The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 56

the cross rather than in any form of 6Rrthly joy; hence the words of St. Paul, "God forbid that l should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified un!o me, ~nd I u~to the world" (Gal. vi. 14). As St. Paul gloried in the cross, ~o the bnde delighted m the shadow of the beloved. "In his shadow I delighted, and I sat down," is the literal rendering of the Hebrew words. It is delight in the Sa,·iour's love which draws the penitent to the cross; as the Lord said, "I if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." The Lord's Jove draw; the penitent soul burdened with the sense of sin; the cross is to such a soul like the shadow of a great rock in a weary ln.nd; there only is a sure refuge from the heat and turmoil of the world, from the cares and the manifold temptations of this life. 'l'herefore the Christian sits down beneath it, taking the cross for bis portion, meditatina much on the' Sa,iour's cross, seeking to Jive ever nearer and nearer to it, within the in"'ner depths of its awful shadow, and finding there a deep and holy peace which the world can neither give nor take away. Under ~he shadow of the cross we learn ourselves to take up the cross, and to follow after Christ; there we learn that in patient self-denials practised in the faith of Christ there is a spiritual delight, a joy severe indeed, but far more abiding, far more precious, than any joy this world can give. There we learn what St. Paul means when he says, "We glory in tribulations also" (Rom. v. 3); what St. James means when he says, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." For "his fruit is sweet to the taste." The soul that sits under the shadow of the cross of Christ feeds upon Christ, in spiritual communion with him, and in the blessed sacrament which he ordained, and finds in that holy food a Divine sweetness, which wholly passes every form of earthly delight. But it is only they who sit under the shadow, who live very near to Christ in daily bearing of the cross, in patient continuance in well-doing, who can realize that blessed sweetness; they "by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. v.14); they know that Christ is the Bread of life, that his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed ; their earnest, persevering prayer is, " Lord, evermore give us this bread." 3. Ber remembrance of his l011e. "He brought me to the banqueting-house," she says; literally," to the house of wine." The bride passes from metaphor to facts. The bridegroom is no longer a fair and fruitful tree; he is once more the King of Israel who sought and loved the lowly maiden; she recounts her past experience of his love. He had brought her, humble as she was, into his palace, into the banqueting-house. The literal translation brings to our thoughts the Lord's words, "I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom" (Matt. xxvi. 29). It is he who must bring his people into his banqueting-house; it is his presence manifested to faith which makes the holy communion what it is to the believer. He gives us then the wine that maketh glad the heart of man, when he saith, "Drink ye all of it: for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under his table; but when he brings us thither, when we come led by the Spirit, drawn by the constraining love of Christ, then we know that it is his banqueting-house, the house to which he calls his guests, where he seats them e.t his own board. " With desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you before J suffer." There he bids us drink : "Drink ye all of it;" we e.11 need that cup, for it is the cup of the new covenant. When we take it in faith and love, the new covenant, the covenant of grace, is confirmed to us afresh ; for he gives us the blood that was shed for the remission of sine, the blood that cleaneeth from all sin those who walk in the light. But we must ask him to bring us; without him we can do nothing. If we approach without him, without bis grace and guidance, without faith in him, we shall brina no blessing away with us, but only the judgment of those who discern not the Lord's body (1 Cor. xi. 29). The b~nqueting-houee of the King of Israel was signalized by the royal banner, the standard which had often led to the battle the warriors of Israel. That standard was the centre round which the king's followers were wont to flock, to guard him in the hour of peril, to honour him with their attendance in the time of peace. But what drew the bride thither was the love of the bridegroom; that was the banner which was beirntiful in her eyes, which was over her. The banner of the cross goeth onwards befo1e the followers of the Lord; it is the centre round which they press, which is ever drawing them nearer and nearer. The banner which draws OB. II, 1-17.] 'fHE SONG OF SOLOMON. 45