The Song of Solomon, though in the form of an oriental
love song, is really an allegorical representation of the mutual
love of Christ and the Church. R1517:4
Outline for study of the book. R4232*
Song of songs -- Harmony of harmonies. R4232:1*,
R1517:4
Although Solomon's songs were 1005 (1 Kings 4:32) they
were not all deemed of the Lord worthy of preservation as a
portion of the sacred Scriptures. R2053:4
The figurative expressions of Solomon's Song should not be
allowed to exercise fanciful impressions upon our minds of
physical or sensuous manifestations of our heavenly
Bridegroom's love and care. R4562:2*
Which Is Solomon's -- Type of Christ in glory, as David
was a type of Christ in the flesh. R4232:1*
Let him kiss me -- A form of salutation which has always
signified closest fellowship. R4232:1*
With the kisses -- The oft repeated endearments.
R4232:1*
Of his mouth -- Full heart recognition of the exceeding
great and precious promises and their application to oneself.
R4562:2*
Does not indicate a physical manifestation of Christ's care.
R4562:2*
Of his Word, the Scriptures. R4232:1*
For thy love -- Thy caresses, the repeated assurances of
guidance, protection, companionship, love and care.
R4232:1*
Is better than wine --Symbol of doctrine. R5633:2,
R4232:1*
The Lord's assurances of love are even more precious to the
Church than are the precious doctrines so vital to her
happiness. R4232:1*
Because of the savour -- Sweet perfume. R4232:2*
Good ointments -- The holy Spirit, composed of myrrh
(wisdom), cinnamon (understanding), calamus (knowledge),
cassia (deputyship), the holy anointing oil of the priesthood.
R4232:2*
Thy name -- Christ, which means "anointed." R4232:2*
Is as ointment -- Symbol of the holy Spirit. T37
Poured forth -- At his baptism, upon the Head; at
Pentecost, on the Body. R4232:2*
Therefore -- Because of their admiration and appreciation
of Christ's holy Spirit. R4232:2*
Do the virgins -- The pure in heart. R4232:2*
Love thee -- Seek fellowship with thee, aspire to learn of
thee, to cultivate thy graces, to be near thee. R4232:2*
Draw me -- "No man can come to me except the Father
draw him." (John 6:44) R4232:2*
We will run -- Run with patience the race set before us;
run for the prize (Heb. 12:1); so run that we may obtain.
R4232:2*
After thee -- The forerunner, the Head, that in all things he
might have the preeminence. (Col. 1:18) R4232:3*
The king -- The Lord Jesus, typified by Solomon.
R4232:3*
Hath brought me -- Even in the present life. R4232:3*
Into his chambers -- Into the "Holy," the spirit-begotten
condition. R4232:3*
We will be glad -- "Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye
righteous." (Psa. 32:11) R4232:4*
And rejoice in thee -- "And again I say, rejoice." (Phil.
4:4) R4232:4*
We will remember -- Will meditate upon, think of.
R4232:4*
Thy love -- Thy caresses, assurances of guidance,
protection, companionship, love and care. R4232:4*
More than wine -- More even than the doctrines so
precious to us. R4232:4*
The upright -- Those without deceit, the guileless, the
pure-hearted. R4232:4*
Love thee -- Seek fellowship with thee, aspire to learn of
thee, to cultivate thy graces, to be near thee. R4232:4*
1 am black -- The Ethiopian eunuch to whom Philip was
sent was a black man. (Acts 8:27) The Queen of Sheba is
presumed to have been a Negress. R3043:1; HG508:4
The bride of Moses, Zipporah, type of the Bride of Christ,
was an Ethiopian woman. R4232:4*
But comely -- The King's daughter is all glorious within
(Psa. 45:13); her intentions are pure, spotless in God's sight.
R4232:4*
O ye daughters -- Professed children. R4232:4*
Of Jerusalem -- Symbol of the Kingdom of God. A296;
R4232:5*
Tents of Kedar -- Kedar was one of the children of
Ishmael. Their tents, though outwardly weather beaten, were
often extremely luxurious inside, being hung with costly
tapestries. R4232:5*
Curtains -- Between the Holy and the Most Holy.
R4232:5*
Of Solomon -- Of Solomon's Temple. A similar one in
Herod's Temple was a most wonderful curtain, being some 30
feet long, 15 feet wide and 5 inches thick. R4232:5*
Look not upon me -- "Look not so upon me" (Leeser); the
Church kindly expostulates with her critics. R4232:5*
Because I am black -- "Because I am somewhat black"
(Leeser). The Church does not deny her imperfections, but is
not disposed to admit the contentions of her faultfinders that
she is altogether worthless. R4232:5*
Because the sun -- The searching light of the true Gospel
which exposes every defect. R4232:5*
Hath looked upon me --Judgment must begin at the house
of God. God's Word fearlessly exposes the weaknesses of
every noble character whose life is there recorded. R4232:5*
That is to say, the sun hath made me black. HG509:5
My mother's children -- Sitting and speaking against their
brother, their own mother's son. R4232:5*
Were angry with me -- "The brother shall betray the
brother to death." (Matt. 10:21) R4232:6*
"Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my
name's sake." (Isa. 66:5) R4232:6*
They made me -- Elected me, appointed me. R4232:6*
Keeper -- Class leader, Sunday School teacher, etc.
R4232:6*
Of the vineyards -- Sunday Schools, Christian Endeavor
Societies, etc. R4232:6*
But mine own vineyard -- The cultivation of the true vine.
"I am the vine, ye are the branches. " (John 15:1) R4232:6*
Have I not kept -- Because my Father is the husbandman.
(John 15:1) R4232:6*
My soul -- Being's affections. R205:3
Borders of gold -- Symbol of the divine nature. T18
With studs of silver -- Symbol of truth. T114
A bundle of myrrh -- Symbol of wisdom. R4093:2*
Are cedar -- An everlasting tree, symbol of everlasting
life. T109; R1364:5
And his fruit -- Symbol of the fruits of the spirit. E206
Banqueting house -- "He shall gird himself, and make
them to sit down to meat" at his second advent. (Luke 12:37)
D612
More truth is now due than at any time in the history of the
Church. R5501:4
Upon the mountains -- Kingdoms. A318
Upon the hills -- The less autocratic governments. D551
The fig tree -- Symbol of the Jewish nation. D604
Putteth forth ... figs -- Not only do we recognize that the
restoration of the Jews is at hand, but also that the Kingdom
of God is nigh. R127:5*
The tender grape -- Mature fruits of character. A mark of
ripe fruit is tenderness. E206; R1317:5*
O my dove -- A dove-like character. R3759:5*
Pure, harmless, gentle, defenseless, helpless, timid: its only
safety being in flight. R3759:2*
Clefts of the rock -- The Rock of Ages. R3759:5*
Secret places -- Immanuel is the secret of the stairs.
R3759:5*
Take us -- Help us to catch. R5886:2
The foxes -- Very cunning, not capable of ferocity and
viciousness, but is nevertheless cause of much harm. An
appearance of docility makes it more dangerous, less likely to
arouse suspicion of its evil intentions. R5886:2
Little foxes -- King Solomon seems to be picturing the
depravities of our fallen nature which are not so extreme, but
very harmful. R5886:2
Little sins which are really more dangerous than grosser sins
because we are less likely to be on guard against them.
R5886:3
Careless, thoughtless, impatient words; little grumblings; a
sarcastic word or laugh or look or shrug. R5886:6
Spoil the vines -- Small sins, as little foxes, tear the
branches and gnaw at the roots of the spiritual vine,
endangering its very life. R5886:3
Tender -- As grapes during the formative period are
exceeding tender, so the Spirit's fruitage in immature
Christians may be easily ruined. How careful should we be to
guard words and conduct in the presence of the younger and
less mature. R5886:5
Grapes -- Represent the fruits of the holy Spirit. R5886:3
Feedeth among the lilies -- Lilies are fit emblems of those
who dwell in God and abide in Christ Jesus. R843:2*
Enjoying present fellowship. R303:2*
The Bridegroom himself feels the loneliness of the night.
R303:4*
Until the day -- The Millennial day. R303:2*
Shadows flee away -- The Bride anticipates the morning of
fuller joy, even while enjoying present fellowship. R303:2*
Be thou like a roe -- Christ Jesus. She pleads with him
not to tarry. R303:2*
Perfumed with myrrh -- Symbol of wisdom. R4093:2*
And frankincense -- Representing praise. R3703:4
Signifies "to be white or to make white." It tells of the
relationship between the Bridegroom and the Bride. R84:5*
King Solomon -- Type of Christ. R1517:2; A79
Christ, Head and Body. B255
Of silver -- Symbol of truth. T114
Of gold -- Symbol of the divine nature. T18
Of purple -- Symbol of royalty. T34
Of Jerusalem -- Symbol of the Kingdom of God. A296
Thou art fair -- Possessing the ornament of a meek and
quiet spirit, faith and love, we are lovely in the eyes of our
Beloved. R5862:6
Of scarlet -- Symbol of the redemption from the Adamic
curse through the blood of the ransom of Christ. T34, T109
Until the day break -- The Millennial day. The
Bridegroom, feeling the loneliness of the night, longs, like the
Bride, for the day. R303:2*
I -- Christ Jesus. R303:2*
Get me to the mountain -- To enjoy the freshest odors and
to catch the earliest gleams of dawn. R303:4*
Of myrrh -- Symbol of wisdom. R4093:2*
To the hill -- On that hill let us meet him in faith and
watch with him in hope. R303:4*
Of frankincense -- Symbol of praise. R3703:4
Showing the relationship between the Bridegroom and the
Bride. R84:5*
Than wine -- Symbol of doctrine. R3962:4
Of thine ointments -- Symbol of the holy Spirit. T37
The holy anointing oil, the holy Spirit. R4232:2*
And milk -- Food for spiritual babes. A24; D577
Of pomegranates -- Symbol of the rich fruitage of Christ's
redemptive work. T30
With pleasant fruits -- Symbol of the fruits of the spirit.
E206
Calamus -- Symbol of knowledge which we receive from
God's Word. R4093:1*
And cinnamon -- Symbol of our understanding of the
knowledge which we receive from God's Word. R4093:1*
Trees of frankincense -- Representing praise, heart
adoration. R3703:4
Myrrh -- Symbol of wisdom. R4093:2*
A fountain -- Symbol of the Word of God. B266; R565:1
Of living waters -- Symbol of truth. C65
North wind -- An unseen force. A wind of sorrow,
trouble, disagreeableness. R4249:4*, R5815:2*
Come, thou south -- A wind of pleasantness, joy, peace,
etc. R4249:4*, R5815:2*
Blow upon -- Actuate. Let the joys and sorrows try the
Church to demonstrate which is true and which is false.
R4249:4*
My garden -- The great mass of nominal Christianity,
including the true Church. R4249:4*
Spices thereof may flow -- That the graces of the spirit
may become manifest. R4249:4*
I am come into -- The Lord, speaking after his return.
R4249:4*
My garden -- That aggregation of individuals which
contains both the sister class and the spouse class. R4249:4*
My sister -- Foolish virgins, the Great Company.
R4249:4*
My spouse -- Wise virgins, eventually to be the Lamb's
wife. R4249:4*
Gathered my myrrh -- Symbol of wisdom. R4093:2*
Have drunk my wine -- Spirit of the Lord, truth,
righteousness, sound mind. R3962:6
Under the influence of which men are heard for their much
speaking. R4249:4*
With my milk -- Symbol of food for spiritual babes. A24;
D577
"The sincere milk of the Word." (1 Pet. 2:2) R4249:4*
Eat, O friends; drink -- Reverently, devotedly,
thoughtfully, prayerfully, tearfully perhaps; as we think of our
Redeemer's love and sacrifice. R1505:1, R2436:6
I sleep -- The great body of nominal Christendom would
be asleep when the Lord would come. R4249:5*
My heart waketh -- The Little Flock, the wise virgins,
would be awake. R4249:5*
Voice of my beloved -- Christ, at the second advent.
R506:1*
That knocketh -- "Behold I stand at the door and knock."
(Rev. 3:20) R506:1*, R505:6*
Open to me -- The door of the heart, and admit the Lord to
govern every action, word and thought. R4249:5*
My dove -- Symbol of peace and purity. E212
Have put off my coat -- Failed to recognize the necessity
of the robe of Christ's righteousness and esteemed it lightly.
R4249:5*
Sweet smelling myrrh -- Symbol of wisdom. R4093:2*
Had withdrawn himself -- The foolish virgins realized
that the thing for which they had been praying for 1800 years
was to be consummated. R4249:5*
Went about the city -- Babylon, Christendom. D527
Smote me -- The zeal of the foolish virgins was aroused to
the extent of suffering bitter persecution. R4249:5*
Of the walls -- Symbol of civil powers that defend
Babylon. D40
Daughters of Jerusalem -- Professed children of the
Kingdom. R4232:5*
The foolish virgins finally succeed in interesting the Jews in
the message of the gospel. R4249:5*
Chiefest among 10,000 -- In the eyes of the Bride, the
Church; to those whose eyes are opened. F74; R1063:2*
The most fine gold -- Symbol of the divine nature. T18
Of waters -- Symbol of truth. C65
Washed with milk -- Symbol of foundation truths. (Heb.
5:12) A24; D577
Sweet smelling myrrh -- Symbol of wisdom. R4093:2*
As the cedars -- Symbol of everlasting human life. T109
His mouth -- Utterance. B305
Altogether lovely -- Is Christ in the eyes of his Church, yet
to the sinful, envious, hateful heart of the fallen man "There
is no beauty in him." (Isa. 53:2) E161, E162; R1063:2*
This is my friend -- The chiefest of all heavenly treasures
is the personal love and friendship of Christ. R1820:3
I am my beloved's -- The Bride rejoices in the
Bridegroom's assured love, and her desires and longings are
not questionings as to the relationship in which she stands to
him, which is to her a settled thing. R303:2*
Only a few will be able to say this. This union with the
Beloved (Christ) implies that the step of justification through
repentance and faith in the precious blood has first taken
place. R4783:5
A positive compact or contract with Christ is implied.
R4783:5
There is no possibility for any to get into this elect class
without knowing it. R4783:5
My beloved is mine -- So long as we continue to be
faithful. "He that hath the son hath life"--eternal life. (1 John
5:12) R4784:1
Those who have Christ are really possessors of "all things."
(1 Cor. 3:22, 23) R4784:1
The Bridegroom's care, provision, protection and comfort
belong to the betrothed even now. R4784:2
My dove -- Symbol of peace and purity. E212
She is the only one -- There is but one Bride of Christ.
R4655:1
As the morning -- Symbol of the Millennial age. A9;
E359
Fair as the moon -- Symbol of the Law in Matt. 24 and
Rev. 12. R499:4; D590
Clear as the sun -- Symbol of the gospel light, the truth, in
Matt. 24 and Rev. 12. R499:4; D590
With banners -- Symbol of the standard of the truth in
Isa. 13:1, 2. D40
To see the fruits -- Symbol of the fruits of the spirit. E206
The pomegranates -- Symbol of the fruitage of redemptive
work. T30
Of wheat -- True children of the Kingdom. C140
Like the best wine -- See comments on Song of Solomon
1:2.
The tender grape -- Symbol of mature fruits of character,
marked by tenderness. E206; R1317:5*
The pomegranates -- Symbol of the fruitage of Christ's
redemptive work. T30
Of spiced wine -- Symbol of doctrine. R5633:2
See comments on Song of Solomon 1:2.
Of my pomegranate -- Symbol of the fruitage of Christ's
redemptive work. T30
Of Jerusalem -- Symbol of the Kingdom of God. A296
Who is this -- The true Church, the protesting Church of
God. R1841:6; SM126:1; C65
That cometh up -- Cometh forth into prominence. C65
In God's due time his Church emerged from the wilderness.
R5501:2
Shortly to come from the wilderness. SM126:1
From the wilderness -- At the end of the 1260 years of
wilderness hiding and Papal supremacy, from AD 539 to
1799. C65
The true Church is the Church in the wilderness--separate
from the world. R1841:6
Upon her beloved -- The arm of her beloved, the Word of
God. C65
As a seal -- Or signet, the emblem of power and authority;
symbol of that which was most highly esteemed. R360:4*
Jealousy -- Jealousy of another is always an evil quality, a
most vicious kind of cruelty, unreasoning and insatiable.
Signifies either apprehension of being displaced in the
affections of another or of being outdone by a rival. It is
closely allied to hatred, malice, envy, strife. R4789:1
To the extent that its presence has defiled the heart a
cleansing should be invoked. R4789:2
When the Lord announces himself as a "jealous God" it is not
to be considered selfishness, rather he wants all of our
affections, confidence and entire trust, for our own good.
R4789:2
Jealousy in the Lord's cause is different from jealousy in our
own interest. R4789:5
We must be sure that it is not jealousy of another, but
jealousy for another. R4789:5
Cruel as the grave -- Sheol, oblivion, which engulfs all
mankind. E368; R828:5, R2600:2, R4789:1
The Bible plainly states that death is an enemy. SM116:2
It is not only a cruel monster of itself, but its poisonous fangs
are almost certain to inflict pain and trouble upon others.
R4789:2
Make haste -- The Bride pleads with the Bridegroom not
to tarry. R303:2*
Like to a roe -- The Bride's eyes "are toward the hills"
over which she expects to behold the Bridegroom coming like
a roe. R303:2*