INTRODUCTION TO SONG OF SOLOMON 8 This chapter begins with an ardent wish of the church for a free and intimate converse with Christ; declaring what she would do to him, and for him, should she have such an interview with him, Song of Solomon 8:1; what familiarity should be between them, Song of So... [ Continue Reading ]
O THAT THOU [WERT] AS MY BROTHER,.... Or, "who will give thee as a brother to me?" q an usual form of wishing, Deuteronomy 5:29 Psalms 14:7. The church here not only requests that Christ would be like a brother to her, but appear to be really one, and to act the part of one towards her; with whom s... [ Continue Reading ]
I WOULD LEAD THEE, [AND] BRING, THEE INTO MOTHER'S HOUSE,.... The general assembly and church of the firstborn is mother to the church visible, to particular churches and believers, where they are born, educated, and brought up; for which they have a great affection, as persons usually have for the... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS LEFT HAND [SHOULD BE] UNDER MY HEAD, AND HIS RIGHT HAND SHOULD EMBRACE ME. That is, when she should have the presence of Christ in her mother's house. Or the words are a petition that so it might be, "let his left hand", c. g or a declaration of what she did enjoy, "his left hand is under my hea... [ Continue Reading ]
I CHARGE YOU, O YE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM, THAT YE STIR NOT UP, NOR AWAKE [MY] LOVE, UNTIL HE PLEASE. The phrase, "by the roes [and] by the hinds of the field", used in Song of Solomon 2:7; is here omitted; not as if the charge was less vehement and earnest here, for the form of expostulation seems... [ Continue Reading ]
(WHO [IS] THIS THAT COMETH UP FROM THE WILDERNESS?.... Which words are spoken by the daughters of Jerusalem, occasioned by her charge to them, by which they were excited to look more earnestly at her, whom Christ had indulged with so much nearness to him; at which they express their surprise, and de... [ Continue Reading ]
SET ME AS A SEAL UPON THINE HEART, AS A SEAL UPON THINE ARM,.... These are still the words of the church, speaking to Christ as she walked along with him, as the affixes in the Hebrew text show; in which she desires to have a fixed abiding place in his heart; to continue firmly in his love, and to h... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY WATERS CANNOT QUENCH LOVE, NEITHER CAN THE FLOODS DROWN IT,.... The love of the church to Christ, which is inextinguishable and insuperable, by the many waters and floods of wicked and ungodly men; neither by their flattery and fair promises; nor by their cruel edicts, force and persecution; by... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE A LITTLE SISTER,.... Which seems to be the Gentile church, so called by the Jewish church; for as the church catholic, or universal, with respect to its parts, is called a mother, as often in this Song; so these parts, with respect to each other, as the Jewish and Gentile churches, may be ca... [ Continue Reading ]
IF SHE [BE] A WALL,.... Built upon a sure foundation; and firmly established in her faith on Christ, and love to him; and is constant therein, and stands as a wall against the attacks of enemies b; WE WILL BUILD UPON HER A PALACE OF SILVER; though at first but as a side wall, yet should become a co... [ Continue Reading ]
I [AM] A WALL,.... The words of the little sister, or Gentile church; either wishing she was what was supposed, and desiring to be in a well settled state, "O that I was a wall!" or as asserting d that she was in such a state, well walled; God was a wall of fire about her; salvation was appointed as... [ Continue Reading ]
SOLOMON HAD A VINEYARD AT BAALHAMON,.... The little sister, or Gentile church, goes on to give an account of the success of the Gospel, the planting of churches, and the establishment of the interest of Christ in the Gentile world, together with the advantages that accrued to Christ from it; for not... [ Continue Reading ]
MY VINEYARD, WHICH [IS] MINE, [IS] BEFORE ME,.... These are either the words of Christ, asserting and confirming his right and property in his vineyard, the church; and which he distinguishes from and prefers to all others; and which being said to be before him denotes his exact knowledge of every v... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU THAT DWELLEST IN THE GARDENS,.... These are the words of Christ to the church, describing her by her habitation, and may be rendered, "O thou, inhabitress of the gardens" i; the word used being in the feminine gender, which determines the sense of it, as belonging to the church: but the Septuag... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKE HASTE, MY BELOVED,.... These are the words of the church, to Christ, calling him her "beloved"; a title often used in this Song, see Song of Solomon 1:13; and is continued to the last; for Christ was still the object of her love; and she had now a comfortable sense of her interest in him, and c... [ Continue Reading ]