Song of Solomon 1:1-4. The song of songs, which is Solomon's. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. Draw me, we will run after thee:
Still is love pleading, you see, but here it is the other side pleading for nearness, the lowly one crying for help to get nearer to the Heavenly Bridegroom: «Draw me, we will run after thee.»
Song of Solomon 1:4-5. The king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
The spouse was black in herself; sunburnt through her toil and hard suffering; yet lovely in the sight of her Beloved, and comely to look upon «as the curtains of Solomon.»
Song of Solomon 1:6-7. Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me; my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards, but mine own vineyards have I not kept. Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest,
Still is there that same craving for nearness to The Beloved. Since we love Christ, we desire to be with him, we cannot bear his absence: «Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest,»
Song of Solomon 1:7. Where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
See, dear friends, how this same seeking after the Beloved comes out in another shape in the third chapter of the Song.
This exposition consisted of readings from Genesis 45:1-13; Song of Solomon 1:1-7; Song of Solomon 3:1-5.