1The church's fight and victory in temptation. 6The church glorieth in Christ.
1BY1 night on my bed I sought him 2whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but 3I found him not.
1 Hebr. in the nights. Hereby is acknowledged the many enticements and temptations of the church, as Isa. 21:12; 26:9; Amos 5:18. And likewise is here shown that the church in time of temptation and persecution, when she seems to be left and forsaken, seeks Christ by prayer. See Deut. 4:29; Jer. 50:4; Hosea 3:5; 5:15; Zeph. 2:3; Mat. 7:7.
2 Namely, my Bridegroom Jesus Christ, His grace and mercy; Who is found of us when we are sensible of His grace in our hearts unto our comfort.
3 This does not contradict the promise of Christ, Mat. 7:7; for, it (the promise of Christ) fixes no precise time of finding, but is only in the hand of God. He alone knows the suitable and seasonable time of help, Heb. 4:16. In verse 4 it is stated of the bride that, after a little while, she has found her Beloved.
2I will rise now, and go about 4the city in the streets, and in the broad 5ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
4 That is, in the church of God, Psalm 87:3, or in the spiritual Jerusalem. See Hebr. 12:22.
5 Or, markets, the passages. See Luke 14:21, 22, 23.
36The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, 7Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
6 Understand here under the name of watchmen such teachers as were those of whom the prophet Isaiah speaks in Isa. 56:10: they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark. Or by watchmen may here be understood the great and wise men of the world, who, if they would be asked where Christ is to be found, are not able to tell where. See Mat. 2:3, 4. Compare Cant. 5:7.
7 The sense is: Are ye not able to show to me my Friend or Bridegroom?
4It was but 8a little that I passed from them, but I 9found him whom my soul loveth: 10I held him, and would not let him go, 11until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her 12that conceived me.
8 Namely, a little while, or a little way. Hebr. a little that I had passed from them, till I found him whom my soul loveth.
9 Here is fulfilled the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ, Mat. 7:7: Seek, and ye shall find; etc.
10 Namely, with the hand of faith. See Prov. 4:13; Eph. 3:17; Col. 1:23. See also Gen. 32:26.
11 The church intimates here that she, being sensible again the grace of Christ, is willing to remain steadfastly in His communion.
12 Or, that bare me.
513I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
13 This entire verse is expounded in Cant. 2:7.
6 ¶ 14Whoais this that cometh out of 15the wilderness 16like pillars of smoke, perfumed with 17myrrh and frankincense, with all 18powders 19of the merchant?
14 This is an astonishment of weak believers, speaking of the church as of the people of Israel, that went up out of the wilderness toward the land of promise, being surprised at the boldness and glory of the church, after she had been wrested from the oppression and sore temptation, whereof mention is made in the Song of Solomon chapter 2, and also in the beginning of this chapter.
a Cant. 8:5.
15 By the wilderness is meant here, the desolation of the external form of the church, as by tyranny as well by heresy, schism and great and grievous scandals. As the word wilderness, is likewise taken Isa. 32:15; Rev. 12:6.
16 As a mighty smoke, which goes straight up as a pillar, or palm tree, which signification the Hebrew word also has. This implies the courage and boldness of the church in the exercise of true religion, without neglecting the same through fear of wicked men or other opinions, Heb. 12:1.
17 By myrrh and frankincense are to be understood the merits of Jesus Christ, which are a sweet smelling savor unto God the Father, Eph. 5:2; Rev. 8:3, 4, 5.
18 By the powders, here mentioned, may be understood the fruits of regeneration, as also, and especially, the prayers and thanksgivings of believers, Mal. 1:11.
19 Or, of the pharmacists. Or, of the chemists, of the preparers of perfume.
720Behold 21his bed, 22which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, 23of the valiant of Israel.
20 This appears to be the words of the bride.
21 Other, his bed is as the bed of Solomon.
22 Hereby is typified that the church of God is kept and preserved by Christ, but yet far better and in a more excellent way when king Solomon had been protected by his guards. For the angels of God, those ministering spirits, are sent forth by Christ to guard and protect her. See Heb. 1:14. Being thus guarded and protected, the believing children of God are not afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day, Psalm 91:5. Hereby may also be understood the shepherds and teachers, who must watch over and keep the church of God.
23 What courageous, valiant mighty men have there been in Israel, see 1 Chron. 11:10-47; 12:1-38.
824They all hold swords, being 25expert in war: every man 26hath his sword upon his thigh 27because of fear in the night.
24 The holy angels are likewise armed with God's righteous vengeance as with swords to defend the good and to punish the wicked, 1 Chron. 21:16. All faithful shepherds of the church are armed with the Word of God and with christian discipline, having vengeance in readiness against all disobedience, Psalm 149:7; 2 Cor. 10:6. All Christians, though, are otherwise likewise armed with the sword of the Spirit, Eph. 6:17.
25 Namely, of God, Who teaches the hands of His people to fight, 2 Sam. 22:35; and gives His angels and ministers power to watch over the church and to keep and defend it. Other, taught, trained, exercised in war.
26 Namely, standing ready and prepared to fight, as Exod. 32:27.
27 In the night time one is subject to more danger than in the daytime, whether it be danger of robbery or of murder, or of treachery, or of similar mishap, which are usually practiced in the nighttime, so that a man ought at that time and season keep a strong watch, Mat. 24:43, 44. Every christian soldier as such ought to stand ready armed, as the apostle teaches us Eph. 6:12, 13, 14; especially in the time of persecution.
9King Solomon made himself ab28chariot of the 29wood of Lebanon.
b Cant. 6:12.
28 The Hebrew word properly signifies a chariot of the bride or bed-stead, but it also signifies a coach. It seems that here is spoken of that triumph-chariot, of which we read in Psalm 45:4, where by the chariot is meant the word of truth or the preaching of the Holy Gospel. Others understand by the Hebrew word here used a sumptuous or glorious building.
29 That is, of cedar wood, which was wont to grow in great abundance on mount Lebanon. See the annotation at Judges 9 on verse 15. This wood does not rot, so that the doctrine of the Holy Gospel may be suitably compared to it. For it is the everlasting gospel, Rev. 14:6. See Cant. 1:17.
10He made 30the pillars thereof of silver, the 31bottom thereof of gold, the 32covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being 33paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.
30 Steadfastness is signified in Scripture by pillars or columns, as Rev. 3:12. And by pillars of silver may here be understood the faithful pastors of the church, but especially the prophets and apostles. See Gal. 2:9.
31 Or, floor, ground, substratum. Other, seat, namely, whereon Solomon sat in his chariot. Christ, Who is the Foundation of His church, is rightly compared unto gold, but the pillars unto silver. See 1 Cor. 3:11; Rev. 21:21.
32 Understand by this covering the royal protection of God over His church.
33 Or, tessellated, floored, or beset with pleasantness, or, paved with love, that is, pleasantly wrought, namely, embroidered with pleasant images or fair pictures, or curiously wrought with the needle by the daughters of Jerusalem. Other, kindled. According to the spiritual application, here with love may be understood that inward or intimate love which God bears unto His children, giving His Son for their life, as likewise that love which we bear unto God and to our neighbor; for, we cannot love God unless He manifests first His love unto us, 1 John 4:10. Some understand the 9th and 10th verse to be a description of the heavenly glory.
1134Go forth, O 35ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown 36wherewith his mother crowned him in the day 37of his espousals,c and in the day of the gladness of his heart.
34 There is described in this verse, under the name and glory of Solomon, who was a type of Christ, the glory which all the children of God are to behold at the wedding of the Lamb, which is prepared for all the elect children of God. When we are exhorted to go forth, thereby is made known that it is well worth the anxiety to be at some labor for it, as we see people do to come forth and behold a king riding in triumph.
35The daughters of Zion signify here Christians, or the church of Christ, as Isa. 49:14, 22. These are here exhorted to behold and receive Christ (the true Solomon) with His crown, that is, in glory and honor. See Psalm 149:2; Mat. 21:5; Rev. 6:1, 3, 5, 7.
36 It seems by these words that Bath-sheba honored her son with a very fair and beautiful crown on his wedding day, and by this crown is typified and represented the glory of Christ whereunto He was advanced by His ascension, and which He shall cause His church to behold in heaven. See Luke 24:26; John 17:24; Philip. 2:9.
37 Other, of his marriage, namely, when Solomon married his bride. In a spiritual sense may here be understood Christ’s marriage with His church, which is done when she receives and embraces the preaching of the Holy Gospel with a true and lively faith, then, or that time, she is said to be espoused or married to Christ, 2 Cor. 11:2. As a bridegroom rejoices in his bride, as such God rejoices in His people. See Isa. 62:1, 5.
c wedding.