INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 4 In this chapter is contained a large commendation of the church's beauty by Christ; first, more particularly, by an enumeration of several parts, as her eyes, hair, teeth, lips, temples, neck, and breasts, Song of Solomon 4:1; and more generally, Song of Solomon 4:... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THOU [ART] FAIR, MY LOVE; BEHOLD, THOU [ART] FAIR,.... The same as in Song of Solomon 1:15; here repeated by Christ, to introduce the following commendation; to express the greatness of his love to his church; and show that he had the same opinion of her, and esteem for her, notwithstanding... [ Continue Reading ]
THY TEETH [ARE] LIKE A FLOCK [OF SHEEP],.... That is, like the teeth of a flock of sheep; as her eyes were like the eyes of doves, and her hair like the hair of goats: and Galen long ago observed, that human teeth are much like the teeth of sheep, in figure, order, and structure, as well as are smal... [ Continue Reading ]
THY LIPS [ARE] LIKE A THREAD OF SCARLET,.... To a "thread" for thinness, to "scarlet" for colour; thin red lips being beautiful, as well as white teeth; so the beautiful Aspasia had red lips b, and teeth whiter than snow; hence we read of red and purple lips c. Now as lips are the instruments of spe... [ Continue Reading ]
THY NECK [IS] LIKE THE TOWER OF DAVID, BUILDED FOR AN ARMOURY,.... This was either the strong hold of Zion; or some tower erected by David for an armoury, wherein his worthies or mighty men bring up their shields; Mr. Sandys k says, it stood aloft in the utmost angle of a mountain, whose ruins are y... [ Continue Reading ]
THY TWO BREASTS [ARE] LIKE TWO YOUNG ROES THAT ARE TWINS,.... Or, "two fawns, the twins of a doe": Providence, as Plutarch observes p, has given to women two breasts, that, should they have twins, both might have a fountain of nourishment; and are fitly compared to twins of the doe. The hind, for th... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL THE DAY BREAK, AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY,.... Until the day of grace breaks on every elect sinner, and the shadows of darkness, ignorance, and unbelief, are in a great measure fled and gone; or until the everlasting day breaks, and there will be no more night, nor any darkness of affliction, n... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART ALL FAIR, MY LOVE,.... Being justified by the righteousness of Christ, washed in his blood, and sanctified by his Spirit; of the title, my "love", see Song of Solomon 1:9. The church is often said by Christ to be "fair", his "fair one", and the "fairest among women", Song of Solomon 1:8; bu... [ Continue Reading ]
COME WITH ME FROM LEBANON, [MY] SPOUSE, WITH ME FROM LEBANON,.... This is a new title given the church, my "spouse"; here first mentioned, because the day of espousals was over, Song of Solomon 3:11; and having on the wedding garment, in which she was so fair and spotless, as before described, she l... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST RAVISHED MY HEART, MY SISTER, [MY] SPOUSE,.... Here another new title is given to the church, "my sister", with the repetition of the former, my "spouse": for one and the same person, with the Hebrews, might be sister and spouse; see 1 Corinthians 9:5. And this may be used in a love strain... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW FAIR IS THY LOVE, [MY] SISTER, MY SPOUSE!.... Of these titles, Song of Solomon 4:8; Song of Solomon 4:9; and of the love of the church to Christ, Song of Solomon 1:3; here said to be "fair", lovely and delightful, grateful and acceptable; as it is to Christ, in the several acts and effects of... [ Continue Reading ]
THY LIPS, O [MY] SPOUSE, DROP [AS] THE HONEYCOMB,.... Words, for sweetness, delight, and pleasure, like that; so the speech of persons, flowing from their mouth and tongue, is said to be sweeter than the honeycomb s; and lovers are said to be sweeter to one another than the sweet honey t: so the lip... [ Continue Reading ]
A GARDEN ENCLOSED [IS] MY SISTER, [MY] SPOUSE,.... At a little distance from Bethlehem are pools of water, and below these runs a narrow rocky valley, enclosed on both sides with high mountains which the friars, as Mr. Maundrell says d will have to be the enclosed garden here alluded to; but it is m... [ Continue Reading ]
THY PLANTS [ARE] AN ORCHARD OF POMEGRANATES,.... These plants are the members of the church, true converts, believers in Christ; pleasant plants, plants of renown, planted in the church by Christ's heavenly Father, and shall never be plucked up; or, thy gardens, as it may be rendered n; particular c... [ Continue Reading ]
SPIKENARD AND SAFFRON,.... The former is the best sort of nard, and therefore mentioned and repeated, to which saints may be compared, because of the graces of the Spirit in them; which, when exercised, give a sweet odour, and are exceeding grateful to Christ; see Song of Solomon 1:12; and the latte... [ Continue Reading ]
A FOUNTAIN OF GARDENS, A WELL OF LIVING WATERS, AND STREAMS FROM LEBANON. Some c take these words to be the words of Christ continued, speaking still of his church, and explaining and enlarging upon what he had said of her, Song of Solomon 4:12; but they are rather the words of the church; who, upon... [ Continue Reading ]
AWAKE, O NORTH WIND,.... These words, according to some l, are the words of the church continued, praying for the spirit; to which sense the order and connection of the words seem to incline; though the language suits best with Christ, who has the command of the winds, and a right and property in th... [ Continue Reading ]