Song of Solomon 3

The spouse relateth, how diligently she had sought her bridegroom, but in vain, vers.1.2,3, &c. At length she findeth him, and taketh fast hold on him, 4. He will not suffer his spouse to be awaked, 5. The spouses ornaments, after she was come out of affliction, 6. The Bridegrooms bed or bed-stead, under the figure of Salomons bed and bed-stead, 7. The faithful are invited, under Rhetorical and flourishing terms or words of Salomons marriage with his spouse, to the Kingdom of Glory, 11.

1. By night on my bed I sought him, whom my soul loveth: [Heb. In the nights. Hereby is intimated the great temptations and trials of the church, as Isa.21.12. and 26.9. Amos 5:18. And likewise here is shewed, that the church in time of temptation and persecution, when she seemeth to be left and forsaken, seeketh Christ by prayer. See Deut.4.29. Jerem.50.4. Hos.3.5. and 5.15. Zeph.2.3. Matth.7.7. Him, whom my soul loveth; To wit, my Bridegroom Jesus Christ, his grace, and mercy; who is found of us, when we feel and apprehend his grace and favour in our hearts to our comfort] I sought him, but I found him not, [This is no ways repugnant to the promise of Christ, Matth.7.7. For that sieth no precise punctual time of finding; for that is onely in the hand of God, he alone knoweth the fit and seasonable time of help, Heb.4.16. Below vers.4. it is said of the spouse, that after a little while, she found her beloved] (I said)

2. I will arise now, and go about in the city, [That is, in the church of God, Psal.87.vers.3. or in the spiritual Jerusalem, See Heb.12.22.] in the passages, [Or, markets, broad places. See Luke 14:21,22,23.] and in the streets, I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

3. The watchmen [Understand here under the name of watchmen, such kind of Teachers or Ministers, as were those, of whom the Prophet Isaiah speaketh chap.56.vers.10. They are (saith he) dumb Dogs, they cannot bark. Orby watchman may here be understood the great and wise men of the World, who if they should be asked where Christ is to be asked where Christ is to be found, are not able to tell where. See Matth.2.vers.3,4. Compare below vers.5.v.7.] that went about in the City, found me; (I said,) Saw ye him, whom my soul loveth? [The meaning is, cannot ye direct me to my friend, or Bridegroom?]

4. When I had passed a little from them, [To wit, a little while, or a little way] I found him without my soul loveth while, or a little way] I found him whom my soul loveth: [Heb. A little that I had passed from them, till I found him whom my soul loveth. Here is fulfilled the promise of our Saviour Christ, Matth.7.7. Seek, and thou shalt find, etc.] I held him fast, and did not let him go: [To wit, I held him fast, etc. with the hand of faith. See Prov.4.13. Eph.3.18. Colos.1.23. See also Genes.32.26.] until I had brought him into my mothers house, and into the innermost chamber of her, that bare me. [Or, that conceived me. The church here intimateth, that she having recovered and gotten again a sense and feeling of the grace and mercy of Christ, will constantly persist or persevere in fellowship and communion with him.]

5. I adjure you, ye Daughters of Jerusalem, which are by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up that love, nor waken (it) until it please (her.) [This whole verse is expounded above chap.2.vers.7. See also below chap.8.4.]

6. Who is she, that cometh up out of the wilderness, like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrhe, and frankincense, (and) all manner of powder of the Grocer! [This is an admiration or wondering of weak believers, speaking of the church, as of the people of Israel, that went up out of the boldness or courage, and glory of the church, after she had by struggling and wrestling got away from under sore troubles and persecutions, whereof mention is made above chap.2. and also in the beginning of this Chapter. By the wilderness is here meant, the desolation or wasting of the outward form and beauty of the Church, as well by tyranny, as by heresy, schism, and great and grievous scandals. As the word wilderness, is likewise taken, Isa. Chap.32.vers.15. and Revel.12.6. like pillars of smoak: That is, like a mighty smoak, that goeth straight, like a pillar, or Palm-tree, which signification the Hebrew word also hath. This signifieth the courage and boldness of the Church in the exercise of true Religion, without intermitting or omitting the same through fear of wicked men, or for other respects, Heb.12.1. By Myrrhe, and Frankincense are to be understood the merits of Christ, which are a sweet-smelling savour unto God the Father, Eph.5.2. Revel.8.v.3,4,5. By the powder here mentioned, may be understood the fruits of regeneration, as also, and especially, the prayers and thanks givings of believers, Malach.1.11. Of the Grocer: Or, of the Drugster. Oth. Of the Apothecary, of the persumer.]

7. Behold, the bed which Salomon hath, [Oth. His bed is as the bed of Salomon] therefore champions are about it, of the champions of Israel; [What courageous valiant champions there were in Israel, see 1 Chron.11.vers.1,2,3. To vers.38. The words contained in this verse, seem to be the words of the spouse. By Salomons bed, and the strong guard that was about it, is typified, that the church of God is kept and preserved by Christ; but yet far better, and in a more transcendent way, then King Salomon was kept and guarded by guard: For the Angels of God, those ministering spirits, are sent forth by Christ, to guard and protect them. See Heb.1.14. The faithful children of God being thus guarded and protected, are not afraid of the terrors of the night, nor of the arrow that flieth by day, Psal.91.5. Hereby may also be understood the Pastors and Teachers, who must watch over, and keep the church of God]

8. They all hold swords, [So likewise are the Holy Angels armed, with Gods righteous vengeance, as with swords to defend the good, and to punish the wicked, 1 Chron.chap.21.vers.16. All faithful shepherds and Ministers of the Church, are armed with word of God, and with Christian Discipline, having vengeance in readiness against all disobedience, 2 Corinth.ch.10.6. Psal.149.7. Albeit otherwise also, all Christians are (or at least ought to be) armed with the sword of the spirit, Ephes.6.17.] taught to war, [to wit, by God, who teacheth the hands of his people to fight, 2 Sam.22.35. and given his angels and ministers power to watch over the church, and to keep and defend it. Oth. Expert, trained, exercised in war] each having his sword at his thigh, [To wit, standing ready and prepared to fight, as Ex.32.27.] because of the terror of the night. [In the night time a man is subject to more danger, then in the day time, whether it be danger of robbery, or of murder, or of treachery, or of the like mischief; which are usually practiced in the night-time, so that a man ought at that time and season, to keep a strong watch and guard Matth.24.43,44. So every Christian Soldier ought to stand ready-armed, as the Apostle reacheth us, Ephes.6.vers.12,13,14. Especially in the time of persecution.]

9. King Salomon made himself a chariot [The Hebrew word signifieth properly a bride-bed, or, bed-stead. But it signifieth also a coach, or, Chariot. It seemeth that here is spoken of that triumph-chariot, of which we read, Ps.45.5. where by the chariots is meant the word of truth, or the preaching of the Gospel. Others understand by the Hebrew word here used, a sumptuous or glorious building, as a palace, or the like] of the wood of Libanon. [That is, of Cedar-wood, which was wont to grow in great abundance on mount Libanon. See the annotate. Judg.9.on vers.15. This word putrifieth not: so that the Doctrine of the Gospel may be fitly compared unto it: For it is an everlasting Gospel, Revel.14.6. See above chap.1,27.]

10. He made the pillars therefore (of) silver, [By pillars is signified in Scripture, constancy, or perseverance, as Revel.3.12. and by pillars of silver, may here be understood, the faithful Pastors or Ministers of the Church, but especially the Prophets and Apostles. See Gal.2.9.] the pavement [Or, bottom, ground, stay. Oth. Seat; to wit, whereon Salomon fat in his charet] of gold. [Christ, who is the ground-work, or foundation of his church, is rightly compared unto gold, but the pillars unto silver. See 1 Cor.3.9. Revel.21.21.] the roof (or top) of it (of) purple: [Understand by this roof, Gods royal defence or protection of his church] the inmost (part thereof) as be spread with the love of the Daughters of Jerusalem. [Or, paved, floored, beset with pleasantness, or, paved with love; that is, pleasantly wrought; to wit, embroidered with pleasant images, or fair pictures, or curiously wrought with the needle by the Daughters of Jerusalem. Oth. Kindled. According to the spiritual application, here by love may be understood, that inward or intimate love that God beareth unto his children, giving his sons for the life of them, as likewise that love, which we bear unto God, and to our neighbor: for we cannot love God, unless he do first manifest his love unto us, 1 John 4:10. Some understand the 9th.& 10.verses to be a description of the heavenly glory]

11. Go forth, ye Daughters of Zion, and behold King Salomon with the Crown, wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his marriage, and in the day of the gladness of his heart. [The Daughters of Zion signify here Christians, or the Church of Christ, as Isa.49.14,22. These are here exhorted to behold and receive Christ (the true Salomon) with his Crown; that is, in glory, and honour. See Psal.149.2. Matth.21.5. Revel.6.1,3,5,7. (wherewith his mother crowned him, &c.) It seemeth by those words that Bathseba honoured her son with a very fair and beautiful crown upon his wedding-day: and by this Crown is typified and represented the glory and dignity, whereunto Christ was advanced by his ascension, and which he shall cause his church to behold in Heaven. See Luke 24:26. John 17:24. Phil.2.9. (In the day of his marriage) Oth. In the day of his espousals: to wit, when Salomon married with his spouse. In a spiritual sense may here be understood Christs marriage with his Church, with is done when she receiveth and embraceth the preaching of the Gospel with a true and lively faith, then, or that time, she is said to be espoused or married to Christ, 2 Cor.11.2. (In the day of the joy, or, gladness of his heart.) As a Bridegroom rejoyeth in his Bride, so doth God rejoice in his people. See Isai.62.1,5. In this verse under the name and glory of Salomon, that was a Type of Christ; there is described the glory, which all the children of God are to behold at the wedding of the Lamb, prepared for all the children of God. When we are exhorted to go forth; thereby is made known, that it is well worth the pain to be at some labour for it, as we see people do, to come forth and behold a King riding in triumph.]