Exposition of Song of Solomon, Chapter 4 · Verse 4 – Verse 5
VERS. 4.
Thy neck is like to the Tower of David, builded for an armourie, whereon there hang a thouſand bucklers, all ſhields of mighty men.
THe eyes, the hair, the teeth, the lips, and temples have been ſpoken of. Now followeth a ſixth particular to be conſidered in this verſe, and that is the Churches neck, and this is done by a compariſon, to alcertaine Tower of King Davids, ordained for a martiall purpoſe.
The neck of the Spouſe is ſet forth by an excellent compariſon, to wit, from Davids Tower, Thy neck is like the Tower of David, &c.
The excellencie of this Tower is ſet forth,
Firſt, For its defence, builded for defence, or for armorie.
Secondly, In that it was a treaſure, or houſe of ſtore for amunition, in that it is ſaid, Whereon there hang a thouſand bucklers, all ſhields of mighty men.
Thy neck is like the Tower of David, &c.
It is the neck that joyneth the head and the body together: ſo faith joyneth Chriſt and his Members into one, whereby the Members become ſtrong and valiant, and therefore fitly compared to the Tower of David, which he built at the end of his owne houſe upon Mount Zion for a defence, of which wee reade ſomewhat, in Neh. 3. 19. 25. And wee reade of Davids taking of the ſtrong hold of Zion, in 2 Sam. 5. 7. and he built a Fort upon it verſe 9.
By the neck ſome underſtand the Paſtors of the foreign Collum, ſic dictum quod oneribus arctatur & premitur. foreign Magnus fuit, vel …factus eſt. Inde foreign Turris, a magnitudine ſeu celſitudine.Church, as before. But rather wee may underſtand it of the ſtrength of the Church, being joyned to Chriſt by faith, as the body is joyned to the head by the neck, for the neck it is named in Hebrew, Tſauvaar of ſtrength and firmeneſſe: and the Tower is here named Migdall, which ſignifies a building great and high, as appeares Iſa. 2. 15. The ſame word is uſed for a Pulpit, or Tower of wood, whereon the Scribe ſtood, Neh. 8. 4. This denotes the magnanimitie, and courage of the Spouſe, whilſt ſhe being by faith united unto Chriſt her head, ſhe is now able to encounter with all her ſpirituall adverſaries, by the ſtrength ſhe receiveth from her beloved.
Hence Obſerve.
That the Spouſe being joyned by faith unto her head Chriſt, becomes magnanimous and valiant, to encounter with all her ſpiritual enemies.
The neck of the Spouſe is like the Tower of David for ſtrength and firmeneſſe; it is alſo like the neck of the horſe cloathed with Thunder, as Job ſpeakes of, Job. 39. 19. The Apoſtle tels, that the weapons of (the Churches) warfare, are not carnal, but mighty through God, for the pulling downe of ſtrong holds, &c. that is, the meanes, by which ſhe fights againſt ſinne, are not carnall, ſuch as natural men have recourſe unto, and gain authority withall, and do great things, as namely, riches, friends, honour, eloquence, or the like; but on the contrary; povertie, weakneſſe, infamie, rudeneſſe, and plainneſſe of ſpeech; and fooliſhneſſe in the worlds account: Theſe weapons are made mighty through Gods power, who by infamie confoundeth honour; and by weakneſſe confoundeth power, and confounds wiſedome, by that the world accounts folly. In the originall it is foreign, the great warrier, the Lord of Hoſts, that manageth this warre for the Church. The Apoſtle in another place tels us, that wee are more then Conquerours, through him that loveth us; that is, through Chriſt, the Captaine of the Lords hoaſt: the neck of the Spouſe being thus deſcribed: it followeth the end and uſe of this Tower, and that is double.
Firſt, For defence.
Secondly, For hanging therein ſhields and targets.
Builded for an armory, whereon there hang a thouſand bucklers, all ſhields of mighty men.
Builded for an armorie, or defence. The Hebrew word Talpijoth, is turned by ſome for defence, of ſome others for an Armory: of ſome others for teaching or inſtructions, namely of paſſengers. The difference ariſeth from the Hebrew word, it being of rare uſe, and I think not to be found in any other place of Scripture. But it ſeemeth to be derived of Thalah, to hang, and pijoth, two edged Swords. So we may conclude it to be a place where they did hang ſwords, and other weapons of warre, even all inſtruments to offend the enemy, and defend themſelves. It followeth.
Whereon there hang a thouſand Fucklers.
Whereon they hang, or are hanged, a thouſand Bucklers: foreign Clypeus protectio.a certaine number is put for an uncertaine, as we find often in Scripture.
The Hebrew word Hammagen, ſignifies protection, or defence. Thus by the Tower of David is the excellency of the Church ſet forth, it being marvailouſly well armed with armour and munition; yea, with armour that is polliſhed and prepared for moſt neceſſary uſes: the hanging up of theſe Bucklers and Shields, was a ſigne of victory and glory, as appears, Ezek. 27. 11. Theſe inſtruments of war are farther commended in that it is added,
All ſhields of mighty men.
The praiſe of theſe ſhields is, that they are meet for mighty and noble men, they are ſo good and excellent; they are no baſe things, nor ſuch as belong foreign Dominatus eſt poteſtatem habuit. foreign Dominator, poteſta tem habeus.to meane men, but unto Nobles, and Captaines of Armies, and the like. The Hebrew word Shiltei, Tranſlated Shields, hath the ſignification of power, or dominion, as being uſed of great and mighty men. It alſo ſignifies a Ruler, ſuch a one as hath power in his owne hand.
Of mighty men) or of ſtrong, valiant men. The Hebrew word Grbbor, ſignifies a Champion, a mighty man, or, man of valour, and ſtrength, and of ſuperiority, theſe mighty men have reference to David's worthies who ſtood faithfully with him, and did many heroicall actions, as appears, 1 Chron. 11. 10. Now in that Davids tower was thus furniſhed with all convenient weapons of war, both to offend the enemy, and alſo for defence of thoſe with David, this did prefigure the mighty men of God, which by the ſhield of faith ſhall be able to doe great things: for which purpoſe they have given them ſhields and bucklers to defend themſelves. In the former part of the Verſe, the ſtrength and victory of the Spouſe was ſet forth by her Neck, being compared to Davids Tower, now here are her weapons deſcribed by which ſhee ſhall overcome.
Hence Obſerve,
That the Spouſe is furniſhed with all ſpirituall weapons to withſtand her enemies, and defend her ſelfe from wrong. The Spouſe hath ſuch ſpirituall weapons, as ſhee is able to defend her ſelfe, and diſcomfit all her enemies, as appears, Epheſ. 6. 11. 17. where the Apoſtle exhorteth to put on the whole armour of God, that is, to be armed with all ſpirituall graces, and giveth a reaſon of his exhortation, That yee may be able to ſtand againſt the wi les of the Devill, &c. that is, that you may keep your ſtation, not being put to flight, but to overcome and get victories over enemies, namely, to overcome the Devill in all his aſſaults, and to wreſtle againſt principalities, rulers of darkneſſe, and ſpirituall wickedneſſes, &c. And that they might be ready for this great encounter, they were to have their loins girt about with truth, with Chriſt who is the way and truth, John 14. 6. Having on the Breſt-plate of righteouſneſſe, to keep the heart and Conſcience whole. And their feet ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpell, being ready prepared to profeſſe the truth of the glorious Goſpell of Chriſt, to take hold of the ſhield of faith, by confidence in the power and goodneſſe of God in Chriſt, to take the helmet of ſalvation, towit, the hope of the mercy and redemption purchaſed by Chriſt: and laſtly, the ſword of the ſpirit, which will cut off all the temptations of Satan, and luſts of the fleſh. And thus the faithfull ſoul is furniſhed with the compleat armour of God, whereby it is made victorious. So much for the commendations of the Churches Neck, being compared to the Tower of David, &c. it being the ſixth particular. The ſeveanth and laſt particular here commended in the Spouſe is as followeth.
VERS. 5.
Thy two Breaſts are like two young Roes that are twins, which feed among the Lilies.
HEre the Breaſts of the Church are introduced.
1. As beautifull and comely, in that they are likened to young Roes that are twins, to young Roes for pleaſantneſſe and ſmallneſſe, and to Twins for equalizing, for in theſe things lies the beauty of the breaſt. The beauty of the Church is elſwhere ſet forth by her breaſts, when it is ſaid, Thou art come to excellent Ornaments, thy Breaſts are faſhioned, &c. Ezek. 16. 7.
2. The Breaſts of the Spouſe are ſet forth to be very uſefull, in that it is ſaid, which feed among lilies. Lilies proſper beſt in low and fruitfull places, ſo they that feed among lilies are in good paſture, and therefore are full of milke: ſo then the Breaſts of the Church being full of milke and wholſome nouriſhment, her members may ſuck and be ſatisfied with the breaſts of her conſolations, as the Prophet ſpeaks, Iſa. 66. 11.
Hence Obſerve,
That the Spouſe of Chriſt doth feed her members with ſweet and wholeſome food. Hence it is ſaid in Cant. 5. 13 that the lips of Chriſt, are like lilies, dropping ſweet ſmelling myrrhe. Such are all the doctrines of Chriſt, diſpenſed by the Spouſe unto her members: ſhe giveth them to ſuch of the ſincere milke of the word, 1 Pet. 2. 2. The Spouſe will not feed her Children with humane traditions, and inventions of men, but with pure, divine truths, ſuch as ſhe hath received from Chriſt her head. In the Tabernacle was always the Candle burning, the Table of perfume ſenting, and the Shew-bread ſtanding before the Prieſt, to intimate, that in the Church, which is Gods houſe, ſhould alwayes be the light of Chriſt and his truth, and the bread of life diſpenſed unto the Saints. So much of the particulars, whereby Chriſt hath made good his former praiſe, delivered in that generall, Behold thou art faire.
It followeth.