The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 163

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-3.-Earnest inquirers after Christ. The conversation still goes on between her who bas lost her beloved and the daughters of Jerusalem. She has just poured out her heart to them in the description of him whom her soul so loved, and these verses give their regponse. We learn- I. THAT THERE IS A SPIRITUAL LOVELINESS IN THE SOUL THAT EARNESTLY SEEKS CHRIST. (Cf. ver. 1," 0 thou fairest among women.") It is not merely that Christ sees this loveliness, we know he does; but others see it likewise. It is not the beloved who speaks here, but the daughters of Jerusalem. (Cf. 2 Cor. vii. 10, 11, where are set forth some of those graces of character and conduct which are found in the seeking soul.) And that humility, tenderness of conscience, zeal, devoutness, holy desire, and gentle- ness of spirit which accompany such seeking of Christ-bow beautiful these things are! And, like all real beauty, there is no self-consciousness in it, but rather such soul mourns that it is so little like what Christ would have it be. II. IT WILL WIN SYMPATHY AND HELP, WHICH ONCE IT DID NOT POSSESS. At the beginning of this song it is plain that the maiden who speaks did not have the sympathy but rather the contempt of the daughters of Jerusalem (cf. eh. i. 5, 8). But now all that is altered, 'l'hey are won to her love. Great love to Christ will blessedly infect those about us. We can hardly live with such without coming under the power of its sweet and sacred contagion. Cf. Jethro, "We will go with you, for we see that the Lord bath blessed you." See, at the Crucifixion, how Joseph of Arimathrea, Nicodemus, the centurion, and others ceased from their cold neutrality or open opposition, and showed that they felt the power of Christ's love. III. IT WILL BECOME THE WISE INSTRUCTOR OF OTHERS. This inquiry of ver. 1 bad its fulfilment when Christ lay in the tomb. Those who sought him mourned, but found him not. Cf. Christ's words concerning bis absence, "Ye shall have sorrow, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. Also Mark ii. 20. And the reply of ver. 2 had part fulfilment at that same period. Cf. "This day thou sha.lt be with me in Paradise" (Luke xxiii. 43). Yes, the Beloved had gone down into his garden (ver. 2). But we may also understand by the garden his Church (cf. on eh. iv. 6). And thus the soul we are contemplating instructs others. She tells them : 1. Where Christ is to be found. In hie garden, the place he has choson, separated, cultivated, hautified, and whither be loves to resort. And: 2. What he delights i·n there. The spices-the fragrant graces of regenerated souls, the frankincense of their worship and prayers. 'l'ho fruits on which he feeds-the holy lives, the manifestation of his people's faith and love. 'l'he lilies-the pure, meek, and lowly souls that spring and grow there. 3. What he does tliere. He " reeds" there. "He shall see of the travail of bis soul and be satis•  THE SONG OF SOLOMON. [en. vt. 1-13.