Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ecclesiastes Isaiah
Song of Solomon 1
Concise Complete
The title. (1) The church confesses her deformity. (2-6) The church
beseeches Christ to lead her to the resting-place of his people. (7,8) Christ's
commendation of the church, Her esteem for Him. (9-17)
Verse 1
This is "the Song of songs," excellent above any others, for it is wholly taken up with
describing the excellences of Christ, and the love between him and his redeemed
people.
Verses 2-6
The church, or rather the believer, speaks here in the character of the spouse
of the King, the Messiah. The kisses of his mouth mean those assurances of
pardon with which believers are favoured, filling them with peace and joy in
believing, and causing them to abound in hope by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Gracious souls take most pleasure in loving Christ, and being loved of him.
Christ's love is more valuable and desirable than the best this world can give.
The name of Christ is not now like ointment sealed up, but like ointment poured
forth; which denotes the freeness and fulness of the setting forth of his grace
by the gospel. Those whom he has redeemed and sanctified, are here the virgins
that love Jesus Christ, and follow him whithersoever he goes,
revelation 14:4. They
entreat him to draw them by the quickening influences of his Spirit. The more
clearly we discern Christ's glory, the more sensible shall we be that we are
unable to follow him suitably, and at the same time be more desirous of doing
it. Observe the speedy answer given to this prayer. Those who wait at Wisdom's
gate, shall be led into truth and comfort. And being brought into this chamber,
our griefs will vanish. We have no joy but in Christ, and for this we are
indebted to him. We will remember to give thanks for thy love; it shall make
more lasting impressions upon us than any thing in this world. Nor is any love
acceptable to Christ but love in sincerity,
ephesians 6:24. The
daughters of Jerusalem may mean professors not yet established in the faith. The
spouse was black as the tents of the wandering Arabs, but comely as the
magnificent curtains in the palaces of Solomon. The believer is black, as being
defiled and sinful by nature, but comely, as renewed by Divine grace to the holy
image of God. He is still deformed with remains of sin, but comely as accepted
in Christ. He is often base and contemptible in the esteem of men, but excellent
in the sight of God. The blackness was owing to the hard usage that had been
suffered. The children of the church, her mother, but not of God, her Father,
were angry with her. They had made her suffer hardships, which caused her to
neglect the care of her soul. Thus, under the emblem of a poor female, made the
chosen partner of a prince, we are led to consider the circumstances in which
the love of Christ is accustomed to find its objects. They were wretched slaves
of sin, in toil, or in sorrow, weary and heavy laden, but how great the change
when the love of Christ is manifested to their souls!
Verses 7-8
Observe the title given to Christ, O Thou whom my soul loveth. Those that do so,
may come to him boldly, and may humbly plead with him. Is it with God's people a
noon-time of outward troubles, inward conflicts? Christ has rest for them. Those
whose souls love Jesus Christ, earnestly desire to share in the privileges of
his flock. Turning aside from Christ is what gracious souls dread more than
anything else. God is ready to answer prayer. Follow the track, ask for the good
old way, observe the footsteps of the flock, look what has been the practice of
godly people. Sit under the direction of good ministers; beside the tents of the
under shepherds. Bring thy charge with thee, they shall all be welcome. It will
be the earnest desire and prayer of the Christian, that God would so direct him
in his worldly business, and so order his situation and employment, that he may
have his Lord and Saviour always before him.
Verses
9-17 The Bridegroom gives high praises of his spouse. In the sight of Christ
believers are the excellent of the earth, fitted to be instruments for promoting
his glory. The spiritual gifts and graces which Christ bestows on every true
believer, are
10-11of the saints
are many, but there is dependence upon each other. He who is the Author, will be
the Finisher of the good work. The grace received from Christ's fulness, springs
forth into lively exercises of faith, affection, and gratitude. Yet Christ, not
his gifts, is most precious to them. The word translated "camphire," signifies "atonement or propitiation." Christ is dear to all believers, because he is the
propitiation for their sins. No pretender must have his place in the soul. They
resolved to lodge him in their hearts all the night; during the continuance of
the troubles of life. Christ takes delight in the good work which his grace has
wrought on the souls of believers. This should engage all who are made holy, to
be very thankful for that grace which has made those fair, who by nature were
deformed. The spouse (the believer) has a humble, modest eye, discovering
simplicity and godly sincerity; eyes enlightened and guided by the Holy Spirit,
that blessed Dove. The church expresses her value for Christ. Thou art the great
Original, but I am but a faint and imperfect copy. Many are fair to look at, yet
their temper renders them unpleasant: but Christ is fair, yet pleasant. The
believer, ver.
16, speaks with
praise of those holy ordinances in which true believers have fellowship with
Christ. Whether the believer is in the courts of the Lord, or in retirement;
whether following his daily labours, or confined on the bed of sickness, or even
in a dungeon, a sense of the Divine presence will turn the place into a
paradise. Thus the soul, daily having fellowship with the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit, enjoys a lively hope of an incorruptible, undefiled, and
unfading inheritance above.
Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ecclesiastes Isaiah
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
