The Pulpit Commentary — Song of Songs — Section 209

Would it not be madness to encumber one's self with soft couches and iuxur1ous inuui- gences while on a journey? Would not such things seriously impede our progress? And is it not the one desire of a pilgrim to advance as rapidly as possible? To reach the end of bis pilgrimage at the earliest hour is the uppermost desire of every trua pilgrim. Therefore needless burdens are left behind. This is bow ordinary pilgrims conduct themselves. And should not every Christian be more eager to advance along the way than to cumber himself with lands, or houses or worldly honours? Be who is bent on heavenly progress is bent also on self-denial. To grow like Obrist, that is the Christian's daily business. Every day another step. 3. The pilgrim often pursues a solitary path. He is much alone. In the vision of the text only one is seen "coming up from the wilderness." She had left the broad path where many were found. She had left her old friends and companions. More and more the Christian has to walk alone. When first he resolved to follow Jesus he bad to abandon former acquaintances; and, as often as be essays to reach a loftier level, be has to part with some comrades. He has learnt the art of personal decision. If others will not ascend with him to the higher planes of holy living, he must go a.lone. He would rather miss the company of a hundred than lose the company of his Well-beloved. Hence the frequent solitariness of the pilgrim. So far as outward connection with Christ's disciples is concerned, he will not separate himself. He cultivates all possible bonds of unity. He fosters Church life. But with regard to the inner life of his soul, i.e. his personal fellowship with Jesus, he is much a.lone. Yet, when most alone, he bas the best society. III. NoTE THE 0HRIBTIAN's HELPFUL COMPANION. "Leaning on her Beloved.' I. This leaning implies a sense of Ohrist's nearness. We cannot lean upon anything that is not close at hand, yea, in actnal touch with us. Though we cannot perceive Jesus with the organ of the body, we have a stronger proof still of his nearness. The experience of the soul is far more real and far more reliable than any sensation of the body. No organ is more easily deceived than the eye. Certainly our Immanuel gains immediate entrance to the heart. This fact is contained in his name, " God with us." So, without the intervention of words or other vehicle, he imparts good cheer and strength straight to the soul. He comes nearer than any human friend can come. He knows all the secret doors by which to pass in. He touches all the secret springs of life and reanimates them. He comes "to give life, to give it more abundantly." 2. Leaning means the transference of all our weakness to Jesus. To lean is to find support in another. If I am too weak to walk a distance of fifty miles, and I take a seat in a railway train, I transfer my weakness to that steam-engine, and I take the benefit of its strength .. At the outset of our Christian life we laid the whole weight of our sin u1>on our Substitute. We said, "God be merciful, for the sake of Jesns ! " This was the foundation of our hope. As we grow in grace we learn more and more to leave our burdens in the hand of Jesus. We overcome the tempter, not by our own native strength, but through Christ, "who strengtheneth us." "I live," said St. Paul: "yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." This righteousness I have is Christ's righteousness. This love for sinful men is Christ's love " shed abroad in my heart." This wisdom to instruct and guide others is Christ's wisdom. I am "leaning on my Beloved." He takes on him all my weaknesses. He imparts to me bis all-sufficient strength. It is a sacred and a vital partnership. Faith is perpetual dependence. 3. This leaning implies that Jesus is a consenting Party. He loves to be used, loves to be trusted. Our weakness can never be a strain upon him, for his strength is omnipotence. He cannot fail, for such faithfulness was never seen among men-no, nor among angels. I cou1J. not trust to him for my eternal well-being if I did not know that he shared in the Godhead. Clearly he is fully competent to take the whole weight of my salvation. And equally certain is it that he is willing. His love is as great as his power. His 1>atience has often been severely tried, but it bas proved abundantly adequate. The sun may cease to shine, the mountains :may bow their snowy crests, the sea may vacate its bed ; •yet hie loving-kindness and his faithfulness eternally abide-these cannot fail. It is to him a real delight to help the weak and needy. After fifty or sixty years' experience of his tender grace, he says to us, "You have never half used me yet; you have never trusted me half enough. Hitherto you have asked nothing, comparatively nothing. Ask, and ye shall receive." So that our response ought to ht, spontaneous, "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him."' 200 THE SONG OF SOLOMON. [OJI. vm. 1-14,