View Song of Songs 5 in the note window.
Christ answers the church's invitation, and shews her the delight he
took in her fruit, ver. 1.
She acknowledges her negligence to Christ in not opening the door,
ver. 2 - 6.
Of the harsh usage she met with, ver. 7.
She tells the daughters of Jerusalem she is sick of love to Christ,
ver. 8.
Their question concerning him, ver. 9.
A description of Christ by his graces, ver. 10 - 15.
In whom she boasteth, ver. 16
1: I come - This is the bridegroom's answer. I have - I have eaten
of my pleasant fruits, I have taken notice of, and delight in the service
and obedience of my people. O friends - Believers are here encouraged
with freedom and chearfulness to eat and drink their spiritual food.
2: Asleep - I was dull, and sluggish. But - Yet in my very sleep my
thoughts were running upon my beloved. It is - Between sleeping and
waking, I heard his voice. Knocketh - By his word, and providence, and
spirit, at the door of my heart. Open - Inviting me to let him into my
soul. My love - This heap of kind compellations signifies Christ's
fervent affection to his people. With dew - While I wait without thy
door, which signifies his sufferings for the church's good.
The drops - The dew which falls in the night.
3: My coat - My day clothes, as persons use to do when they go to
rest. How - It is inconvenient and troublesome to do it at this time.
Washed my feet - Which the eastern people commonly did when they went
to bed.
4: By the hole - He assayed to open the door. When his word
would not prevail, his spirit, which is called the finger of God,(Lu 11:20), wrought inwardly upon my conscience.
Were moved - With compassion for him and his sufferings, and with
affection to him.
5: I rose - I went forth to receive him. Dropped - With oil or
ointment made of myrrh, which dropped from the bridegroom's hand upon
the door in great abundance, when he put it into the hole of the door,
and consequently upon her hands and fingers when she touched the door
to open it. By which she signifies, that Christ, though he withdrew
himself from her, yet left a sweet savour behind him. The handles - Heb.
with myrrh passing or flowing upon the handles of the lock, which
place the bridegroom had touched when he attempted to open it.
6: With - drawn - Denied me his comfortable presence, as a just
punishment for my former neglect. Faded - Heb. went out of me: I
fainted and was ready to die away, for those endearing expressions
related, ver.(2), which then I did not heed.
I sought - By diligent enquiry and importunate prayer.
7: Watch - men - The governors of the church, who, though by their
place they are obliged to comfort the faithful, do frequently discourage
them. Smote - With bitter calumnies and persecutions. The keepers - The
same with the watchmen, whose office it is to keep the gates and walls
of the city. My vine - Which was an ornament of her sex, and an ensign of
her relation to Christ. And so the taking of this veil away, signifies
their contemptuous usage of her, and endeavours to represent her, as one
that had no relation to Christ.
8: O daughters - The church having passed the watchmen, proceeds in
the pursuit of her beloved, and enquires of every particular believer
whom she meets concerning him. Tell him - That I am ready to faint for
want of his presence.
9: What is - Wherein doth he excel them? Believers might ask this,
that they might be more fully informed of it.
10: White - The white may denote his pure and spotless innocency, and
the ruddy colour his bloody passion.
11: As gold - It shines like gold, by reason of the crown of pure gold
upon his head. We need not aim at a distinct application of this and the
following particulars, unto some special excellency of Christ, because such
things are mere conjectures, and the only design of this description is, to
set forth the beauty of Christ under the notion of a most amiable person, in
whom there is no defect or blemish, from the crown of his head to the sole
of his feet.
12: Of doves - Lovely and pleasant, chaste and innocent.
Rivers - Where they delight to abide. Milk - Doves of a milk
white colour.
13: Cheeks - His face or countenance, an eminent part whereof is the
cheeks. Spices - Of aromatic flowers which delight both the eye with a
pleasant prospect, and the smell with their fragrancy.
Lillies - Beautiful and pleasant.
14: Beryl - Beautiful, and precious, and richly adorned, as it were
with gold rings set with precious stones. Belly - Which seems to be here
used, for the whole body, reaching from the neck to the bottom of the
belly. Saphires - Of a pure and bright white colour, intermixt with blue
veins; for some saphires are of a bright blue colour.
15: Marble - White, and strait, and well shaped and strong.
Gold - His feet are compared to gold, for their singular brightness,
for which they are compared to fine - brass, (Re 1:15).
Countenance - Heb. his aspect or appearance, his form or person.
Lebanon - In respect of its cedars, tall, and upright, and stately.
16: Altogether - Not to run out into more particulars.
