_A.M. 2990. B.C. 1014._ After the title, the church, the bride, speaks to Christ, the bridegroom, Song of Solomon 1:1. To the daughters of Jerusalem, and to Christ again, Song of Solomon 1:5. Christ answers her complaints and requests, Song of Solomon 1:8. The church expresses her value for Christ,... [ Continue Reading ]
_The song of songs_ The most excellent of all songs. And so this might well be called, whether we consider the author of it, who was a great prince, and the wisest of all mortal men; or the subject of it, which is not Solomon, _but a greater than Solomon_, even Christ, and his marriage with the chur... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let him kiss me_ The beginning is abrupt; but is suitable to, and usual in, writings of this nature, wherein things are not related in a historical and exquisite order, but that which was first done is brought in, as it were, accidentally, after many other passages; as we see in Homer, and Virgil,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because of the savour of thy good ointments_ Because of those excellent gifts and graces of God's Spirit wherewith thou art replenished; _thy name_ Thy fame or report, the very mention of thee, and all those things by which thou makest thyself known to men; thy word, particularly thine offers of pa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Draw me_ By thy grace and Holy Spirit. _We will_ Both I, thy spouse, and the virgins, my companions. And this change of numbers teaches us, that the spouse is one great body, consisting of many members; _run after thee_ Will follow thee readily, cheerfully, and swiftly. _The king hath brought me_,... [ Continue Reading ]
_I am black_ I confess, as to myself, I am contemptible and deformed. She alludes to the complexion of Pharaoh's daughter; _but comely_ Yet I am _glorious within, Psalms 45:13_; and comely, through the beauty which my husband hath put upon me, by his graces conferred upon me, in justification and sa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Look not upon me_ With wonder and disdain; _because the sun hath looked upon me_ My blackness is not essential and inseparable, but chiefly caused by the scorching beams of the sun; that is, sore persecutions and tribulations, which, by God's permission, have befallen me, represented by the sun, Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tell me_, &c. Notwithstanding all these discouragements and afflictions, which I suffer for thy sake, and for my love to thee. Being reproached and persecuted by others, I flee to thee, O my only refuge and joy, and beg direction and help from thee; _where thou feedest thy flock_ Discover to me whi... [ Continue Reading ]
_If thou know not_ This is Christ's answer; _go thy way_, &c. Observe and follow the paths which my sheep have trodden before thee, my faithful servants, Abraham and others. For the church in all ages is one and the same, and there is but one way, for the substance, in which all the saints, from the... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have compared thee_ For strength and courage, to overcome all thine enemies; _to a company of horses_ For horses are famous for that property, and the strength of the battle was then thought to consist much in horses and chariots, especially in a company or multitude of them. And the church in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_While the king_ My royal husband; _sitteth at the table_ With me in his ordinances. _My spikenard_ The graces of his Spirit conferred upon me, here compared to those sweet ointments, which the master of the feast caused to be poured out upon the heads of the guests, (Luke 7:38,) in which ointments... [ Continue Reading ]
_A bundle of myrrh_ Myrrh was ever reckoned among the best perfumes; _shall lie_, &c. This phrase may denote the church's intimate union with, and hearty affection to Christ. _My beloved is as a cluster of camphire_ We are not concerned to know exactly what this was; it being confessed that it was s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, thou art fair_ This is the speech of Christ. The words are doubled to manifest his fervent affection for her. _Thou hast doves' eyes_ Which are mild and harmless, chaste and faithful. And by _the eyes_ he seems to design both her outward behaviour and the inward disposition of her mind.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, thou art fair_ The church here again speaks, and retorts Christ's words; thou, and thou only, art fair indeed; _yea, pleasant_ As thou art beautiful in thyself, so thou art amiable and pleasant in thy condescension to me. _Also, our bed_ This seems to denote the place where the church enjoy... [ Continue Reading ]