The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 165

Ver. 10-ch. vii. 9,-How souls come into perilous places. '' Or ever I was a.ware." This eeotion contains-so the literalists say-the account of the speaker's coming to Solomon's palace. (For right rendering of text, see the Revised Version and its margin.) She relates how she met the king's court (ver, 11). She was dwelling at home, aor\ occupied in her customary rural labours, when Solomon, on a pleasure tour (eh. iii. 6, etc.), came into the neighbourhood of her town, Engedi. There the ladies of the court saw her, and were greatly struck with her beauty (ver. 10). Bewildered, she would have fled (vers. 12, 13), but thought the royal chariots were those of the nobles of her country (ver. 12). The ladies of the court beg her to return (ver. 13), and when she asks what they want of her (ver. 13), they request, and she consent.s, that she will dance before them, as the maidens of her country were wont to do. Thus Solomon sees her, and is enraptured with her,and begins to praise her in his gross way from her feet upwards (eh. vii. 2-9; Miiller, in loc.) as he had seen her in dancing. And he seems to have brought her to Jerusalem and to his palace there, where she relates all this. Such appears to be the history on which this song is founded. It is likely, natural, and enables us, whilst still regarding it allegorically, to avoid assigning to Christ language and conduct which far more befit such a one as Solomon was. From the narrative as above given we may learn that- I. No PLACES ARE FREE FBOM SPIBITUALPEBIL. Thie maiden is represented as at home and occupied in her usual and proper employ, when suddenly all happened as i,; here told. And what places are there in which the world, and Satan, do not seek the soul's harm? At home, in our lawful calling, in the Church, everywhere. II. '!'HOSE WBOM THE WORLD HAS ENSNARED ARE USED TO ENSNARE OTHERS. The women of Solomon's .court a.re represented as actively engaged in trying to secure this maiden for him. It is a true picture of how worldly souls try to make others as themselves. !II. MISTAKES HAVE OFTEN AS HURTFUL CONSEQUENCES AS SINS, " Evil is wrought By want of thought , A.JJ well as want of heart." It was so here. There was mistake as to who the people were; as to the motive of the request made her; in not at once escaping; in yielding to their requests. It docs seem very hard that when there is no intention of evil, evil should yet come, and often so terribly (cf. 1 Kings xiii. 11, etc.). But it is that we may learn by our mistakes. We learn by nothing eo well, and they are never suffered to have irrepar.ible consequences. IV. THE PERIL OF PARLEYING WITH SPIRITUAL FOES. Had she who is told of here fled away as she intended, none of her after-trial would have followed. To hold converse with a spiritual enemy is next to giving up the keys of the fortress. See how prompt our Lord was in repelling the suggestions of the tempter. V. 'l'HOUGH WE FALL WE SHALL NOT BE UTTERLY CAST DOWN. The tempter in tl,is history was baffled after all. She whom he tried so much kept her faith and love. The soul that loves Christ may wander and fall, but shall assuredly be brought back. "He restoreth my soul." l:''aithful love will soon reassert its power.-S. C.