Song of Solomon 8 - William Robertson Nicoll's Sermon BibleSong of Solomon 8
Song of Solomon 8:1O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised. Song of Solomon 8:13-14 I. Notice the title by which the Church is addressed. "Thou that dwellest in the gardens." (1) A garden is an enclosed space taken from the surrounding uncultivated waste—connected with it, but yet not of it; separated and distinct from all around. Is not this true of the Church of the Redeemer? (2) A garden is designed for a special and peculiar purpose. So it is with the Church of the Redeemer. God has a special design to carry out in those whom He calls to be members of the mystical body of Christ: they have been redeemed from iniquity that they should be a peculiar people to show forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into His marvellous light. (3) We generally find that a garden is protected or defended by a wall or fence against the intrusion of those who would enter to steal or injure. So it is with the Church: it is guarded by all the Divine attributes; it is defended by the Almighty power of God. (4) The productions of a garden are not such as naturally grow or spring up of themselves. Does not this apply to the soil of the human heart? (5) We have in a garden great variety. So with the Church of the Redeemer. The gifts of God are different, and the callings of God are different. II. Look next at our Lord's address to the Church (Song of Solomon 8:13). "The companions hearken to Thy voice." This presupposes that amongst all true disciples of Christ there is mutual intercourse or fellowship, that they converse one with another on the things which belong to their everlasting peace. The warning is that we must never allow fellowship one with another to supersede fellowship with Christ Himself. III. Notice the response which the Church makes to this address. "Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices." These words are to be regarded as a prayer for the return of the Saviour, and there are three senses in which we may understand this as a prayer for the coming of Christ: (1) It may be a prayer of the believer for the coming of Christ in the fuller revelation of Himself to His own soul; (2) we may understand this as a prayer for Christ's return to His Church; (3) we may understand it as a prayer for the coming of Christ in His glory. E. Bickersteth, Penny Pulpit, No. 438. References: Song of Solomon 8:13, Song of Solomon 8:14.—J. M. Neale, Sermons on the Song of Songs, p. 374; R. M. McCheyne, Additional Remains, p. 210. Song of Solomon 8:2I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate. Song of Solomon 8:3His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me. Song of Solomon 8:4I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please. Song of Solomon 8:5Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee. Song of Solomon 8:6Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Song of Solomon 8:7Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. Song of Solomon 8:8We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? Song of Solomon 8:9If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. Song of Solomon 8:10I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour. Song of Solomon 8:11Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. Song of Solomon 8:12My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred. Song of Solomon 8:13Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it. Song of Solomon 8:14Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices. |
William Robertson Nicoll's Sermon Bible