudence, and order they, and other rulers, govern the flocks committed to their care!—when they, as superior to others in station, and as means of connecting them with Christ, and of conveying their spiritual nourishment, are upright, steady, and strong, and do watch over the church, and actively improve the whole armour of God for her defence and honour!—and when her various oracles, ordinances, and officers are remarkably useful for supplying the souls of men with the nourishing milk of God's Word!—But especially how fair and comely are believers, with respect to their personal capacity, when justified by active faith, and adorned with every spiritual grace!—when their spiritual knowledge, faith, and affection are sincere, single, humble, and seasonably discovered!—when their conversation in thought, word, and deed, notwithstanding many imperfections, is orderly and pure, manifesting a heart nourished in the pastures of the gospel!—when, by repeated acts of faith and meditation, they improve their spiritual provision; and their zeal for God is uniform, pure, and moderate, animating them to a fruitfulness in good works, and in winning others to me!—when their prayers and converse are profitable and pleasant, discovering the soundness of their heart, animated, and furnished by, and accepted through my blood!—when there is much secret and holy blushing on account of remaining defects!—when their faith, which unites them to me, furnishes with and really improves the whole armour of God for their defence from spiritual enemies, as the worthies of God formerly experienced!—when, feeding upon the doctrine of the prophets and apostles, they, to my inexpressible pleasure, abound in faith and love towards me, and in care to instruct and edify others!—How completely perfect are they in their justification, in the extent of their sanctification, and in my purpose and favourable acceptation. 6, 8. Till not only the gospel dispensation, but even the glorious millennium, and the resurrection to everlasting life, come, I, according to thy request, ch. 2. 17, will continue to bestow my special presence and influence in my church, which is rendered so delightful by my ordinances, and by the precious graces, prayers, and praises of my people.—Let therefore every one spiritually espoused to me there attend, and hold intimate fellowship with me, setting their affections on things above; forsaking the most excellent creature-satisfactions for my sake, shunning the intimacy of carnal, covetous, and violent men, and even the fellowship of superstitious, erroneous, and persecuting churches. 9, 10. O redeemed soul, partaker of the same human nature with me, begotten and adopted of my Father, and spiritually betrothed to my person, how, even with the weakest acts of thy faith, and the smallest degree of sincere grace and holy obedience, hast thou claimed, attracted, encouraged, and coupled my heart to thee! How incomparably acceptable and delightful is thy love, and that sweet fragrancy flowing from thy manifold graces! 11. How delightful thy prayers and praise! Thy instructing, reproving, and comforting discourse marks what sweet and nourishing truths and experiences are lodged in thy heart, and how delightful and attractive is thy holy and benevolent conversation! 12-14. My church is a delightful garden, separated from the world, set apart to the service of God, digged by gospel ministrations and influences, and especially protected by my providence, by the rules of order contained in my Word, and a medicinal spring of gospel truth hid from the view of a carnal world! And when purged of scandalous persons, her converts planted in the new kingdom do flourish more fragrant, delightful, precious, and useful, more numerous and different in circumstances, than all the fruit-bearing trees and spices of an orchard!—Yea, every particular believer is a garden set apart in beautiful order, and with infinite care and labour, to the service of God; and has in him the Holy Ghost and a principle of grace, as a well of water springing up into everlasting life: and in the most pleasant manner are their various gifts and graces exercised to my honour, their own advantage, and the edification of others.

Believers. 15. Blessed Jesus! great source and bestower of all life here or hereafter, it is to thy influences alone that we owe all our comeliness, fragrancy, and fruitfulness! let them run more abundantly into our hearts, that, by the exercise of thy grace, we may be rendered more useful to water and refresh others around! 16. And since we are thine, as well as under our own care, prevent everything tending to mar our fruitfulness; and let the Holy Ghost, in his convincing and sin-mortifying as well as in his comforting influences, stir up and quicken our hearts to a lively exercise of those gifts and graces with which we are endowed. And do thou, O Jesus, manifest thy presence in thine ordinances, and accept of and delight in those graces and good works which are wrought in us by faith in thyself.

Ver. 1. My love—'my Partner.' 'Thine eyes are doves' (see ch. 1. 15) behind thy vail.'—'Thine hair as a flock of goats.' They must have seen the beautiful hair of some of the Asiatic goats who would appreciate this comparison. C.

Ver. 2. None is barren. 'None is companionless,' an allusion to the correspondence of the upper and lower teeth, upon which both their beauty and utility so much depend.—Note, Personal beauty, like the other gifts of God, is good, and may, if not abused, be used for most gracious purposes. The details of personal beauty form, accordingly, most appropriate emblems of those gifts of the Spirit wherewith Christ adorns the believer and his bride the church. C.

Ver. 4. Reference may here be made not merely to the natural symmetry and stateliness of the neck; but to the costly chains and ornaments of gold which it was customary to wear in great profusion round the neck. David's armoury tower was graceful in the style of its architecture; and it was hung round with golden shields and polished armour. P.

Ver. 6. The emblem here changes, and the speaker retires to Lebanon, the mountain from which he speaks in ver. 8. The emblem represents Christ inviting the believer (the church) to lofty ascents of contemplation and extended views of providence and redemption. C.

Ver. 9. One of thine eyes. 'One glance of thine eyes;' that language of humility, purity, devotedness—which nothing but the eye can speak. C.

Ver. 11. Lebanon. Whiteness and incense—the one meaning from its snowy top; the other from the fragrant plants that adorned its sides. C.

Ver. 12. 'A garden is inclosed, my sister espoused; a spring is shut up.' This garden, &c., not being the emblem of the bride herself, but of the protected beauties and comforts of her residence. C.——Fountains shut up and sealed, that is, so covered and inclosed as to be secure against all inspection, are not uncommon in Palestine. There is one at Solomon's Pools. It is in an artificial subterranean chamber, the entrance to which is closed, and a subterranean channel conducts its waters into one of the great pools. P.

Ver. 15. A well of living waters. The emblem of the Word of Christ springing up continually in streams of life from the believer's heart and gospel ordinances, Jn. 4. 14.—Streams from Lebanon. The emblem of the 'good and perfect gifts that come down from the Father of lights,' Ja. 1.17. C.——Perennial streams are very rare in Palestine, but they abound in Lebanon. Their waters are limpid, sparkling, and of icy coldness. The streams and fountains of Lebanon are proverbial throughout Syria as emblems of luxury and pleasure. P.

Reflections.—What infinite love Jesus bears to all people! He puts upon them his own comeliness, when they exercise a living faith in him. Earnest is his desire of their company: and soon shall they be with him where he is, to share his happiness and honour! Never, but when he went to suffer, did he say, Let these go their way. They are a good savour of Christ to all around or above them. And when they rightly behold their own comeliness in him, it effectually humbles them, and makes them ascribe all the glory to him, and to cry for more abundant supplies of his sanctifying influences. Surely it is the greatest honour for them, as his peculiar property, to keep themselves entirely for his service.