“The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's” Seems to be so entitled, as composed by Solomon, the wisest of men, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and as composed concerning the true Solomon, the Prince of Peace, of whom the son of David was an eminent type.
It belongs to the earthly Solomon, as the skilful work of his hands; to the heavenly Solomon, as the utterance of His heart to the Church; and of the heart of the Church towards Him. It is the Song of Songs, as the choicest both of all the songs of the sons of men, and of all that Solomon sung; the chief of his thousand songs and five; the sweetest, the simplest, the highest, the deepest of the songs of the Church in the house of her pilgrimage. Above all others, her song in the night, until the day break and the shadows flee away. “For this reason also,” said one who knew it well, “would I call it the Song of Songs, because other songs must be sung first, and this as the fruit of all the rest; grace alone teaches it; experience alone can learn it.” (Bernard.)
Bride of the Lamb, the song is yours; for if anywhere in the oracles of truth the new song is found, which can be learned by none but the redeemed from the earth, and sung by none but the virgins who follow the lamb, it must consist in part of this Song of Solomon. Emphatically, this is a song which the men of earth can never learn. Like Christ Himself, it is a stumbling-block to one, to another foolish; but by this very token will you recognise the image of your Lord, and “Bind the book as a crown upon you,” glorying in the reproach of the cross.
The Jews revered the Song of Solomon as amongst the holiest of sacred books. Likening his written work to his noble; but less durable Temple of wood and stone, they compared the Proverbs to the Outer Court, Ecclesiastes to the Holy Place, and the Song of Songs to the Holiest of holies – the inmost sanctuary of God. The Christian Fathers compare the whole teaching of Solomon to a ladder consisting of three steps: Proverbs embraces instruction in morals; Ecclesiastes indicates the nature of things transient; and the Song of Songs contains the mystic union of Christ and His Church, that we may fly upward to the Great Bridegroom.
(A. Moody Stuart.)
This Page Title – The Sweetest Song on Earth - by A. Moody Stuart The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 10# – placed on line September 2014 Wicket Gate contact address – Mr Cliff Westcombe cw@wicketgate.co.uk If you wish to be notified when each new edition goes on line please send an e-mail to the above address Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |