Matthew Henry Commentary Song Of Solomon 2:14-17

"O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, In the covert of the steep place, Let me see thy countenance, Let me hear thy voice; For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. Take us the foxes, the little foxes, That spoil the vineyards; For our vineyards are in blossom. My beloved is mine, and I am his: He feedeth [his flock] among the lilies. Until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart Upon the mountains of Bether." — Song Of Solomon 2:14-17 (ASV)

The church is Christ's dove; she returns to Him as her Noah. Christ is the Rock, in whom alone she can consider herself safe and find herself at ease, like a dove in the cleft of a rock when attacked by birds of prey. Christ calls her to come boldly to the throne of grace, having a great High Priest there, to state her request. Speak freely; do not fear being slighted or repulsed.

The voice of prayer is sweet and acceptable to God; those who are sanctified possess true beauty. The first stirrings of sinful thoughts and desires, the beginnings of trivial pursuits that waste time, frivolous visits, small departures from truth, and whatever might lead to some conformity with the world; all these, and many more, are the little foxes that must be removed. This is a charge to believers to mortify their sinful appetites and passions, which are like little foxes that destroy their graces and comforts and crush good beginnings.

Whatever we find to be a hindrance to us in what is good, we must put away. He feedeth among the lilies; this shows Christ's gracious presence among believers. He is kind to all His people. It is fitting for them to believe this when experiencing desertion and His absence, and thus to ward off temptations. The shadows of the Jewish dispensation were dispelled by the dawning of the gospel day.

And a day of comfort will come after a night of desertion. Come over the mountains of Bether, "the mountains that divide," looking forward to that day of light and love. Christ will come over every separating mountain to take us home to Himself.