Matthew 3:17 “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Song of Solomon 2:16 “My beloved mine, and I his: he feedeth among the lilies.” The Father, also, spoke of Jesus as “My beloved”. This is what the Christians call Christ, as in the following Scripture. It is also a song of loves, which speaks of Christ and His kingdom. (Psalms chapter 45), is a companion to this book. For which reason, some of the ancient Hebrews advised young men to forbear the reading of it, till they were thirty years old. The truth is, this book requires a sober and God fearing reader (not one that was foolish and having an offensive sexual desire). Nor is it the worse because profane and wanton wits abuse it, and endeavor to fasten their absurd and filthy senses upon some passages in it. Most sweet, and comfortable, and useful to all that read it with serious Christian eyes. Most spiritual and causing feelings of sadness, breathing forth the hottest flames of love between Christ and his people. Containing in it the greatest and noblest of all the mysteries contained either in the Old or the New Testament. Or the matter of it, which is loftiest and mysterious. Or the subject of it, which is not Solomon, but a greater than Solomon, even Christ, and his marriage with the church, as hath been noted. Who was a great prince, and the wisest of all mortal men, with only the two Adams excepted. And so, this might well be called, whether you consider the author of it. And the highest King is called King of kings and there are multitudes of such instances, as hath been often observed. So, this Hebrew phrase is understood in other cases, as the Holy of Holies signifies the Most Holy. “The song of songs” whether composed by profane or sacred authors, by Solomon or by any other. The church’s commendation of Christ, both for the sweetness of fellowship with him, and the excellency of ordinances (1:12-17). He showed his love to her both for her strength and comeliness (1:9-10), and gives her gracious promises (1:11). A confession of her deformity and prays for direction (1:5-7). A description of the earnest longing of the church after Christ, verses (1:1-4). The peaceful reign of Solomon, after all enemies had been subdued, represents the Church in heaven, of which joy the Song gives a foretaste. The camp in the wilderness represents the Church in the world. Aaron prefigured Him as priest Moses, as prophet David, as a suffering king Solomon, as the triumphant prince of peace. He and she, the Head and the members, form but one Christ. Though the bride bears the chief part, the Song throughout is not hers, but that of her “Solomon.” He animates her. The earthly Solomon is not introduced, which would break the consistency of the allegory. Not because Solomon had not yet ascended the throne, but because his personality is hidden under that of Christ, the true Solomon (equivalent to Prince of Peace). Solomon’s description “King of Israel,” or “Jerusalem,” is not added, as in the opening of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. A foretaste on earth of the “new song” to be sung in glory (Rev. “The song of songs”: The most excellent of all songs, Hebrew idiom (Exodus 29:37 Deut.
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