View Song of Songs 2 in the note window.
Christ speaks of himself and his church, ver. 1, 2.
The church declares the delightful fellowship she had with Christ,
ver. 3, 4.
Rejoices in his favour, and takes care that nothing may displease him,
ver. 5 - 7
Triumphs in his love and gracious call, ver. 8 - 13.
Christ's care of the church, ver. 14, 15.
Her faith and hope in him, ver. 16, 17
1: I - These are the words of the bridegroom. He compares himself
to the rose and lilly, for fragrancy and beauty. Sharon, was a
very fruitful place, and famous for roses.
2: Among - Compared with thorns, which it unspeakably exceeds in
glory and beauty. So - So far, doth my church or people, excel all other
assemblies. The title of daughter, is often given to whole nations.
These are Christ's words, to which the spouse makes the following reply.
3: The apple - tree - Whose fruit is very pleasant and wholesome.
The trees - Which are barren. I sat - I confidently reposed myself
under his protection. His fruit - The benefits which I received
by him, remission of sins, faith, grace, and assurance of glory.
4: Banquetting house - The places in which believers receive the
graces and blessings of Christ. His banner - By the lifting up whereof
I was invited to come to him, and to list myself under him. Love - The
love of Christ crucified, which, like a banner, is displayed in the gospel.
5: Stay me - Or, support me, keep me from fainting. The spouse
speaks this to her bride - maids, the daughters of Jerusalem: or to
the bridegroom himself. Flaggons - With wine, which is a good cordial.
Apples - With odoriferous apples, the smell whereof was grateful to
persons ready to faint. By this understand the application of the
promises, and the quickening influences of the Spirit.
6: His hand - No sooner did I cry out for help, but he was at hand to
succour me.
7: I charge you - This is spoken by the bride. By the roes - By the
example of those creatures, which are pleasant and loving in their
carriage towards one another. Nor awake - That you do not disturb
nor offend him. 'Till - Never, as this word, until, in such phrases,
is commonly used. For neither can sin ever please him, nor can
the church bear it that Christ should ever be offended.
8: The voice - Christ's voice, the word of grace revealed outwardly
in the gospel, and inwardly by the Spirit of God. Leaping - He saith,
leaping and skipping, to denote that Christ came readily, and
swiftly, with great desire and pleasure and adds, upon the mountains
and hills, to signify Christ's resolution to come in spite of all
difficulties.
9: Like a roe - In swiftness. He is coming to me with all speed
and will not tarry a moment beyond the proper season.
He standeth behind - And while he doth for wise reasons forbear to come;
he is not far from us. Both this and the following phrases may denote
the obscure manner of Christ's manifesting himself to his people, under
the law, in comparison of his discoveries in the gospel.
The window - This phrase, and that through the lattess, intimate that
the church does indeed see Christ, but, as through a glass, darkly,
as it is said even of gospel - revelations, (1Co 13:12), which was
much more true of legal administrations.
10: Spake - Invited me outwardly by his word, and inwardly by his
Spirit. Rise up - Shake off sloth, and disentangle thyself more fully
from all the snares of this world. Come - Unto me, and with me; follow
me fully, serve me perfectly, labour for a nearer union, and more
satisfying communion with me.
11: The winter - Spiritual troubles arising from a deep sense of the
guilt of sin, the wrath of God, the curse of the law; all which made
them afraid to come unto God. But, saith Christ, I have removed these
impediments, God is reconciled; therefore cast off all discouragements,
and excuses, and come to me.
12: The flowers - The communications of God's grace, the gifts, and
graces, and comforts of the Holy Spirit, are vouchsafed unto, and appear
in believers, as buds and blossoms do in the spring. The turtle - This
seems particularly to be mentioned because it not only gives notice of
the spring, but aptly represents the Spirit of God, which even the
Chaldee paraphrast understands by this turtle, which appeared in the
shape of a dove, and which worketh a dove - like meekness, and chastity,
and faithfulness, in believers.
13: Her figs - Which it shoots forth in the spring.
14: My dove - So the church is called, for her dove - like temper,
and for her dove - like condition, because she is weak, and exposed
to persecution, and therefore forced to hide herself in rocks. The
stairs - In the holes of craggy and broken rocks, which resemble stairs.
Let me see - Be not afraid to appear before me. Hear - Thy prayers and
praises. For - Thy person and services are amiable in my sight.
15: Take us - The bridegroom gives this charge to his bridemen or
friends. By whom he understands those magistrates and ministers to whom,
under Christ, the custody of the vineyards, the churches, principally
belong. These he commands to take the foxes, to restrain them from doing
this mischief. Foxes - The disturbers of the vineyard, or the church,
seducers or false teachers. Little foxes - This he adds for more abundant
caution, to teach the church to prevent errors and heresies in the
beginnings. Spoil vines - Which foxes do many ways, by gnawing and
breaking the little branches and leaves, by digging holes in the
vineyards, and so spoiling the roots. Tender grapes - Which are easily
spoiled, if great care be not used to prevent it.
16: My beloved - These are the words of the bride, who having come
to him upon his gracious invitation, now maketh her boast of him.
He feedeth - Abideth and refresheth himself amongst his faithful people,
who are compared to lillies, ver.(2).
17: Until - Until the morning of that blessed day of the general
resurrection, when all the shadows, not only of ignorance, and sin, and
calamity, but even of outward administrations, shall cease. Turn - Return
to me. For although Christ had come to her, and she had gladly received
him, yet he was gone again, as is here implied, and evidently appears from
the following verse. Which sudden change is very agreeable to the state
of God's people in this world, where they are subject to frequent changes.
A roe - In swiftness; make haste to help me. Of Bether - A place in the
land of promise, where it seems those creatures were in great abundance.
