View Song of Songs 3 in the note window.
The church seeks Christ, finds him, and resolves not to displease him
again, ver. 1 - 5.
Christ's coming out of the wilderness; his bed, guard and chariot,
ver. 6 - 10.
An invitation of the church to the kingdom of glory, ver. 11.
1: By night - When others compose themselves to sleep, my affections
were working towards him. I sought - I sought for Christ's gracious and
powerful presence. I sought - This repetition denotes her perseverance
and unweariedness in seeking him. Found him not - For he had withdrawn
the manifestations of his love from me, either because I had not sought
him diligently, or because I had abused his favour.
2: The city - The city of God, the church in which Christ resides.
Broadways - Not finding him in private prayer, and meditation, I sought
him in the places of public assemblies and ordinances. Found not - He
saw fit still to delay the discoveries of his grace.
3: The watch - men - The ministers of Christ, and rulers of the church.
Go about - To prevent disorders and dangers. Him - She does not name
him, because she thought it needless, as supposing a person of such
transcendent excellency could not be unknown to men in that capacity.
Their answer is not mentioned, either because they gave her no satisfactory
answer, or because by their silence she gathered that they were unable to
inform her; and being eager in the pursuit, she would not lose time.
4: Found him - Christ met me, and manifested his love to me.
Mother's house - As the spouse here, signifies particular believers, so
her mother is the universal church, or the true Jerusalem, which hath
its rise from above, which is the mother of us all, (Ga 4:26), in
which Christ and believers are united, and have sweet communion together
in holy ordinances, into which believers are said to bring Christ, by
faith and prayer. Conceived me - Christ is as it were the father that
begets, and the church the mother that conceives and brings forth believers.
6: Who - The persons speaking seem to be the daughters of Jerusalem,
who upon occasion of the bride's speech to them, make this reply.
The person spoken of is the spouse. Wilderness - Believers were to be
called, not only out of the holy land, which was as the garden of God,
but also out of the Gentile - world, which in prophetical writings is
frequently described under the notion of a wilderness. Pillars - Being
conducted out of the wilderness as by a pillar of smoak going before
them, as the Israelites were led through the wilderness to Canaan, by
a pillar of cloud and fire. Perfumed - The spouse is said to be thus
perfumed, for her excellent virtues and religious services which are
pleasant and acceptable to God, and for the merits and graces of Christ,
which are a sweet savour to God, wherewith she is enriched and
beautified. Of merchants - Which are fetched by the merchants from
Arabia, or other remote parts.
7: Behold - The bride - men continue their speech, and from the
admiration of the bride, proceed to the admiration of the bridegroom.
Bed - The bed seems to denote the church, which is comely through Christ's
beauty, and safe by his protection, in which Christ is glorified, and
believers enjoy sweet fellowship with him. Solomon's - Which is the bed,
not of an ordinary man, but of a great king, whom Solomon typifies,
and who is greater than Solomon. Threescore - Very many, the certain
number being put for an uncertain. He alludes to Solomon's guard,
whereby he designs all those creatures, whether angels, princes, ministers,
or others, whose ministry God uses for the protection of his church.
8: Every man - Is prepared and ready to fight, to prevent those
dangers which are frequent in the night season. The night may denote
the whole time of this life, which may well be called night in respect
of that ignorance and error wherewith it is attended, (as the future
life is compared to day) this life being the only time wherein such a
guard is necessary.
9: A chariot - In which the royal bridegroom and bride might ride
together in state. By this chariot he seems to understand the word of
Christ dispensed by his ministers, whereby Christ rides triumphantly
in the world, and believers are carried into heavenly glory.
Of Lebanon - Of cedars, which wood being incorruptible, doth fitly signify
the word of the gospel, which endureth forever, (1Pe 1:25).
10: He made - There is no necessity that either this or the following
particulars should be distinctly applied to several things in the gospel;
this in the general may suffice, that as all the particulars are added
to shew the perfection and beauty of the chariot, so they do imply that
Christ's word is every way amiable and perfect. The bottom - The under and
lower part. Whereby he may seem to understand the foundation of the word
and promises, which is either God's covenant, or Christ's mediation, in
whom all the promises are yea and amen. Covering - The uppermost part of
it. Midst - The inward parts. Paved - Covered and adorned.
Love - The love of Christ to the sons of men. For the daughters - For
their delight and comfort, who all bear a part in this marriage.
11: Go - The church bids particular believers go forth to see this
sight. Solomon - The Messiah, of whom Solomon was an illustrious type.
The crown - Which being applied to Solomon, may design that garland or
crown which was usually worn in nuptial solemnities: but being applied
to Christ, it denotes the honour that was given him, which though
principally done by his Father, yet is here ascribed to his mother, the
universal church, which in respect to his humanity may be called his
mother, because he was born in, and of her, and one of her members.
In the day - When the church is married to him, which is done when the
covenant is confirmed between them, or when persons are converted to
Christ, and more compleatly when they are received by Christ into his
immediate fellowship in the kingdom of glory. Gladness - When he
rejoiceth over his bride.
