![]() ![]() ![]() Some think that he penned it after he recovered himself by the grace of God from his backslidings, as a further proof of his repentance, and as if by doing good to many with this song he would atone for the hurt he had perhaps done with loose, vain, amorous songs, when he loved many strange wives now he turned his wit the right way. It is not certain when Solomon penned this sacred song. Men of business ought to be devout men, and not to think that business will excuse them from that which is every man's great business-to keep up communion with God. Solomon, as a king, had great affairs to mind and manage, which took up much of his thoughts and time, yet he found heart and leisure for this and other religious exercises. One of Solomon's names was Jedidiah- beloved of the Lord ( 2 Sam 12 25) and none so fit to write of the Lord's love as he that had himself so great an interest in it none of all the apostles wrote so much of love as he that was himself the beloved disciple and lay in Christ's bosom. Solomon, like his father, was addicted to poetry, and, which way soever a man's genius lies, he should endeavor to honour God and edify the church with it. ![]() Solomon's songs were a thousand and five ( 1 Kings 4 32) those that were of other subjects are lost, but this of seraphic love remains, and will to the end of time. It is not the song of fools, as many of the songs of love are, but the song of the wisest of men nor can any man give a better proof of his wisdom than to celebrate the love of God to mankind and to excite his own love to God and that of others with it. The dignity of it it is the song of songs, a most excellent song, not only above any human composition, or above all other songs which Solomon penned, but even above any other of the scripture-songs, as having more of Christ in it. It is evangelical and gospel-times should be times of joy, for gospel-grace puts a new song into our mouths, Ps 98 1. The subject is pleasing, and therefore fit to be treated of in a song, in singing which we may make melody with our hearts unto the Lord. The nature of it it is a song, that it might the better answer the intention, which is to stir up the affections and to heat them, which poetry will be very instrumental to do. We have here the title of this book, showing, 1. Where there is a fire of true love to Christ in the heart this will be of use to blow it up into a flame. The church returns the commendation, ver 16, 17. Christ commends the church's beauty, ver 15. The church expresses the great value she has for Christ, and the delights she takes in communion with him, ver 12-14. Christ, the bridegroom, speaks in answer to the complaints and requests of his spouse, ver 8-11. The bride, the church, speaks to the bridegroom ( ver 2-4), to the daughters of Jerusalem ( ver 5, 6), and then to the bridegroom, ver 7. In this chapter, after the title of the book ( ver 1), we have Christ and his church, Christ and a believer, expressing their esteem for each other. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |