Matthew Henry Commentary Song Of Solomon 8:5-7

"Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple-tree I awakened thee: There thy mother was in travail with thee, There was she in travail that brought thee forth. Set me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as Sheol; The flashes thereof are flashes of fire, A very flame of Jehovah. Many waters cannot quench love, Neither can floods drown it: If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, He would utterly be contemned." — Song Of Solomon 8:5-7 (ASV)

The Jewish church came up from the wilderness, supported by Divine power and favor. The Christian church was raised from a low, desolate condition by the grace of Christ relied upon. Believers, by the power of grace, are brought up from the wilderness. A sinful state is a wilderness in which there is no true comfort; it is a wandering state, a state of want. There is no coming out of this wilderness but by leaning on Christ as our Beloved, by faith; not leaning on our own understanding, nor trusting in any righteousness of our own, but in the strength of him who is the Lord our Righteousness.

The words of the church to Christ which follow entreat an abiding place in his love and protection by his power: Set me as a seal upon thine heart; let me always have a place in your heart; let me have an impression of love upon your heart. Of this the soul would be assured, and without a sense of it, no rest is to be found. Those who truly love Christ are jealous of everything that would draw them from him, especially of themselves, lest they do anything to provoke him to withdraw from them.

If we love Christ, the fear of coming short of his love, or the temptations to forsake him, will be most painful to us. No waters can quench Christ's love to us, nor any floods drown it. Let nothing diminish our love for him. Nor will life, and all its comforts, entice a believer from loving Christ. Love of Christ, will enable us to repel and triumph over temptations from the smiles of the world, as well as from its frowns.