The Song of Solomon 3
WE can discover no change in the Bridegroom (Hebrews 13:8), but this cannot be said of the bride.
Verse 1: It is night, the “night” of His absence from this world as for the Christian (Romans 13:11, 12; Mark 13:35; Matt. 25:6; Isa. 21:11, 12). The bed is for rest, but energy, spiritual energy, is needed if there is to be nearness to Christ. See the virgins in Matthew 25:5 who were not following the exhortation of Romans 12:11. How has the bride of the Song become separated from her Beloved? The fault is in herself.
Nevertheless, the bride seeks the heavenly Object of her love. She speaks of Him as “Him whom my soul loveth” four times in the first four verses. Does love to the Lord Jesus fill our hearts, fellow Christians so that we think of Him, as the Jewish remnant is encouraged to do, as Him whom our soul loves? Are we not too apt to be at ease in the rest and peace He has given us, and to forget Him to whom we owe all? Who was it that said, “This do in remembrance of Me?” 1 Corinthians 11:24, 25.
It was love to the Lord that led Mary Magdalene out early on the morning of the first day of the week, while it was yet dark (John 20:1), and kept her at the empty grave (verse 11), while the more privileged John and Peter returned to their home. It was not intelligence in Mary, we may say, but it was love, and love to Christ is of more value to Him, we are persuaded, than intelligence in the things of God, though both assuredly have their place.
So the bride in the Song, like Mary Magdalene, seeks the Object of her affection, and both find Him, though they looked for Him where He was not to be found. Why should the bride here look for Him in the City, in the streets and in the broadways? He is not there. The heavenly stranger finds no welcome in man’s busy world. Has the bride forgotten that He told her (chapter 1, verses 7, 8) of a meeting place the Shepherd has appointed with His flock?
She finds Him, as Mary Magdalene found Him, speedily, because love to Him has its reward. The references to the mother in verses 4 and 11 are to Israel (see Ezekiel 23 and Hosea 2).
The Lord, first delivering the remnant of the Jews from their enemies when He comes again to the world presently, will bring the lost ten tribes back to form again with Judah and Benjamin the nation of Israel (Ezekiel 37). This is the meaning of the bride’s not letting Him go until she has brought Him into her mother’s house, and explains the mother’s afterward crowning Him, the true Solomon of the Song. Then will He be the acknowledged Son of David, King of Israel.
Verse 5 is, as in the corresponding passage of chapter 2 (verse 7), the language of the Bridegroom; He desires rest for His people, and there remains a rest to the people of God (Hebrews 3 and 4; Matthew 11:28, 29). But the present enjoyment of this rest is easily lost”; earthly things coming in destroy the Christian’s communion with the Lord. How careful we should be!
Verse 6 sees the bride coming up from the wilderness which has been her home during the years of persecution, and with her is the King—Bridegroom; this is to be the hope of the Jews while suffering for His sake. The Jew will look for Christ’s coming to the earth, while the Christian’s hope is to be caught up to meet Him in the air, and to share His heavenly home and glory. Each hope will be fulfilled in its own time.
Verse 7. Christ will be the Warrior—King of Israel at the beginning of His reign, and His earthly people will be used in putting down at least one enemy (the Assyrian).
The wood of Lebanon speaks of earthly grandeur; the strong pillars of silver, of redemption; gold, of divine righteousness; purple of wealth and power. These are linked with love from (rather than “for”) the laughter of Jerusalem. (Verse 10).
Go forth, behold Him! is the call to the daughters of Zion,—a term we judge to be applied to those of the remnant most devoted to Christ. What heart can there be that will not then be full to overflowing, as they behold the glory-crowned Victor? And what of our own hearts, today, as we journey toward a more glorious eternity than redeemed Israel’s? Can we join the Christian poet in singing,
“What will it be to dwell above,
And with the Lord of glory reign,
Since the blest knowledge of His love
So brightens all this dreary plain?”
ML 02/05/1933