The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 100

II. ORSERVE HIS BODY-GUARD. 1. This is a token of peril, But the peril is not that of open war. If a bannered host should oppose his march, he would meet it with his invincible forces. Michael and all the powers of heaven would fight his batt.le, It is not open war. The foes in the desert are Ishmaelites. 'l'hey seek for plunder, 'l'hey make sudden and covert attack in the night. So has it been in the progress of our Immanuel. From the band of his own disciples the traitor came, and came by night. The priests of Jehovah were his worst foes. Professed friends, like Ananias and Sapphire., have stabbed his cause in secret. 'l'he persecutors of his gospel have usually laid their plots in the dark. Atheists and hypocrites have been his bitterest foes. The enemies to the cause of heavenly truth still lie in ambush. 2. Variety of service can be rendered to our gracious King. There were some who bore on their ~boulders his palanquin; some who carried torches; some who perfumed his Person; some who wielded swords in his defence. And various service is needed still. If one cannot be a general on the battle-field, he may be an armour-bearer. He who cannot fight in the ranks can be a sentinel at the gate or a watchman on the tower. The child wanting yet in martial strength may be fleet of foot as a. messenger. If too old for field-service, we can be mighty at the throne. 3. The life-goords are well equipped, "They all hold swords." And in the service of Immanuel the sword is keen and has a. double edge. In the olden time a. Damascus blade had great renown; but the sword of truth is forged and furbished in heaven, and has a penetration which is irresistible. If once we get this sword of truth into a. man's conscience, it does exploits there. The tongues with which we speak _winsomely and graciously of our King is a two-edged weapon. The pen is mightier than the sword, and the tongue of fire is mightier than the pen. The Word of the Lord is invincible. 4. .All service is useful in this King's progress. It ma.de the march a more imposing spectacle. It silenced the murmurers and the scorners. Does Jesns Christ require human service? He has chosen such plans of warfare as require various agencies of man. He prefers to work through feeble and imperfect men, for thereby he confers blessing on friends and on foes at once. Through exercise our spiritual energies become more robust, Through service our faith and love are tested. The more fervid zeal we bring to our Master's cause, the more honour crowns his head. We serve the King, we serve the human race, we serve ourselves, at one stroke. Loving service is the richest spiritual perfume. III. NoTE ms PALANQUIN. It is ma.de of cedar-wood from Lebanon; the bed is gold, the pillars are silver, the curtains are resplendent with imperial purple. 1. This carriage, or palanquin, may fitly represent for us the covenant of g1ace. In this our Immanuel rides triumphantly. In order to set this forth so as to impress the dull senses of humanity, the most precious things of earth are used as metaphors. As cedar is the richest and hardest among timber, as gold and silver a.re the costliest ot metals, as the purple colour was selected for royalty, these material splendours feebly adumbrate the eternal covenant of redemption. Nothing on earth can adequately express it. It is notable for its antiquity; notable for its rarity; notable for its splendour; notable for its usefulness. As the palanquin must be made worthy of a. king, the covenant of grace is well worthy of our God. To save is his eternal purpose. 2. The curtains were the handiwork of virgins. "Worked by the daughters of Jerusalem." A.II through the East, women a.re despised, down-trodden, treated as an inferior race. If iu Western lands women are ennobled and honoured, it is wholly due to the grace of our King. So from the very beginning Jesus intimated that the service of women would be acceptable; He was dependent on an earthly mother's care. Once and again, women ministered to him "of their substance." The deed which he predicted should be known throughout the world was the deed of a woman. Women gathered round his cross in sweetest sympathy, while others laughed and jeered. Women performed the last acts of care for his dead body. Women were the first to greet him on the resurrection-morn. "In Christ Jesus there is neither ma.le nor female." 3. These curtains and carpets are adorned with emblems of love. Our version says, "paved with love." It should rather be, "inwrought with symbols of love." Just as-in our day meu use the form of a heart, or the figure of a fire, to denote warm and genuine love, so some device of love was interlaced in the manufacture of these curtains by the deft fingers of devoted women. It is not more true that we rest in Christ's love than ihe converse, "he rests in our love." "If any man love me, he tlit, III. 1-11,] 'l'BE SONG OF SOLOMON. 89