A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. (14) My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.
I bring both these verses into one view, for the sake of making one observation answer for both. A bundle of myrrh, and a cluster of camphire, are intended to convey the same thing, namely, the infinite riches of the Person and work of Jesus; and that everything in him is abundant and as the richest clusters. Myrrh is well known as a rich spice. It formed a principal ingredient in the holy ointment. Exodus 30:23. And perhaps in allusion to this, in the anointings of the Holy Ghost, the Church is said to be perfumed with it, when coming up out of the wilderness. Song of Solomon 3:6. And no doubt the Person and sacrifice of Christ is precious to the soul as myrrh, while we consider that Jesus in his oblation of himself to God, for the salvation of his people, offered himself for a sweet smelling savor. Ephesians 5:2. But though, no doubt, by the church's comparing Christ to a bundle of myrrh, might well be understood those and numberless other things in reference to the loveliness of Jesus; yet I rather think in this place is intended by the expression, an allusion to Christ in his sufferings. Myrrh was given to Jesus in the offered vinegar; and the bitter taste that there is in Myrrh, might be well suited to convey this idea. Hence, under this view, there will be a double meaning as suited to the representation of Christ; for both in his sufferings and all-sufficiency, Christ is altogether precious to his people: and the church might very properly call him a bundle of myrrh, for a fulness of every blessing, both in doing, and dying; both in himself, and in all his offices, characters, and relations is in him, and she might well say, that he should lie all night between her breasts; intimating the closest communion as an object of all others most desirable, during the whole night of her pilgrimage state, until the light of that everlasting day-break in upon the soul which shall have no night. And perhaps the church might allude in this expression of Christ's laying all night betwixt her breasts, to the two Testaments, the old and the new, where indeed Christ may be said to lie, and where he is discovered by his people; for these are strictly and properly the breasts of the Church: so, in like manner, the cluster of camphire, though the figure is different, yet the subject is the same. The gopher (which some have thought means the Cyprus pine, and others the Cyprus tree, and others the grapes of Cyprus, and some the dates or fruit of the Palm-tree), hath a beautiful allusion to Christ: for the sweet savour and medicinal qualities intended to be denoted by the expression, are all applicable to Jesus. Our Lord himself takes himself the same figure, John 15:1. And indeed, when we add to these several considerations, that the word Gopher hath another meaning distinct from all, and, literally might be translated atonement; in this sense there is an uncommon beauty in the thought, and the Church's view of Christ under this character, is very striking. Engedi, it is said, was a remarkable spot for the production of Palm-trees. But we must not dismiss those verses until that we have particularly remarked that special right of appropriation which the Church makes in both, of Jesus as her own. In the former, she calls him her well-beloved; and in the latter, she repeats the same as her beloved. Reader! in every way, and in all points of view, Christ is lovely. What he is in himself, and what he is to his people; all is lovely. But faith finds a great sweetness when she can say, My beloved is mine, and I am his. Oh! for grace to know this, and to enjoy it; that while Christ is the only begotten Son, and well beloved Son of the Father, he may be our truly beloved also, the altogether lovely, and the chiefest among ten thousand.