61 Whither hath thy beloved gone, O fair among women? Whither hath thy beloved turned, And we seek him with thee? 2 My beloved went down to his garden, To the beds of the spice, To delight himself in the gardens, and to gather lilies. 3 I 'am' my beloved's, and my beloved 'is' mine, Who is delighting himself among the lilies.
4 Fair 'art' thou, my friend, as Tirzah, Comely as Jerusalem, Awe-inspiring as bannered hosts. 5 Turn round thine eyes from before me, Because they have made me proud. Thy hair 'is' as a row of the goats, That have shone from Gilead, 6 Thy teeth as a row of the lambs, That have come up from the washing, Because all of them are forming twins, And a bereaved one is not among them. 7 As the work of the pomegranate 'is' thy temple behind thy veil. 8 Sixty are queens, and eighty concubines, And virgins without number. 9 One is my dove, my perfect one, One she 'is' of her mother, The choice one she 'is' of her that bare her, Daughters saw, and pronounce her happy, Queens and concubines, and they praise her. 10 'Who 'is' this that is looking forth as morning, Fair as the moon—clear as the sun, Awe-inspiring as bannered hosts?'
11 Unto a garden of nuts I went down, To look on the buds of the valley, To see whither the vine had flourished, The pomegranates had blossomed— 12 I knew not my soul, It made me—chariots of my people Nadib. 13 Return, return, O Shulammith! Return, return, and we look upon thee. What do ye see in Shulammith?
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Song of Solomon 6:1-17
Commentary on Song of Solomon 6:1
(Read Song of Solomon 6:1)
Those made acquainted with the excellences of Christ, and the comfort of an interest in him, desire to know where they may meet him. Those who would find Christ, must seek him early and diligently.
Commentary on Song of Solomon 6:2-3
(Read Song of Solomon 6:2-3)
Christ's church is a garden, enclosed, and separated from the world; he takes care of it, delights in it, and visits it. Those who would find Christ, must attend him in his ordinances, the word, sacraments, and prayer. When Christ comes to his church, it is to entertain his friends. And to take believers to himself: he picks the lilies one by one; and at the great day he will send forth his angels to gather all his lilies, that he may be for ever admired in them. The death of a believer is not more than the owner of a garden plucking a favourite flower; and He will preserve it from withering, yea, cause it to flourish for ever, with increasing beauty. If our own hearts can witness for us that we are Christ's, question not his being ours, for the covenant never breaks on his side. It is the comfort of the church, that he feeds among the lilies, that he takes delight in his people.
Commentary on Song of Solomon 6:4-10
(Read Song of Solomon 6:4-10)
All the real excellence and holiness on earth centre in the church. Christ goes forth subduing his enemies, while his followers gain victories over the world, the flesh, and the devil. He shows the tenderness of a Redeemer, the delight he takes in his redeemed people, and the workings of his own grace in them. True believers alone can possess the beauty of holiness. And when their real character is known, it will be commended. Both the church and believers, at their first conversion, look forth as the morning, their light being small, but increasing. As to their sanctification, they are fair as the moon, deriving all their light, grace, and holiness from Christ; and as to justification, clear as the sun, clothed with Christ, the Sun of righteousness, and fighting the good fight of faith, under the banners of Christ, against all spiritual enemies.
Commentary on Song of Solomon 6:11-13
(Read Song of Solomon 6:11-13)
In retirement and in meditation the Christian character is formed and perfected. But not in the retirement of the idle, the self-indulgent, or the trifler. When the Christian is released from the discharge of his duties in life, the world has no attractions for him. His prayer is, that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow within him, and around him. Such are the interesting cares and employments of him whom the world wrongly deems unhappy, and lost to his true interests. In humility and self-abasement, the humble Christian would turn away from the sight of all; but the Lord delights to honour him. Chiefly, however, may the reference be to the ministering angels who shall be sent for the soul of the Christian. Their approach may startle, but the departing soul shall find the Lord its strength and its portion for ever. The church is called the Shulamite: the word signifies perfection and peace; not in herself, but in Christ, in whom she is complete, through his righteousness; and has peace, which he made for her through his blood, and gives unto her by his Spirit.