Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Song of Songs
Book: Song of Songs
Chapter: 1
Overview:
The title.
(1) The
Church confesses her deformity.
(2-6) The
Church beseeches
Christ to lead her to the resting-place of his
people.
(7,8) Christ's commendation of the
Church, Her esteem
for Him.
(9-17)
1 This is "the Song of
Songs," excellent above any others, for
it is wholly taken up with describing the excellences of
Christ,
and the
Love between him and his redeemed people.
2-6 The
Church, or rather the believer, speaks here in the
character of the
Spouse of the
King, the
Messiah. The kisses of
his mouth mean those assurances of
Pardon with which believers
are favoured, filling them with peace and joy in believing, and
causing them to abound in
Hope By the power of the
Holy Ghost.
Gracious souls take most pleasure in loving
Christ, and being
loved of him.
Christ's
Love is more valuable and desirable than
the best this world can give. The name of
Christ is not now like
Ointment sealed up, but like
Ointment poured forth; which
denotes the freeness and
Fulness of the setting forth of his
Grace By the
Gospel. Those whom he has redeemed and sanctified,
are here the virgins that
Love Jesus Christ, and follow him
whithersoever he goes, Re 14:4. They entreat him to draw them
By the quickening influences of his
Spirit. The more clearly we
discern
Christ's
Glory, the more sensible shall we be that we
are unable to follow him suitably, and at the same time be more
desirous of doing it. Observe the speedy answer given to this
Prayer. Those who wait at
Wisdom's
Gate, shall be led into
Truth
and comfort. And being brought into this
Chamber, our griefs
will vanish. We have
No joy but in
Christ, and for this we are
indebted to him. We will remember to give thanks for thy
Love;
it shall make more lasting impressions upon us than any thing in
this world. Nor is any
Love acceptable to
Christ but
Love in
sincerity, Eph 6:24. The daughters of
Jerusalem may mean
professors not yet established in the
Faith. The
Spouse was
Black as the tents of the
Wandering Arabs, but comely as the
magnificent curtains in the palaces of
Solomon. The believer is
Black, as being defiled and sinful
By nature, but comely, as
renewed
By Divine
Grace to the holy image of
God. He is still
deformed with remains of
Sin, but comely as accepted in
Christ.
He is often base and contemptible in the esteem of men, but
excellent in the sight of
God. The blackness was owing to the
hard usage that had been suffered. The children of the
Church,
her mother, but not of
God, her
Father, were angry with her.
They had made her suffer hardships, which caused her to neglect
the care of her soul. Thus, under the emblem of a
Poor female,
made the
Chosen partner of a
Prince, we are led to consider the
circumstances in which the
Love of
Christ is accustomed to find
its objects. They were wretched slaves of
Sin, in toil, or in
sorrow, weary and heavy laden, but how great the change when the
Love of
Christ is manifested to their souls!
7,8 Observe the title given to
Christ, O Thou whom my soul
loveth. Those that do
So, may come to him boldly, and may humbly
plead with him. Is it with
God's people a noon-time of outward
troubles, inward conflicts?
Christ has
Rest for them. Those
whose souls
Love Jesus Christ, earnestly desire to share in the
privileges of his flock. Turning aside from
Christ is what
gracious souls dread more than anything else.
God is ready to
answer
Prayer. Follow the track, ask for the good old way,
observe the footsteps of the flock, look what has been the
practice of godly people. Sit under the direction of good
ministers; beside the tents of the under shepherds. Bring thy
charge with thee, they shall all be welcome. It will be the
Earnest desire and
Prayer of the
Christian, that
God would
So
direct him in his worldly business, and
So order his situation
and employment, that he may have his
Lord and
Saviour always
before him.
9-17 The Bridegroom gives high praises of his
Spouse. In the
sight of
Christ believers are the excellent of the
Earth, fitted
to be instruments for promoting his
Glory. The
Spiritual Gifts
and graces which
Christ bestows
On every true believer, are
described
By the ornaments then in use, ver. 10,11. The graces
of the saints are many, but there is dependence upon each other.
He who is the Author, will be the Finisher of the good work. The
Grace received from
Christ's
Fulness, springs forth into lively
exercises of
Faith,
Affection, and gratitude. Yet
Christ, not
his
Gifts, is most precious to them. The
Word translated
"
Camphire," signifies "
Atonement or
Propitiation."
Christ is
dear to all believers, because he is the
Propitiation for their
sins.
No pretender must have his place in the soul. They
resolved to
Lodge him in their hearts all the night; during the
continuance of the troubles of
Life.
Christ takes delight in the
good work which his
Grace has wrought
On the souls of believers.
This should engage all who are made holy, to be very thankful
for that
Grace which has made those fair, who
By nature were
deformed. The
Spouse (the believer) has a humble, modest
Eye,
discovering simplicity and godly sincerity; eyes enlightened and
guided
By the Holy
Spirit, that blessed
Dove. The
Church
expresses her value for
Christ. Thou art the great Original, but
I am but a faint and imperfect copy. Many are fair to look at,
yet their temper renders them unpleasant: but
Christ is fair,
yet pleasant. The believer, ver. 16, speaks with praise of
those holy ordinances in which true believers have
Fellowship
with
Christ. Whether the believer is in the courts of the
Lord,
or in retirement; whether following his daily labours, or
confined
On the
Bed of sickness, or even in a
Dungeon, a sense
of the Divine presence will turn the place into a
Paradise. Thus
the soul, daily having
Fellowship with the
Father, the Son, and
the Holy
Spirit, enjoys a lively
Hope of an incorruptible,
undefiled, and unfading inheritance above.