Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Song of Songs
Book: Song of Songs
Chapter: 6
Overview:
Inquiry where
Christ must be sought.
(1) Where
Christ may be
found.
(2,3) Christ's commendations of the
Church.
(4-10) The
work of
Grace in the believer.
(11-13)
1 Those made acquainted with the excellences of
Christ, and the
comfort of an interest in him, desire to know where they may
meet him. Those who would find
Christ, must seek him early and
diligently.
2,3 Christ's
Church is a garden, enclosed, and separated from
the world; he takes care of it, delights in it, and visits it.
Those who would find
Christ, must attend him in his ordinances,
the
Word, sacraments, and
Prayer. When
Christ comes to his
Church, it is to
Entertain his friends. And to take believers to
himself: he picks the lilies one
By one; and at the great
Day he
will send forth his angels to gather all his lilies, that he may
be for ever admired in them. The
Death of a believer is not more
than the owner of a garden plucking a favourite flower; and He
will preserve it from withering, yea, cause it to flourish for
ever, with increasing beauty. If our own hearts can
Witness for
us that we are
Christ's, question not his being ours, for the
Covenant never breaks
On his side. It is the comfort of the
Church, that he feeds among the lilies, that he takes delight in
his people.
4-10 All the real excellence and
Holiness On Earth centre in
the
Church.
Christ goes forth subduing his enemies, while his
followers gain victories over the world, the
Flesh, and the
Devil. He shows the tenderness of a
Redeemer, the delight he
takes in his redeemed people, and the workings of his own
Grace
in them. True believers alone can possess the beauty of
Holiness. And when their real character is known, it will be
commended. Both the
Church and believers, at their first
Conversion, look forth as the morning, their
Light being small,
but increasing. As to their
Sanctification, they are fair as the
Moon, deriving all their
Light,
Grace, and
Holiness from
Christ;
and as to
Justification, clear as the
Sun, clothed with
Christ,
the
Sun of
Righteousness, and fighting the good fight of
Faith,
under the banners of
Christ, against all spiritual enemies.
11-13 In retirement and in meditation the
Christian character
is formed and perfected. But not in the retirement of the idle,
the self-indulgent, or the trifler. When the
Christian is
released from the discharge of his duties in
Life, the world has
No attractions for him. His
Prayer is, that all things belonging
to the
Spirit may live and grow within him, and around him. Such
are the interesting cares and employments of him whom the world
wrongly deems unhappy, and lost to his true interests. In
Humility and self-abasement, the humble
Christian would turn
away from the sight of all; but the
Lord delights to honour him.
Chiefly, however, may the reference be to the ministering angels
who shall be sent for the soul of the
Christian. Their approach
may startle, but the departing soul shall find the
Lord its
strength and its portion for ever. The
Church is called the
Shulamite: the
Word signifies
Perfection and peace; not in
herself, but in
Christ, in whom she is complete, through his
Righteousness; and has peace, which he made for her through his
Blood, and gives unto her
By his
Spirit.