The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 30

II. Is VER¥ GREAT. She will be glad and rejoice. She will" remember" hie "love more than wine." That is, the soul's joy is more than any earthly means of delight and c:xliilarntion can afford. Ill. J_s SHARED IN DY ALL THE SAINTS OF GoD. "'l'he upright love thee," "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." Our joy is heightened by the fact that those whom we most esteem count it their joy also. · IY. HER OWN llliWORTHINEss noEs NOT SHUT HER ouT FROM IT, "I am black." "Since therefore I ce.u hardly bear Wl1at in myself I see, How vile, how black, I must appear, Most holy God, to thee I "But oh I my Saviour stands between, In garment.a dyed in blood ; 'Tis he instead of me is seen When I approach to God." The remembrance of her own unworthiness serves as a foil to set off the comelines11 with which inwardly he has endowed her. "The king's daughter is all glorious within" (cf. Ezek. xvi. 14). And as she thinks of her unworthiness she tells how it came to be so with her-by the cruelty of others and her own neglect. They made her serve in such way that sbe became "black." How often our foes are they of our own house- hold! But she, too, was neglectful. "My own vineyard have I not kept." Never- theless, the king loved her. • '. V. HENCE SHE WILL BE SATISFIED WITH NOTHING LESS THAN HIMSELF. "Tell me where thou feedest?" etc. (ver. 7). She appeals to him to bring her where he is.. She desires to know the rest he can give. His "companions n will not compensate· for him (cf. "Whom ha.ve I in heaven but thee?" etc.; cf. Ps. xlii. 9; Ezek. xx..r.iv,; Ps. x.xv. 4, 5; xvi._ 2, 3).-S. C. Ver. 6 (part).-The pastor~ peril. "They made me .•. I have not kept." If we were to understand these words literally, then what is told of might be without either blame or loss. For if, as seems to have been the case, the speaker's neglect of her own vineyard was forced upon her in order that she might keep the vineyards of others, then no fault attached to her. She could not help herself; she was made to work for others: She might grieve, as it is plain she did, to see her own fair vineyard neglected, and, in consequence, overgrown with weeds, and all prospect of fruit gone; but no blame belonged to her, though there might be loss. And it is quite comprehensible that there might be neither blame nor loss, although her own vineyard was neglected. For it might be far more profitable to cultivate the vineyards of others than one's own; and if so, why should there be blame, and how could there be loss? But when we come to the spiritual suggestions of our text, when we look upon it as telling of those whose office and duty it is to cultivate the vineyard of the soul, then the conduct told of here can never be without blame and loss both; blame to the vineyard-keeper who kept not his own whilst keeping others, and loss both to him and them. For- I. MEN'S souLs A.BE Goo's VINEYARDS. They were created to bring forth fruit for his glory, and for the strengthening, cheering, and every way helping of the souls of their fellows. For this purpose, also, were they redeemed, and for this end are they supplied with manifold Divine gifts-the influences of the Holy Spirit, the aid which the Church, the Scriptures, and the ministers of Christ are appointed to render. Now, such- II. PASTOBB ABE THE KEEPERS OF THESE VINEYARDS. They are to watch over them continually. They are to cultivate them with all diligent care. They are to .aim ever to render help to those committed to their care in the formation of that character, and in the exercise of th06e graces which God regards and rejoices in as fruit. • They are to remember always that the vineyards are for fruit, and that·whatever else th!:y may yield. if they yield not this, their work has failed. Now, this verse sugeests that- • • Ill. TIIERE 16 A GREAT PERIL WHICH BESETS TI!E8E KEEPERS OF THE VINEYARDS, It oa. I. 1-17.] THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 19