The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 95

found of them that eeek him not-as he says he is-how much more will he fulfil his word, "They that seek me ehall find me" I (2) And she clave to him. "I held 1,im," etc. The soul thue holds hei Lord by her prayers, her trust, her communion, her service, her self-surrender. These grasp the Beloved, and will not let him go. (3) And she will be content with nothing less than the full assurance of bis love ( ver. 4). We should resolve to have a religion that makes the soul happy. The religion that does not do this docs but liLtle at all. Cf. the elder son in the parable of the prodigal. He had a religion, but it was all gloom. Let us not be satisfied so. And if we seek, and fi,nd, and cleave, and so continue as set forth here, the joy of the Lord shall be onrs. III. CONCERNING TIIE AWAKING. Ver. 5 shows that she is awake, and conscious of the love of her beloved, and would not be torn therefrom until he pleased (cf. on eh. ii. 7). But, awake, the soul finds that what was sad in her clream was but a dreacl, but what was joyful is an abiding reality. \Ve cannot lose Christ really, though we may think we do; and the soul that seeks him shall find him.-8. C. , Ver. 3.-'i'he watchmen. In this verse very much that it concerns Christ's ministers to give heed to is suggested. I. TnE WATCH ,THEY HAVE TO KEEP. Christ's ministers are meant (Isa.. Iii. 8; J:x:ii. 6; Ezek. :x::x:xiii. 7). Their watch is to be over themselves, over their teaching, over the Church of God. II. THE REAaoN OF THEm APPOINTMENT. It is night, when men sleep, when the foe takes ad vantage; hence the need of watchmen (Isa. :x:x.i. 11, 12). III. THE DU.TY THEY HA VE TO DISCHARGE. "To go about the city." 'l'he ways and windings of the.human heart. 'l'he highways of the Word of God. The streets of the city of God, the Church. '!'hey need to be acquainted with all these. IV. WHAT THEY WILL MEET WITH. Such as they found here. They "found me;" that is, a wearied and sorrowful soul. They find such through their preaching or their pastoral work (l Cor, xiv. 24, 25). So souls are found. True watchmen are sure to find such. V. 'l'liE QUESTION THEY WILL BE ASKED. (Cf. John xii. 21, "Sir, we would see Jesus.") This the suggestion of what we read here. "Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?" And this is what such souls need; and the more they are directed to him, the more will the watchmen be valued and their word heeded. This is what our congregations want from us, and the question which in reality they put to us .. VI. THE IMP0RTAN0E OF THEIR ANSWER. Had they told her where he was whom she sought, she would have passed from them with gratitude and joy; as it was, because they could not tell her, she went a.way in deep distress. Such issues depend upou their word. It is good when they have seen Jesus for themselves. It is helter when they can direct seeking souls to him. But it is sad indeed if they have neither seen him nor know how to direct inquirers to him. So was it with these watchmen; so let it not be with us.-8. C. :vers. 6--,11.-" Solomon in all his glnTy." (For explam1tion of details in these verses, see Exposition.) We have set before us here such glory as pomp and splendour, strength and power, gieat riches and sensual pleasure, could give. All that in which Solomon delighted, and for which his name became famous. Now, these things suggest- !. A GREAT TEMPTATION. They were so: 1. To Solomon, for he yielded to it. All that these things could do for him he enjoyed to the full. '!'he tradition of "Solomon and all his glory" came down through the centuries that followed. And the like things.are.a great temptation to men now. What will they not do for them? They were the ,last of the temptations, with which Satan tempted our Lord. Anti to the good, the temptation of them lies in the .suggestion that was doubtless mado to the mind of our Lord-so much good may be done by them; they will so help iu establish- ina the kingdom of God. ,His mind was, we may well believe, absorbed with the q~stion •how the great work he bad come to do, the establishment of this kingdom, could be nccomplished. And here was the point and force of this teruptalion, To yield to it would hnve been as if he had fallen down and worshipped the evil one. Hence he spurned both it aud him, And still" iu the multitude," not of" worda•  THE SONG OF SOLOMON. [Oil, III, 1-11,