Exposition of Song of Solomon, Chapter 5 · Verse 10
VERS. 10.
His head is as fine gold, his locks as buſhie, and black as a Raven.
THere are two things that concurre to make a perfect beautie.
Firſt, A good complexion, and healthy conſtitution.
Secondly, A juſt Symmetrie or proportion of parts. The Spouſe therefore doth not thinke it ſufficient in generall to ſet out Chriſt thus, to ſay he is white and ruddie, &c. that he is of very good complexion and temperature: but alſo, ſhe ſheweth, that there is in him alſo a comely proportion of parts: from the coreſpondencie and agreement of parts ariſeth a feature compleatly beautifull and lovely. The Spouſe enumerates and reckons up all his parts, and therefore borrows phraſes and compariſons, from things that are moſt excellent, to ſet forth the excellency of Chriſt above all other things.
Hence Obſerve in the generall.
That a Chriſtians heart is large in affections to Jeſus Chriſt.
See here the Spouſe, though ſhe was ill intreated of the watchmen; and in ſome ſort deſerted of Chriſt himſelfe, yet ſhe goes on, and ſets out a particular commendations of her beloved. Now whence is it that the faith and graces of the Saints are ſo impregnable? whence is it that their hope is ſo indefatigable, and nevever out of breath? whence is it, that no ſtormes or tempeſts of tentation can breake their ſpirits, and make them give out; but that largeneſſe of affection, that they have towards Chriſt: An example we have in Peter, Lord, (ſaith he) if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water; So it is with the Saints, they refuſe not to venture even upon boiſtrious ſtormes, and dangers to goe to Chriſt. Hence was Jobs reſolution, Though thou kill me, yet will I truſt in thee. Hence alſo it is, That the Children of God, though they walke in darkneſſe, and have no light all, yet they will truſt in the name of the Lord, and ſtay themſelves upon their God, Iſa. 5. 10. Now becauſe Chriſt hath not one, but many excellencyes; every thing in him is excellent, inward, and outward; from his head to his feet, &c. for indeed beauty conſiſts not only in colour and complexion, but in affinitie and proportion of all parts. Now to come to the particulars, and firſt ſhe beginneth with his head, ſaying.
His head is as fine gold.
The Spouſe begins to ſet out the excellency of the chiefe part, viz. the head. Now the head of Chriſt is God, as the Apoſtle ſaith in 1 Cor. 11. 3. That Chriſt is the head of every man, that the man is the head of the woman, and that God is the head of Chriſt. The head hath an eminencie above all other parts, and alſo an influence upon all the Members, wee may underſtand this of God, who is the head of Chriſt, as the Apoſtle ſaith, in 2 Cor. 12. 13. or, we may underſtand it of the headſhip of Chriſt over his Church, that his adminiſtrations, government, and headſhip is moſt glorious and excellent, moſt ſplendent and ſhining, as pure gold.
As fine gold, or the ſolid gold. Two names of the beſt gold are here joyned together. The firſt name in the Hebrew is Cethem, that is, fine ſhining gold: the ſecond is Paz, that is, ſtrong and ſolid gold, or gold that's purified: hereby the Spouſe ſetteth forth how excellent, how glorious, how rich and ſhining the head of Chriſt is: for among earthly things what is comparable to the fine gold, it's held of all mettals moſt precious, and of all treaſures the richeſt. And as gold is precious: ſo it's durable mettall, which ſhews, that Chriſts headſhip and dignitie is everlaſting and durable, it is divine and heavenly, and of a a glorious extent.
Hence Obſerve,
That Chriſt is eminent and glorious, in reſpect of his head-ſhip.
God is the head of Chriſt, and Chriſt is the head of Saints. In Chriſt were hidden all the treaſures of divine wiſdome, for in him dwelt the fullneſſe of God; he was the expreſſe image of the Fathers perſon, and the brightneſſe of his Fathers glory. Chriſt lived in the knowledge, counſell, wiſdome, and boſome of the Father, and therefore was an excellent head, a golden head: neither is he compared to every kind of gold, but to that which is moſt pure and ſolid, he is eminent, glorious, and ſhining in all the excellencies of his father, and doth adminiſter to his Spouſe, that he receives from God: ſo that his Members are golden members, from his influence, who is a golden head: therefore the ſeven Churches are ſtiled the ſeven golden candleſticks, Revel. 1. Every thing in the Tabernacle was gold, to ſhew, that every thing in the Spouſe is excellent. It is moſt certaine, that there is much falſe gold in the world: naturall and carnall men have golden images of their owne, but it will be found at the beſt to be but guilt, and externall paintings: but Chriſt only is a head of gold, not only his Crowne gold, but his very head is gold, pure gold, refined, and all gold, and nothing but gold, all ſhining and glorious.
Thus much for the commendation of Chriſts head.
Now ſhe proceedeth to his haire.
His locks are buſhie, and black as a Raven.
His locks are buſhie, or, curled. The curling of the locks ſheweth that the haire is ſoft, which argueth in a naturall body, a gentle diſpoſition. His hairie locks, of which before he complaineth in verſe 2. that they were filled with the drops of the night, here they are commended for being curled, or on heaps, buſhie, and hanging downe. The Nazarites according to the Law, did weare long haire as appeares by Samſon, though they did weare it after a moſt grave and ſober manner. She deſcribeth his haire, not only to be buſhie, and curled, but to be: Black, &c.
The blackneſſe of the haire, maketh the beautie of the skinne more ſhining and glimmering in the eyes of men. The blackneſſe of the haire then was no unſeemly colour, eſpecially in mens haire, and the rather if wee have regard to the people inhabiting in the Land of Judah, which is very hot and parching. She addeth.
And black as a Raven.
In that ſhe compares it, by the blackneſſe of a Raven, ſhe ſheweth, that it was a naturall and pure black of it ſelfe, which is farre more excellent, both in black and all other colours, then any that is made ſo by art.
Now for curled and black haire, it is a ſigne of a hot braine, and argues in nature quickneſſe and dexterity of wit, and ſtrength, and courage in him that it groweth upon. This denotes unto us all that ſpirituall wiſdome, vigour, and ſtrength of Chriſt, the depth of all his underſtanding, and counſels.
Hence note.
That Chriſt was ſitly qualified for all his adminiſtrations. He was gentle and mild, he would not breake the bruiſed reed, nor quench the ſmoaking flax until he bring forth judgement unto truth, &c. Iſa. 42. 3. He was full of wiſdome, counſell, juſtice, and gravity, therefore called the Ancient of dayes, Dan. 7. 22. All his counſels, thoughts, and purpoſes were in the hidden myſteries of God: he was privy to the heart and boſome of his father, living in the knowledge and ſecrets of God, in that light which no creature can approach unto. He is called the wonderfull Counſellour, the mighty God, the everlaſting Father, the Prince of Peace, Iſa. 9. 6. Now ſhe paſſeth from the head, and from the haire, to the eyes, ſaying