‏ Song of Solomon 5

* Christ's answer. (1) The disappointments of the church from

her own folly. (2-8) The excellences of Christ. (9-16)

1 See how ready Christ is to accept the invitations of his

people. What little good there is in us would be lost, if he did

not preserve it to himself. He also invites his beloved people

to eat and drink abundantly. The ordinances in which they honour

him, are means of grace. 2-8 Churches and believers, by carelessness and security,

provoke Christ to withdraw. We ought to notice our spiritual

slumbers and distempers. Christ knocks to awaken us, knocks by

his word and Spirit, knocks by afflictions and by our

consciences; thus, #Re 3:20|. When we are unmindful of Christ,

still he thinks of us. Christ's love to us should engage ours to

him, even in the most self-denying instances; and we only can be

gainers by it. Careless souls put slights on Jesus Christ.

Another could not be sent to open the door. Christ calls to us,

but we have no mind, or pretend we have no strength, or we have

no time, and think we may be excused. Making excuses is making

light of Christ. Those put contempt upon Christ, who cannot find

in their hearts to bear a cold blast, or to leave a warm bed for

him. See the powerful influences of Divine grace. He put in his

hand to unbolt the door, as one weary of waiting. This betokens

a work of the Spirit upon the soul. The believer's rising above

self-indulgence, seeking by prayer for the consolations of

Christ, and to remove every hinderance to communion with him;

these actings of the soul are represented by the hands dropping

sweet-smelling myrrh upon the handles of the locks. But the

Beloved was gone! By absenting himself, Christ will teach his

people to value his gracious visits more highly. Observe, the

soul still calls Christ her Beloved. Every desertion is not

despair. Lord, I believe, though I must say, Lord, help my

unbelief. His words melted me, yet, wretch that I was, I made

excuses. The smothering and stifling of convictions will be very

bitter to think of, when God opens our eyes. The soul went in

pursuit of him; not only prayed, but used means, sought him in

the ways wherein he used to be found. The watchmen wounded me.

Some refer it to those who misapply the word to awakened

consciences. The charge to the daughters of Jerusalem, seems to

mean the distressed believer's desire of the prayers of the

feeblest Christian. Awakened souls are more sensible of Christ's

withdrawings than of any other trouble. 9-16 Even those who have little acquaintance with Christ,

cannot but see amiable beauty in others who bear his image.

There are hopes of those who begin to inquire concerning Christ

and his perfections. Christians, who are well acquainted with

Christ themselves, should do all they can to make others know

something of him. Divine glory makes him truly lovely in the

eyes of all who are enlightened to discern spiritual things. He

is white in the spotless innocence of his life, ruddy in the

bleeding sufferings he went through at his death. This

description of the person of the Beloved, would form, in the

figurative language of those times, a portrait of beauty of

person and of grace of manners; but the aptness of some of the

allusions may not appear to us. He shall come to be glorified in

his saints, and to be admired in all that believe. May his love

constrain us to live to his glory.