Matthew Henry Commentary Song of Solomon 6
Matthew Henry Commentary
Song of Solomon 6
Matthew Henry Commentary
Song of Solomon 6
"Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Whither hath thy beloved turned him, That we may seek him with thee?" — Song of Solomon 6:1 (ASV)
Those who become acquainted with the excellencies of Christ, and the comfort of an interest in him, desire to know where they can meet him. Those who wish to find Christ must seek him early and diligently.
Song of Solomon 6:2–3 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 wish to find Christ must meet him in his ordinances: the word, sacraments, and prayer.
When Christ comes to his church, it is to welcome his friends and to take believers to himself. He picks the lilies one by one; and at the great day he will send out his angels to gather all his lilies, so that he may be forever admired in them.
The death of a believer is no more than the owner of a garden plucking a favorite flower; and He will preserve it from withering, indeed, cause it to flourish forever with increasing beauty.
If our own hearts can witness for us that we are Christ's, do not question that he is 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.
"Thou art fair, O my love, as Tirzah, Comely as Jerusalem, Terrible as an army with banners. Turn away thine eyes from me, For they have overcome me. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, That lie along the side of Gilead. Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes, Which are come up from the washing; Whereof every one hath twins, And none is bereaved among them. Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate Behind thy veil. There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins without number. My dove, my undefiled, is [but] one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed; [Yea], the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, Fair as the moon, Clear as the sun, Terrible as an army with banners?" — Song of Solomon 6:4-10 (ASV)
All the real excellence and holiness on earth center 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, emerge 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.
"I went down into the garden of nuts, To see the green plants of the valley, To see whether the vine budded, [And] the pomegranates were in flower. Before I was aware, my soul set me [Among] the chariots of my princely people. Return, return, O Shulammite; Return, return, that we may look upon thee. Why will ye look upon the Shulammite, As upon the dance of Mahanaim?" — Song of Solomon 6:11-13 (ASV)
In retirement and in meditation, the Christian character is formed and perfected. But this is not the retirement of the idle, the self-indulgent, or the frivolous person. 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 significant concerns and activities of the one whom the world wrongly considers 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 honor him. However, this reference may primarily be to the ministering angels who will be sent for the soul of the Christian.
Their approach may startle, but the departing soul will find the Lord its strength and its portion forever. 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 to her by his Spirit.
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