The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
Very probably the watchmen here described, are meant for the ministers of the gospel of Christ; for so the Lord describes them as watchmen upon the walls of Zion. Isaiah 62:6. And by their being said here to have found her, I apprehend is meant, that in their ministry, or preaching, they spoke to her case and circumstances. Perhaps there is nothing more common than this, in every church and congregation where the pure gospel is preached; for here the Holy Ghost will lead precious souls: and He, by his almighty power, makes his own blessed word effectual in the hearts of the people. The church seems to have been encouraged and comforted by the watchmen, so that she communicated her case to them, and put the earnest question; Saw ye him, whom my soul loveth? I might pause here, if, peradventure this Commentary were likely to fall under the eye of a minister of Jesus, just to remark how blessed the office, and how distinguished the honor of one of this description, to act in Christ's name, and to resemble his tenderness in guiding souls to Jesus. How needful to know Christ ourselves, that when poor burdened sinners would long to know him, we may, from our heart-felt acquaintance with him, be able to hold him forth; and like the star, which ministered to the wise men from the East, not only light souls to Jesus, but go before them, and go with them to Jesus, Matthew 2:9-10.