Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 6 · the Song of Solomon · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
BY night on my bed I sought him, whom my soule loveth, I sought him, but Vers. 1.I found him not. Here it is shewed, that Christ is not found by most serious meditation, study, and prayer in secret, but by going forth to the place, where he is preached: for what more secret place is there, then a mans chamber, and bed, wherein he lyeth in the night? and what time of more serious study and meditation then here? for those that upon their beds give themselves to meditate: but she doing thus confesseth, that she found him not, and therefore she saith:
I will arise now and goe about the City, in the streetes, and in the broad wayes, Vers. 2.I will seeke him, whom my soule loveth, I sought him, but I found him not. By the City is meant the City of Jerusalem, or any other great City full of people, going up and downe about their worldly affaires. Here also she searched for Christ, but found him not: which sheweth, that he is not found by that soule that is wholly intent to worldly businesse, pertaining either to the Common-wealth, or his owne particular estate in this world, as indeed there is lesse reason to thinke thus to finde him, then by retirednesse for meditation. After seeking both these wayes, and not finding, she goeth on, and saith:
The watch-men found me, who goe about the City, to whom I said, saw yee him whom my soule loveth? These are the preachers of the Word, who are often Vers. 3. Ezek, 3. Heb. 13. 17.set forth by the name of Watch-men; and they are said to goe about the City, in alluding to the manner of Watch-men, who goe about in the night from street to street, to see that there be no hurt done by Theeves, or casualty of fire: so that hereby their care and circumspection over the people is set forth, for which they are also called foreign and Over-seers; and she saith not, that she found them, but they found her, and by their meanes she found Christ a little after, as is shewed, verse 4.
It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soule Vers. 4.loveth. There is nothing said of the answer which they gave her: but because she found him, so soone after that they had found her, it is implied, that their finding of her was by their instructing, and teaching her in the knowledge of God, and his Christ, whereby she was inlightned, and had exceeding comfort. For their finding her in the streets, and the broad places thereof, herein it is spoken much like unto that which is said of Wisdome, She cryeth in the gates, at the Prov. 8. 2, 3. Matth. 22.entry of the City, and in the pathes and high places; and in the Parable, the King sent out his Servants into the streets to bring Guests in. By all which together from the first verse hitherto, we are taught first, that Christ is not found by mans Notes. industry, and his owne endeavouring to finde him, but man is first out of his great grace and mercy found of him, and then he findes Christ, as it is elsewhere said: I was found of them that sought me not; that we may attribute nothing to Rom. 10. 20.our selves, but all to his grace; but yet cease not to seeke, till we finde. 2. Christ Note. is not found by those that lye in bed, that is, by idle and sloathfull persons; nor yet by such as rise and goe about Secular things, as worldly men commonly doe, intending City or Country businesses first, and chiefly, and the right seeking after Christ but a little. 3. Then is he yet found by such as seeke and desire him, when they meet with his faithfull Ministers; That is, they are willing to learne, and to be instructed Note. by them, and are frequent in hearing their Sermons, and desirous to come to understand hereby, which is intimated by her asking them for him, as being ready to obey all their instructions, as the self-conceited, and stiffe-necked of these times doe not, but come and heare Sermon after Sermon, doing yet little or nothing according to their teaching, but as their owne phantasies lead them; whereas the true Converts are as little children, easie to be drawne, and led in the way that one would have them goe in: and who so is not, such cannot enter into the Kingdome Matth. 18. 3.of heaven, as Christ teacheth.
Moreover, by the words of verse 1. we may learne, that many thinke, that they have Christ, but if they come once seriously to consider, they shall finde that they have him not, because the Spouse in the name of the Christians saith, I sought him in the night in my bed, but found him not; as if she had said, I thought that I Note. had him with me in bed, but when I sought, I found him not; that we may not goe upon light and groundlesse conjectures, but prove and try our selves, to finde that Christ Jesus is in us, and that we are not reprobates, as we may be, notwithstanding our beleeving the contrary.2 Cor. 13.
I held him, and would not let him goe, untill I had brought him into my mothers house, and into the chambers of her that conceived mee. Here it is shewed, how the soule that hath found Christ laboureth to hold him, even as Jacob, who wrastled with God, and would not let him goe, till he blessed him; so the soule that hath found Christ, layeth fast hold on him by faith, and Gen. 31.nothing can separate her from him, but she constantly cleaveth to him, till that by Rom. 8. 34. Matth. 25.him she be blessed, saying, Come yee blessed of my Father, into the kingdome prepared for you.
But what meaneth she, by saying, till I had brought him into my mothers house? by Mother, saith Gregory, the Synagogue of the Jewes is understood, because Gregor.the Church of the Gentiles was conceived, as it were, by her, as out of whom preachers came, That is, the holy Apostles, and converted her. In saying then, till I have brought him into my mothers house, is meant, till the Jewes be converted: for the converting of a people unto Christ, is the bringing of him into their house, afarre off from which he is before their conversion: so that here is a Prophesie of their conversion towards the end of the world. And by the Chambers, wee may understand severall Congregations of them, that then shall imbrace the faith.
Ainsworth finding nothing here of the conversion of the Iewes, understandeth by Ainsw.the mothers house, the Church outwardly, and the Conscience inwardly, whereinto the faithfull bring him, and then he dwelleth in their hearts, to their unspeakeable comfort. I conceive the former exposition to agree best, and that without forcing, the words cannot be thus applied; but being understood, as was said before, what is meant by these words, untill I have brought him? Shall the Church of the Gentiles then hold Christ no longer? no, but by perseverance in seeking to God by prayer for their conversion, is hereby intimated, till it be effected; she being then by faith knit more fast unto him then ever before, and made hereby more full of life, according to that of the Apostle; If the falling away of the Jewes be the Rom. 11.riches of the Gentiles, what shall their restitution be, but life from the dead? The fifth ver. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, is the same with ch. 2. 7 and therefore see the exposition there: for as there that adjuration followes after Vers. 5.comfort found in Christ; so here, after that the soule findeth him againe, having through some negligence, intimated by her lying in bed, and seeking him, lost him, she breaketh out as before,
Who is this that cometh out of the wildernesse like pillars of smoake, perfumed Vers. 6.with myrthe and frankincense and all powders of the merchant? Here the Church of the Gentiles, which spake before of bringing Christ into her mothers house, seemeth againe to speake of this Mother-Church of the Jewes, being now converted, in praising of her for her great devotion, set forth by myrrhe, and frankincense, and other sweet spices, snaking a most gratefull smell in the nostrils of God, and ascending as a pillar of smoake.
And in speaking of her coming up out of the wildernesse, it is alluded to the coming of the children of Israel of old out of the wildernesse, through Jordan, to possesse the Land of Canaan, their coming out of all Lands in the time of their infidelity being as a wildernesse, and barren place unto them, wherein they wanted all spirituall food, being hereby aptly set forth. That sweet odours set forth prayer, and preaching is so well knowne, that I shall not need here againe to speake of it, but rather we should be hereby invited to practise the like devotion at all times, and in all places, being assured, that thus doing, we are ascending towards heaven, out of Note. the wildernesse of this world, and shall in Gods good time be received there, to our everlasting comfort; whereas if we ascend not first by these devotions, but neglect them, we shall never come there, sith that to them that call upon the name of Jam. 1.the Lord only salvation is promised, and if any man heareth the Word, and doth it, he is blessed in the deed.
Behold his bed, which is Salomons, sixty valiant men are about it, it may also Vers. 7.be rendred, behold his bed, it is Salomons; That is, as Salomons, that man, whosoever he be, that thus reverenceth, and honoureth God, with praises and prayers, out of a pure heart, his bed, or resting place, wheresoever it is, is so guarded by Angels, as Salomons was by valiant men, with speares and swords, in using which they were most expert, and therefore he shall be most safe, and not Psal. 91.need to feare any danger, either of the Arrow or Pestilence. And by him in speciall may be meant Israel converted, as was before said, to set forth the royall glory which should be to that Church then; but herein every devout Christian shareth with her, and is likewise strongly guarded, where-ever he makes his bed.
King Salomon made himselfe a Chariot of the wood of Lebanon, he made the Vers. 9. Vers. 10.pillars thereof of silver, and the borders of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst being paved with Love, for the daughters of Jerusalem. The word rendred Chariot here, is foreign, Apirion, signifying a covering, and is by Salomon Jarchi rendred, a secret chamber, by some a pallace, by some a throne, by some a bed, as Ainsworth saith; the vulgar hath it, ferculum, a frame to carry him Ainsw.in, and for the borders, reclinatorium, a place to rest upon, and for the covering, ascensum; by the first word any covered thing, which is beautifull, and glorious, may be understood, because the word cometh neare to the word foreign Ophir, whence the purest gold came; but because a bed is spoken of, vers. 7. I rather hold with Jarchi, that it is a secret chamber, close covered, to sleep and rest in, upon the bed there spoken of, the gloriousnesse whereof the next words shew, the studs, or pillars of silver, for so the word foreign properly signifieth, coming of foreign to stand, or to be firme, and the words following, the borders of gold, Hebrew, foreign his bed, whereunto the word reclinatorium in vulgar well agreeth, for the covering thereof, Hebr. is foreign, his chariot, or sella, which is seat, or saddle, and therefore not any thing pertaining to a chamber, or bed, is meant hereby, but that whereupon he is carried in travelling abroad, and so the meaning of all is, our Salomon, Christ Iesus, of whom Salomon in his royalty was a type, hath a glorious chamber made, as the temple of Cedar from Lebanon; That is, of wood incorruptible, and this chamber is the Church of the Jewes before spoken of newly converted, for which, it is said to be made for the daughters of Jerusalem; That is, particular Congregations of beleeving Jewes. And it is called a chamber with a bed in it, for the quiet rest which the soule hath: being once entred into this Church; and it is covered, as Isaiah speaketh, with a pillar of a cloud, being Esa. 4.hereby made safe, and defended from the danger of persecutors, as Israel sometime was from Pharaoh and his Hoast pursuing him. And it is made of incorruptible matter, to denote their continuing in the true faith, when once converted, being never corrupted by errour or heresie to the end of the world. The pillars or studs of this chamber of silver, set forth the Apostles, some of whom are expresly so called, as James, Cephas, and John, of which Pillars it is also spoken, Prov. 9. Wisdome Galathi. 2.hath built her house, and set up her seven pillars; and againe, the Church in regard of them, and the sure ground of truth laid in their writings, is called the ground and pillar of truth, because alwayes imbracing the holy Scriptures, as 1 Tim. 3. 15.the only ground of all her tenets and rules to goe by, in the worship and service of God; and these pillars are said to be of silver, as the sonnes of Levi are spoken of, He shall sit to purifie the sonnes of Levi, as silver and gold, that they may offer an offering in righteousnesse; gold and silver being the most precious of all other Mal. 3. 3.metals, and therefore fit to denote their excellency; and his bed before spoken of but not said of what it was, is said to be of gold, setting forth both the purity of their hearts, and the hearts of all the faithfull, for by faith the heart is purified, and Acts 15. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 7.it is more precious then gold. And they are set forth by a bed, because here Christ reposeth himselfe, and dwelleth as in his chamber of presence.
Moreover, this our Salomon is said to have his Chariot, or Saddle whereupon he rideth, of purple, a most precious cloath, and therefore Kings Robes are made hereof; this then both denoteth his royalty, and his riding, as it were upon a Chariot, or Horse, in a most glorious manner, over Countries and Nations, subduing peoples unto him farre and wide, by the preaching of his Word, as is further expressed, Revel. 19. 11. as also the purple dye of his Garments being sprinkled with bloud.
And this Chariot, or Horse upon which Christ rideth out conquering, is the Ministry of the Gospel, whereby he is carried into all Nations, when he is preached, according to which the Psalmist saith, Their sound went into all lands; where Psal. 19.he also compareth this word unto the Sunne, which the Poets seigned to be drawn in a Chariot by Horses, round about the world. This is fabulous, but it holdeth touching Christ, he is thus drawne as it were, when he is preached every where.
Lastly, the midst is said to be paved with Love; That is, in the midst of this chariot, and chamber, as common to all, both Preachers and Hearers, Love is as the pavement, whereupon they go; the wicked walk not according to Love, as Gregory Gregor.saith, and have no part or portion in the comfortable and excellent things of Christ, and his servants here spoken of. There be these three, Faith, and Hope, set forth by silver and gold, and Love, which is the chiefe of them, and without it all faith is 1 Cor. 13.nothing.
Goe forth (O yee daughters of Zion) and behold King Salomon, with the Vers. 11.crowne where-with his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and of the gladnesse of his heart. Having in the former words spoken of the conversion of the Jewes, and the great glory coming to Christ, and his proceeding to effect this mighty worke, now he calleth upon the Church of the Gentiles to goe forth, and see, and admire the accession of glory that cometh to him hereby, to be the more confirmed in his faith. For Zion setteth forth the Church, because that upon a mount in Zion the old Temple stood: by daughters of Zion then, Christians are meant. They are here bidden to looke out upon Christ, now in his Kingdome reigning over all, both Jewes and Gentiles, rejoycing therefore in him, and with him.
And now they shall see him crowned by his Mother, the Church of the Jewes, so called because he was borne of the Jewesse, the Virgin Mary, and came of the Rom. 9. 5.Jewes according to the flesh, and she, that is, the Jewish Nation crowneth him, when she acknowledgeth him to be her King, although she formerly rejected him, and would have no King but Caesar, and the time when this shall be done is called, the day of his espousals, because by faith, Jerusalem is now made his Bride, as is also taught by John, saying, I saw Ierusalem, as a Spouse prepared for her Revel. 21. 2.Husband. And this is also said to be the day of the gladnesse of his heart, for the great joy of their conversion, as it is said, There is joy in heaven for one sinner Luke 15.converted. And of the Iewes, when they shall be converted, in particular, the Prophet Esay saith, I will create Ierusalem a joy, and a rejoycing, and I will Esa. 65. 18. 19.rejoyce over my people, &c. As the Lord hath joy then at our conversion, so shall Note. we have, and before that can have no true joy of heart, although we may laugh, and be merry, for this laughter is but madnesse, which should make us now to turne, and not to harden our hearts, lest we never enter, but be shut out from his rest and joy for evermore, into torment and misery.