Exposition of Song of Solomon 1, Treatise · Verse 6
Vers. 6. Look not upon me because I am black, &c.
IN these words the Spouse or Church of Christ doth admonish the Daughters of Jerusalem, not to sleight the ordinances of God nor to neglect communion with the Churches of Saints, nor to despise the Church, or any Saint therein or Member thereof, because she is black. Look not upon me, to wit, with disdain. Mich. 4.11. Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion, nor with reproach. Obadiah 12.13. Thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy Brother: Thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity: Neither with an outward eye, (2 Cor. 10.7. Do ye look on thing after outward appearance?) lest they should be moved by the Churches afflictions, 1 Thes. 3.3.
1 Meditation. The Saints ought not to disdain the Churches of Christ, or neglect the ordinances of God not sleight or reproach the people of God, because of the Churches afflictions, persecutions, and tribulations. Gal. 4.13.14. Ye know that through infirmity of the …esh I preached the Gospel unto you, and my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected. 1 Thes. 1.6. And ye became follower of us and of the Lord having received the Word in much affliction, with …oy of the holy Spirit.
Because the Sun hath looked upon me] These words contain the first reason of the Spouse her Blacknesse drawn from the efficient cause thereof, to wit Gods anger against her, manife…ed by afflicting her; which dispensation of God towards his Church and people is here and in other Scriptures expressed by this Metapho… of the Sun. God is called a Sun, Psal. 84.11. as in respect of his shining and looking upon the face of his Anointed with favour, Psal. 84.9. so, in respect of his burning anger, Heb. 12.29. Thus the Lord looked unto the hoast of the Aegyptians through the Pillar of fire. Exod. 14.24. And the Lord was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice, 1 King. 11.9. I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath, he hath led me, and brought me into darkness, Lam. 3.1, 2. This made her black, Lam. 1.12, 13. and covered her with a cloud, Lam. 2.1, 2, 3. By the Sun is meant persecution and tribulation also which ariseth from formal hypocritical professors, Matth. 13.6, 21. when God doth persecute them in his anger.
2 Meditation. Gods angry Countenance appearing unto his Church and people in their afflictions, doth grievously trouble their Souls, Lamentation Chap. 2. vers. 1, 2, 3, 4. My mothers children were angry with me, &c.] These words declare a second reason of her blackness, to wit, the persecution she met with from the ten Tribes, which are here called her Mothers children, or the Sons of her Mother, who revolted from Judah and Rehoboam, 1 King. 12.16, 19. These Sons or Children of her Mother were the Scribes, Pharisees, and Elders of the Jews, who persecuted the Church at Jerusalem, Act. 8.1. Of which number was Saul, who breathed out threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord, Act. 9.1, 2. And this was their anger against the Church and the sincere-hearted members thereof. Such also were false Brethren, who unawares creep into the Church, Gal. 2.4, 5. And false Teachers, not sparing the flock, Act. 20.29, 30.
3 Meditation. False Ministers and formal Professors have (in their anger) stirred up persecution against the Churches and sincere servants of Christ, Act. 13.50. & 14.2. & 6.12. & 21.27.
They made me the keeper of their vineyards] This was the effect of their anger. They used a coercive power over her Conscience, and compelled her to observe their Traditions, and Idolatries, Hosea 13.1, 2. Let the men that sacrifice, kiss the Calves. Math. 15.3, 9. Mark. 7.13. By the Vineyards here (opposed to her own vineyard) are meant false Churches, false Assemblies, such as were the Assemblies at Dan and Bethel, where they worshipped before the Calves that Jeroboam had set up, 1 King. 12.26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33. which was a sin equivalent with worshipping Devils, 2 Chr. 11.15. And he ordained him Priests for the High-places, and for the Devils, and for the Calves, which he had made, & 1 Cor. 10.20, 21.
4 Meditation. It is a great sin, and of dangerous consequence, for the people of God to submit unto any impulsive or coercive power of the supreme Magistrate imposing or prescribing a false worship, Isa. 29.13, 14, 15.
But mine owne vineyard have I not kept] These words contain the third Reason of the Churches blackness, expressing the meritorious cause thereof, to wit, her owne neglect of her duty, and unfaithfulness to her trust; for although Rehoboam and Judah kept the Charge of the Lord, and observed his Ordinances for a short time, 2 Chron. 11.16, 17. yet within five years Rehoboam forsook the Law of the Lord, and all Israel with him, 2 Chr. 12.1, 2. This neglect of her owne vineyard is more Prophetically expressed and expounded, Isa. 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. by the Prophet.
5 Meditation. It is a grievous sin to be negligent in keeping of the Ordinances of God, which he hath committed to the Churches and Saints. Thus saith the Lord God, this is Jerusalem, she hath changed my judgements into wickedness, and hath not walked in my statutes, but hath defiled my Sanctuary, &c. Ezek. 5.5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13. & 20.19, 20, 21. & 48.6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things. And now, O ye Priests, this commandement is for you, Mal. 2.1, 2, 3, 8, 9. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, accodring as ye have not kept my wayes, but have been partial in the Law.