The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 201

by hi~ presence, can attain unto such knowledge of God a:i i, nuw granted lo us(" X,,w we see through a glass, darkly , .. now 1 know in part," 1 Cor. xiii, 12), and <lwell in communion with God, God jealously desires the possession of that spirit. There- furn the Christian's love for God must be a jealous love; he must be very jealous of the intmsion of other loves, other ambitions, into the heart, which should be given wholly to God; he must keep his heart for God with a godly jealousy (see 2 Cor. xi. 2)- jealousy stern as that with which Hades retains its prisoners. And this holy jealousy is anlent, too-ardent as flames of fire; "a very flame of the Lord" (vcr. 6,Revised Version). For its ardour comes from him; it is he who gives that ardent zeal-that zeal for the Lord which has urged his holiest servants to do and dare such great thing~ for his love's sake. 'l'he great love of the Lord Jesus for our souls calls for some,thing; morn than the lukewarmness of Laodicea. "Be zealous," it says to us; "be zealous and repent 11 (Rev. iii. 19). The name of God occurs only in this one place in the song; we read it here in the shortened form (Jah) of the adorable name, as if to tea.eh u~ the sacred lesson of the disciple whom Jesus loved, that" God is love: and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him" (1 John iv. 16). Holy love comes only from him. "Love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God" (1 John iv._ 7). Such love cannot be quenched, It is so even with pure human love. "Many waters cannot quench it, neither can the floods drown it." 'fhe many waters of trouble, suffering, old age, cannot stifle love; it lives on still. It cannot be bought. "If a man would give all the subslance of his house for love, he would utterly be co_ntemned." Love cannot be bought or forced; it is essentially free and spontaneous; it springs up spontaneously in the heart (" when it pleases," ver. 4; also eh. ii. 7; iii. 5), in response to lpve, at the presence of an object capable of calling it forth. So it is with the holy love of God. God's love for us cannot be quenched. The many waters of our unbelief, ingratitude, and sin have not-blessed be his holy Name- quenched his gracious love. It cannot be bought; we cannot buy it with earthly gifts, with gold or silver, or external good works; it is given freely, graciously, and it abides in those who live tn the faith of the Son of God. Our love for God is a faint reflectiqn of his blessed love for us. It is called forth by that holy love. "Wc love him, because he first loved us," 'l.'he waters of trouble and sorrow and temptation cannot drown it if it is true and real. These verses are the Old Testament psalm of love (see Ps. xiv., title), corresponding to 1 Cor. xiii. or the First Epistle of St. John. in the New Testament. They have a singular power and beauty; they are treasured in the memories of God's people; they have brought peace and comfort to many a death-bed. II. INTERCESSIONS OF THE BRIDE, I. For her sister. The bride 'has a sister not yet of marriageable .years. What shall be done for her? If she be a wall, firm and stead- fast, she shall be richly dowered; but if she be a door, too easily opened, too accessible, she must be carefully guarded. The bride herself is a wall, strong and steadfast in her virtue; therefore it was that she found peace in the bridegroom's eyes. There may possibly be an allusion here to. t.he name Solomon, which follows in the next verse: the bride found peace in the eyes of the peaceful one, The bride is the Church, the little sister perhaps the Gentiles. Those Gentile Churches that will be steadfast in the faith, like Smyrna or Philadelphia, shall be built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone (Eph. ii. 20). 'l.'hose that are like Thyatira, Bardis, or Laodicea, still open to those other masters, the world, the flesh, and the devil, must be treated with wholesome severity; they must be carefully guarded and fenced in, and closad against the enemies of the Lonl. The bride intercedes for her little sister. She herself has set a good example. Christian people must make,.intercession for the heathen, that they may be converted; for missionary work, that it may be prospered; and while they pray, they must be very careful to set a good example themselves, that the great work may not be hindered by any fault of theirs, but may go on and prosper till the earth be filled with th8 knowledae of God as the waters cover the sea. 2. For her brothers. She had spoken of their harshness (eh, i. 6). "They made me," she said," keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard [literally, as here,' my vineyard, which is mine'] have l not kept." Now she intercedes with the king for them. She would have them to be keepers ol hor vineyard, and to receive a suitable recompenBe. She compares King Solomon's 182 THE SONG OF SOLOMON. [en. vm. 1-14.