The Pulpit Commentary on Song of Solomon 2:16

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Mutual possession.

One-sided affection is incomplete, unsatisfying, and unhappy; it may be disastrous. Real friendship and true marriage imply mutual love, reciprocal kindnesses. So is it in those personal relations between Christ and the Christian soul, which are the foundations of the spiritual life of mankind. It is only well when the friend of the Saviour can truly say, "My Beloved is mine, and I am his."

I. THE CLAIM MADE BY THE CHRISTIAN TO A SPIRITUAL PROPERTY IN CHRIST

1. Our Lord and Saviour is ours, to exercise in our favour his mediatorial offices, as our Prophet, Priest, and King.

2. He is ours, to reveal his intimate affection to our heart.

"The opening heavens around me shine

With beams of heavenly bliss,

While Jesus says that he is mine,

And whispers I am his!"

3. He is ours, to impart a value and a charm to all our other possessions. These, whether material or spiritual, are altogether different from what they would otherwise be; they are irradiated and dignified by the glory which shines upon them from our Divine Friend. "All things are ours."

II. THE CLAIM MADE BY CHRIST TO A SPIRITUAL PROPERTY IN THE CHRISTIAN.

1. The Saviour regards his people with an especial favour and affection. In a sense, all men are Christ's; he assumed the human nature which is common to us all, and he died for all. But in a peculiar manner they are his who acknowledge his mission, receive his gospel, confide in his mediation, obey his commandments. Towards such his regard is one of complacency and personal affection.

2. The Saviour regards his people as his to care for, to protect, and to save. Having loved his own, he loves them unto the end. There are no circumstances in which he will not remember them, interpose upon their behalf and for their deliverance.

3. The Saviour possesses his people in order to exercise over them a peculiar authority. As the husband is the head of the wife, and as his affection does not destroy his authority, but makes it benign and welcome; so our Divine Lord, who loves his spouse, the Church, which he purchased with his precious blood, directs and governs the object of his tender interest with kindness which is yet authoritative. It is the prerogative and joy of Christ's people to take their Lord's will as the binding law of their individual and social life.

APPLICATION. It is forevery Christian to remember that in this relation the Lord Jesus is the superior. "We love him, because he first loved us." This fact should infuse gratitude into our affection, and should urge us to responsive consecration and obedience.—T.

Song of Solomon 1

Song of Solomon

Song of Solomon 3

Song of Solomon 2 - song-of-solomon-2 - worlddic.com

More for Song of Solomon 2:16

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

The Pulpit Commentary on Song of Solomon 2:1-17Song of Solomon 2:1-17 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION The Pulpit Commentary on Song of Solomon 2:8-17Song of Solomon 2:8-17 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe visit of the beloved. I. THE BRIDE'S NARRATIVE. 1. The description of his first coming. The bride seems to be relating to the chorus the circumstances of her first meeting with the bridegroom. The King of Israel sou…The Pulpit Commentary on Song of Solomon 2:8-17Song of Solomon 2:8-17 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe soul wooed and won. In this lovely pastoral the literal meaning is, we think, as stated in introduction to homily on Song of Solomon 2:15. But it may be taken as setting forth how Christ woes and wins the souls he l…Matthew Henry on Song of Solomon 2:14-17Song of Solomon 2:14-17 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryThe church is Christ's dove; she returns to him, as her Noah. Christ is the Rock, in whom alone she can think herself safe, and find herself easy, as a dove in the hole of a rock, when struck at by the birds of prey. Ch…The Love of the Church to ChristSong of Solomon 2:14-17 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleTHE LOVE OF THE CHURCH TO CHRIST. Here is, I. The encouraging invitation which Christ gives to the church, and every believing soul, to come into communion with him, Song of Solomon 2:14. 1. His love is now his dove; Da…The Pulpit Commentary on Song of Solomon 2:16Song of Solomon 2:16 · The Pulpit CommentaryMy beloved is mine, and I am his; he feedeth (his flock) among the lilies. These are the words of the bride. The latter clause is repeated in So Song of Solomon 6:2, with the addition, "in the gardens," and it is eviden…

commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Song of Solomon 2:1-17EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Song of Solomon 2:8-17The soul wooed and won. In this lovely pastoral the literal meaning is, we think, as stated in introduction to homily on Song of Solomon 2:15. But it may be taken as setting forth how Christ woes and wins the souls he l…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Song of Solomon 2:8-17The visit of the beloved. I. THE BRIDE'S NARRATIVE. 1. The description of his first coming. The bride seems to be relating to the chorus the circumstances of her first meeting with the bridegroom. The King of Israel sou…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryMatthew Henry on Song of Solomon 2:14-17The church is Christ's dove; she returns to him, as her Noah. Christ is the Rock, in whom alone she can think herself safe, and find herself easy, as a dove in the hole of a rock, when struck at by the birds of prey. Ch…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Love of the Church to ChristTHE LOVE OF THE CHURCH TO CHRIST. Here is, I. The encouraging invitation which Christ gives to the church, and every believing soul, to come into communion with him, Song of Solomon 2:14. 1. His love is now his dove; Da…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Song of Solomon 2:16Marriage jointure. Marriage is a mutual identification of personal interests, therefore it fully represents the mystic union between Jesus and the believer. We may not have always the conscious sense of our Friend's nea…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Song of Solomon 2:16He mine; I his. This verse is the oft-repeated and rapturous utterance of her who is the type of the redeemed soul concerning her beloved. Of course, we regard it as telling of the soul's joy in Christ. I. HE MINE. Let…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Song of Solomon 2:16My beloved is mine, and I am his; he feedeth (his flock) among the lilies. These are the words of the bride. The latter clause is repeated in So Song of Solomon 6:2, with the addition, "in the gardens," and it is eviden…Joseph S. Exell and contributors