_The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s._ THE SONG OF SOLOMON The Song of Songs is Solomon’s, as composed by the wisest of men, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and Solomon’s also as composed concerning the true Solomon the Prince of Peace, of whom the son of David was an eminent type. It bel... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth: for Thy love is better than wine._ COMMUNION WITH CHRIST 1. Such as have the least taste of Christ’s love, are impatient and restless in their desires after the nearest fellowship and communion with Him. The Church here desires Christ’s manifestation... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because of the savour of Thy good ointments, Thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love Thee._ THE PRECIOUSNESS OF CHRIST In Christ are contained all those attractive beauties--those excellencies, which are adapted to win souls to Himself, and to God in Him. The rose and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Draw me, we will run after Thee._ DIVINE DRAWINGS I. Man needs to be divinely drawn to God. 1. He is far away from God in heart, life, and purpose. 2. Has no inclination to return. 3. Is every moment wandering farther. 4. His understanding needs to be enlightened, his affections to be won, hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem._ THE CHURCH’S BLACKNESS I. The church of God and Christians, whilst they are here, are in an imperfect state. There is a mixture of some light and darkness together, and so it will be till we come to heaven, both for sin and sorrow, for sins an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Look not upon me, because I am black._ SELF-HUMBLING AND SELF-SEARCHING I. The fairest Christians are the most shamefaced with regard to themselves. The person who says, “Look not upon me, because I am black,” is described by some one else in the eighth verse as the “fairest among women.” Others,... [ Continue Reading ]
_If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock._ CHRIST’S ANSWER UNTO HIS SPOUSE I. His supposition. 1. The faithful servants and saints of Christ walk in much blindness and ignorance. 2. Christ takes not advantage from the sins or from the ignoranc... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have compared thee, O My love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots._ CHRIST’S COMMENDATION OF HIS CHURCH I. The sweet epithet Ghrist giveth unto his Church. “O My love.” 1. The greatest outgoings of love and friendship from Christ, are toward His Church. His love to His people is-- ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold._ THE BRIDE ADORNED WITH JEWELS I. The graces of the Holy Spirit are that adorning of the Church which is visible to all spiritual discernment. Faith itself is a very choice jewel, but we are to have rows of jewels--faith in e... [ Continue Reading ]
_While the King sitteth at His table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof._ THE CHURCH’S TESTIMONY TO CHRIST These words are the Church’s testimony from experience of the blessed effects which Christ’s presence in His ordinances hath upon pious souls which wait upon Him under them. 1. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_A bundle of myrrh is my Well-beloved unto me._ A BUNDLE OF MYRRH I. Christ Jesus is unutterably precious to believers. Observe first, that nothing gives the believer so much joy as fellowship with Christ. In our esteem, the joys of earth are little better than husks for swine compared with Jesus t... [ Continue Reading ]
_My Beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi._ A BEAUTIFUL SYMBOL Terraced on the side of the mountains were the vineyards of En-gedi. Oh, they were sweet places! From a shelving of the mountain four hundred feet high waters came down in beautiful baptism on the face... [ Continue Reading ]