Canticles 1:1-8

Ver. 1: “The song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.”

Solomon a type of Christ. This “song of songs” is Christ’s song, the song which He puts into the hearts and lips of His children. Contrast with the “vanity of vanities” in Ecclesiastes. This song is also a type of the “new song.” Christ’s children are His bride, even if ever so weak and unworthy.

Ver. 2: “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth.”

Kiss the token of love. “Mouth”; this gives a clue to the meaning of “grace is poured into thy lips” (Ps. xlv. 2); and “the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke iv. 22). Applied to our own hearts He says, “I will speak comfortably (margin) to her heart” (Hos. ii. 14). Have we experience of this, His words coming sweetly to our hearts? If so, we have had the “kisses of His mouth.” If not, “oh taste and see”; “incline your ear”; “watch to see what He will say” (I lab. ii. 1); and then say, “M ister, say on.”

“For Thy love is better than wine” (ver. 2).

“Wine” is the symbol of all earthly refreshment and joy. Jesus gives the new wine of His love, and says, “Drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved” (Cant. v. i); “Yea, come, buy wine and milk” (Isa. lv. i).

Ver. 3: “Because of the savor of Thy good ointments Thy name is as ointment poured forth.”

. Let us begin with the second clause, “Thy name.” How sweet the name which is above every name, Jesus (Phil. ii. 9). “Ointment”: “the house was filled with the odor of the ointment” (John xii. 3). Oriental odors surpassingly fragrant. Appeal to you who really love the Lord Jesus; does not His very name bring a thrill, a fragrance? Jesus! If His name is in our hearts, its fragrance should fill the house. Sometimes this is not till the box is broken-, many tongues not loosed till dying. But why thus? Why not, if we have the ointment, pour it out now, and be living witnesses, not waiting to be dying witnesses, for Him. Let others take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus (Acts iv. 13).

What is His name? “Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” (Isa. ix. 6).

134 GLEAMS FROM THE KINGS WOTtD.

“Because of”; because not merely ointments poured forth, but the unfailing supply within. O name of infinite sweetness! Ointments denote its manifold preciousness. Perhaps we first come to love Christ for what He has done, for the pouring forth of the ointment; but then we go on to love Him for what He is, to rejoice in the ever unfolding sweetnesses of His perfections (i Pet. ii. 7).

11 Therefore do the virgins love Thee.” Because He is zvhat He is, so full of infinite sweetness and beauty and love and grace (Zech. ix. 17). “Love Thee.” Do w How worthy Jesus is of our love, of our desire to love Him. If we can’t yet say, “Lord, Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest that I love Thee” (John xxi. 17), can we say “the desire of our soul is to Thy name,” and “to the remembrance of Thee” (Isa. xxvi. 8)? If so, be encouraged, for “He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him” (Ps. cxlv. 19). The promise is to them that/mr, not even love.

Ver. 4: “Draw me, we will run after Thee: the King hath brought me into His chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in Thee, we will remember Thy love more than wine: the upright love Thee.”

“Draw me.” The more we find our utter helplessness, the more we find His strength and sufficiency. His “drawing” always comes before our “coming”; our cry to Him only the echo of His still, small voice (John vi. 44). It is a great mistake to think this great truth a reason for despair — it is reason for hope and confidence. If we have any desire, He gave it, and that is His drawing. Now — don’t check and stifle His drawing; yield — run.

“Drawing” is the token of everlasting love (Jer. xxxi. 3). We desire because He draws; He draws because He loves. But let us “run,” “press,” “strive.” No sauntering (1 Cor. ix. 24). “We will run”: resolution, will, energy. Perhaps we feel we have no will, no energy; see how we need all from Him. If we have it, He gave it; if we have it not, we can only get it from Himself. Sweet paradox, in such running there is rest.

” Draw me, we will run. “We should not come alone, but when “drawn” seek to win others. “After Thee.” The secret of true running the heavenly race after Jesus is following close in heart, keeping near, abiding in Him, and also following His steps (1 Pet. ii. 21). Our collect well expresses this, “daily endeavor ourselves to follow the blessed steps of His most holy life.” It is not running after anything or any one else, but Jesus only — “after Thee.”

“The King hath brought me into His chambers.” What is this? His dwelling place, His pavilion, the secret of His tabernacle, the secret of His presence (Ps. xc. 1; xxvii. 5. xxxi. 20; xxv. 14). This is no dream, but a reality. There is a “secret of His presence,” into which He brings His children. Not at first perhaps, but by degrees. “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now” (John xvi. 12).

We could not explain it to another, what it is to feel Jesus near, to feel that we are brought into His chambers, but it is real, and unutterably sweet. It is such shelter in trouble, and such added sweetness in joy. What treasures of happiness are ready for us if we will but come to Jesus! “We will rejoice,” etc. We shall if He thus brings us (Ps. xlv. 15).

“We will remember.” How often forget! Contrast Isa. xlix. 15. Fulness of theme. We may remember part and yet forget the rest, love resolving and redeeming — living and dying. Let us try to remember and say Isa. xxvi. 8. Remember also experience of love — treasure it up for dark days. Communion Service: “To the end that we should always remember the exceeding great love of our Master and only Saviour Jesus Christ “; and He meets us in remembrance (Isa. lxiv. 5).

1 ‘The upright love Thee. “Illustrate. Would it be “upright” if one entered service, were living and receiving wages, etc., and yet did nothing? If we profess to serve Christ, it is not “upright” if we do nothing for Him. Secret of lack of love, we mourn over coldness, then up and work for Jesus.

Ver. 5: “Black, but comely. “’ ( Black” (Isa. lxiv. 6; Rom. iii. 23, vii. 18). Can’t see this but with opened eyes; the more light, the more we see the darkness. First we only mark sins of act, then word, thought, motive, feeling, then the whole array of uncountable omissions, the good we might have done and did not; then we resolve and try and fail, and find the utter sinfulness of jwhich all this is only the fruit. If we saw it all at o?ice we should be overwhelmed.

“But comely!” How? (Ezek. xvi. 14.) “My comeliness which I had put upon thee.”

Eph. v. 26, 27: church composed of individuals. “Tents and curtains.” Explain simile. “And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us” (Ps. xc. 17). But how shall we have this beauty? “Even the righteousness of God,” etc. (Rom. iii. 22.) Do you believe? Ask your own hearts nozv, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” Then it is upon you, even if never realized before; you are justified and clothed in His beauty. Do not think it matters not; you can stand in nothing else before God. (Matt. xxii. 11-13.)

Ver. 6: “Look not upon me” but “Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of Thine Anointed” (Ps. lxxxiv. 9). God seeing us in Christ our representative. “The sun” throwing light upon it. Is it so with us? Backsliding, yielding under the hot sun of temptation or persecution? Then plead this verse.

“My mother’s children were angry with me,” i.e. earth’s “children of this world” angry. This should not discourage, because our Father and His children will not be angry.

“Made me keeper,” e.g. Sunday-school teachers; apply and appeal to them; only in cultivating our own vineyard are we likely to keep others’. But not only to keepers of other vineyards this applies; “mine own vineyard” applies to all, each has a vineyard which should bring forth fruit unto God. (Hos. x. 1.)

Ver. 7: “Tell me, O Thou whom my soul loveth, where Thou feedest, where Thou makest Thy flock to rest at noon; for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of Thy companions?” Our “tell me” always the echo of His whisper, “I have somewhat to say unto thee.”

1 ‘Oh Thou whom my soul loveth “comes after “we will remember.” Love of longing, not yet of nearness. Proof of love is the desire of nearness. There are three desires here: 1st, “tell me where”; 2nd, food (Matt. v. 6); 3rd, rest. At noon heat, weariness. Mark, not rest at night. Some one told me,” we must look forward for rest, “but no, rest now,” at noon.” With most of you it is now morning, but quickly morning rises into noon, and sooner or later you will crave rest. (Ps. xxiii. 2.) (Job xxxv. 29.) (Isa. xxvi. 3, 12.) (Matt. xi. 28.) Only “Thou,” no other can make. “Makest” — sometimes He makes us weary first (Job xvi. 7), that He may win us to rest.

1 ‘Why should I be, “in the margin” is veiled.” Idea here is threefold.

(1) The bride was veiled when in the presence of strangers, orientals only unveiling at home and in the presence of most intimate friends.

(2) Veil is the token of distance, restraint, separation; contrast this with Christian communion.

(3) Veil the token of dim vision, veils and dimness constantly go together. Contrast, when the veil shall be taken away (2 Cor. iii. 16-18). From the veiled to veilless vision.

“Flocks of Thy companions.” Wonderful
title! See also John xv. 15.

Ver. 8: Gentle rebuke implied, why do we not know? The Holy Spirit is promised to show all things, to teach all things, to guide into all truth.

“OThou fairest.” Compare chap. ii. ic, 14, and iv. 1, 8; Eph. v. 27. “Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock.”

Our church services are often undervalued, they are the footsteps of Christ’s flock for centuries back. The Te Deum and Communion Service are glorious echoes of the church militant. Distinct blessing on Christian intercourse. (Mai. iii. 16; Luke xxiv. 14, 15.)

Memoirs often a help, tracing the footsteps of others.

One path trodden by all the flock, prayer; they “come boldly unto the throne of grace.” ( Unfinished. )