Exposition of Song of Solomon 1, Treatise · Verse 12, 13, 14
Vers. 12, 13, 14. While the King sitteth at his Table, my Spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof, &c.
THese verses contain the Spouse's commendation of the excellencies of her beloved Lord Jesus, by the Redolency of those sanctifying fruits of his holy Spirit, which Christ had communicated unto her; the Fragrancy and Odoriferous sweetness whereof she doth Metaphorically illustrate by three excellent Spices in a continued Allegory.
In this 12th verse, are two things especially to be observed, First, the Mutual Fellowship between Christ and his Spouse, his Churches, his Saints. The King sitteth at his Table. I will sup with him, and he with me, Rev. 3.20. Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 Joh. 1.3. Secondly, the Effect of her fellowship with her beloved, to wit, the Odour, and Savour of her spiritual gifts and fruits. My Spiknard sendeth forth the smel thereof. 2 Cor. 2.14. Now thanks be to God, which alwayes causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the Savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
While the King] The King (in the history of this Scripture) was Jehosaphat, the King of Judah, who reformed religion, sent his Princes to teach in the Cities of Judah; and with them he sent Levites, and they taught the people, 2 Chron. 17.5, 8, 9. By the King (in the mystery of this Scripture) is meant the Churches beloved Lord Jesus, who is King of Sion. Psal. 2.6. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hil of Sion. And Christ (in the spiritual sense of this Scripture) is the King of Saints. Rev. 15.3. Just and true are thy wayes, thou King of Saints.
1 Meditation. The Lord Jesus Christ is the King of Saints, and the King of Sion, and shall be King over all the Earth. Rev. 15.3. Psal. 2.6. & Zach. 14.9.
1 The Lord Jesus Christ setteth up his Kingdome of grace in the hearts of beleevers, Luk. 17.20. The kingdome of God is within you. This is the kingdome of Gods grace, which reigneth through righteousnesse, unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord, Rom. 5.21. The Lord is our King and he will save us. Isai. 33.22. Thus Christ is Throned and Crowned in the day when any soul is espoused unto him as a chast virgin, 2 Cor. 11.2. Go forth ye Daughters of Jerusalem, and behold King Salomon with the Crown, wherewith his Mother crowned him, in the day of his espousals, Cant. 3.11. The Love of which espousals Jesus Christ never forgetteth, but it is always fresh upon his heart, Jer. 2.2, 3. I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of three espousals.
2 The Lord Jesus Christ setteth up his kingdome in Sion, amongst his Saints in his Churches, in Gospel-times: this was foretold by his holy Prophets, Isai. 24.23. when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Sion even in Jerusalem: also Micah. 4.6.7. In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted, and I will make her, that halteth a remnant, and her that was cast far off, a great Nation, & the Lord shal reign over them in mount Sion from henceforth even for ever. Which Prophesies were in part fulfilled, when Christ came in the flesh, Zach. 9.9, 16. [& Joh. 12.15. Fear not O Daughter of Sion, behold thy King cometh,] Called his 12. Apostles and instructed them concerning his kingdome. Acts 1.3. The Keyes of the Kingdome of his Church, of Zion, he gave to his Apostles, Mat. 16.18, 19.
3 The Lord Jesus Christ will set up his Kingdome on the Earth in this world, to wit, a Kingdome of righteousnesse, Psa. 45.6. & Heb. 1.8. But unto the Son, God saith, Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever, a Scepter of Righteousnesse is the Scepter of thy Kingdome. Isa. 32.1. Behold a King shall raign in Righteousnesse, Ier. 23.5, 6. And a King shall raign and prosper, and this is his Name, whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousnesse, he shall execute Judgement and Justice in the Earth, & Ier. 33.14, 15, 16. The open vision, of this kingdome of Christ is given to the faithfull witnesses, who shall rise and Prophesie, saying, The Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall raign for ever and ever, Rev. 11.3, 4, 7, 11, 12, 15, 17. The God of Heaven will set up this kingdome of Christ, in the dayes of the Kings of the world, Dan. 2.44. And will give it unto Christ his Son, Dan. 7.12, 13, 14. and to his Saints, Dan. 7.27. And all Dominions shall serve and obey him.
This King hath three sorts of Enemies opposing him in these his kingdomes, who say, (as those Citizens did Luk. 19.14.) We will not have this Man to raign over us. Concerning whom Christ will say, (as that Noble Man did in the Parable touching the kingdome Luk. 19.27.) But those mine Enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them be fore me.
First the natural Man is an Enemie unto Christs kingdome of grace, Rom. 8.7. The carnal mind is emnity against God. The Natural Man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2.14. But is alienated and an Enemy to Christ, and the kingdome of his grace in the hearts of his people, through wicked works, untill he be converted and reconciled, Col. 1.21.
Secondly, The man of sin, and Son of Perdition is an Enemie unto Christs kingdome in Sion, 2 Thes. 2.3, 4, 7, 8. Who opposeth and exalteth himselfe above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, and that in the Temple of God (the Churches of Christ so called, Ephes. 2.19, 20, 21, 22.) This is Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Son, 1 Joh. 2.22. The Beast, …he false Prophet, who would keep the people of God in Babylon, and would not suffer them to return to Sion, but makes war against Christ and his Saints. Rev. 19.19, 20.21. And the Beast was taken, and with him the false Prophet, who deceived them, that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshiped his Jmage, and were destroyed.
Thirdly, A Mighty Man, who shall arise and will be an Enemy unto Christs Kingdome in the earth, As Doeg against David, Psal. 52.1, 5, 6, 7. Or as Herod against Christ, Math. 2.1, 2, 3, 16. Or that other Herod with his Men of war, who set Christ at nought, Luk. 23.11. The great day of the the Lord is neer, it is neer, and hasteth greatly, even the voyce of the day of the Lord; The mighty man shall cry there bitterly. Zeph. 1.4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 14. This mighty man is he, that in the time of the forth kingdome upon earth shall arise after the ten Kings are risen: And he shall be divers from them, and he shall subdue three Kings or Kingdomes, And the Saints shall be given into his hands for 24 moneths, But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his Dominion to consume and to destroy it to the end. Dan. 7.23, 24, 25, 26, 27.
Sitteth at his Table] foreign, While the King was in his Round, This manner of speaking alludeth unto the Jewish Form of Sitting at the Table, the Hebrews were wont to sit round about the Table at their Feasts, in a Circumference or Circle, 1 Sam. 16.11. [foreign] For we will not Round [the Table] till he come hither. Which Phrase sheweth, that Christ did not sit at Table and Sup alone, but was accompanied with his Saints Luk. 22.30. That ye may eat and drink at my Table in my Kingdome. This Kingdome is his Church, the Keyes whereof he gave unto his Apostles, Mat. 16.18, 19. And his Table in his Kingdome is the Lords Table, to wit, his holy Ordinances (especially that of the Lords Supper. 1 Cor. 10.21. Called the Lords Table) where Christ sits and Sups with his Saints. As the Tabernacle, wherein God was present, was rounded about with the Elders of Jsrael, Num. 11.24, 25. when God put his spirit upon them, wherein were his ordinances, called his Table, Mal. 1.7, 8, 9. So the Throne whereon Christ sitteth (to wit his Church, wherein are his Ordinances, and his Table, 1 Cor. 11.2.) was surrounded with the 24. Elders clothed in white Rayment, Rev. 4.2, 4. which Elders were his Saints, his Spouse, the Bride, the Lambs wife, for the fine linnen [which was their white Rayment] is the righteousnesse of Saints, Rev. 19.6, 7, 8, 9.
2 Meditation. Christ and his Saints, do enjoy mutual communion and spiritual fellowship one with another, at the Lords Supper, and in all other his holy Ordinances. 1 Cor. 10.15, 15, 17. I speak as unto wise men Judg ye what I say, The Cup of blessing, which we blesse is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
Christ Sups with his Saints, and the Saints Sup with Christ, in his holy Ordinances, Rev. 3.20. Behold I stand at the door and knock; If any man hear my voyce, and open the door, I will come into him, and sup with him, and he with me. Christ giveth h…ints spiritual Bread, hidden Manna, New-wine and water of life at his Supper, and in his Ordinances, and bids them, Eat O friends, and drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved. Cant. 5.1. Thus Christ maketh them a Feast of fat things full of marrow (full of divine sweetnesse, and comfort in the enjoyments of himselfe) and wine on the Lees well refined, (abundance of his holy Spirit reviving and refreshing the Souls of his poor hunger-thirsting Saints) in his holy Ordinances, Isa. 25.6. The Saints when they sup with Christ, have meat and drink, which others know not of. Those beleevers, who sleight or neglect any of the holy Administrations and Ordinances of God, do want that fellowship with the Father, and that communion with Jesus Christ in the Spirit, which other beleevers do enjoy, 1 Joh. 1.1, 2, 3, 4. That which we have seen with our eyes, and our hands have handled, of the word of life declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. O dear Freinds! be not wanting to your precious souls, either in sleighting or neglecting the Ordinances of God, why should you cry, O my leanness, my barrenness, &c? Seing Christ in the great day of the Feast, stands & cryes If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink Joh. 7.37, 38, 39. How unkindly do ye deal with Christ, to sleight and neglect or refuse his gracious Invitations, to heavenly banquets at his Table? Isa. 50.1. & Rev. 22.17. The spirit and the bride saith, Come and take the water of life freely.
My Spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof] These words declare the effect of the Spouse's fellowship with her beloved the Lord Jesus Christ: the King while he sat at his Table, Spikenard is a very pleasant and precious fruit and of great estimation, [Plin. lib. 12. cap. 12.] such was that Oyntment, wherewith Mary anoynted our Saviour Jesus Christ, unto his Burial, Mark. 14.8. & Joh. 12.3. Then took Mary a pound of Oyntment of Spikenard, very costly, and anoynted the feet of Jesus, and the house was filled with Odour of the Oyntment. By this Odoriferous Nard you may understand the spiritual gifts, and sanctifying graces of Christ in the hearts of beleevers, which in their communion with Christ, do send forth a redolent sweet Savour, Cant. 4.13, 14, 15, 16.
3 Meditaion. The Fruits and Graces of the Spirit, in the hearts of beleevers acted and drawn forth by Christ, in their communion with him in his holy Ordinances, give a sweet Savour, Ezek. 20.40, 41. For in my holy Mountain, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel serve me, there will I require your offrings, with all your holy things, and there will I accept them, I will accept you with your sweet Savour, & Cant. 4.10. The smell of the Spouse's Oyntments is better then all spices, & Cant. 7.13. The Mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of all pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved. They are not only a sweet smelling savour unto Christ, but unto others also. 2 Cor. 2.14, 15. Now thankes be unto God, which alwayes causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledg by us in every place.