Bride’s Third Request of her Beloved.
Shulamite again addresses herself to the King, though still out of sight.
Tell me,
O thou whom my soul loveth,
Where thou feedest,
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.
The third petition which Shulamite has already addressed to her absent Bridegroom. A believer’s life a life of prayer. A living soul must pray. He has wants, and feels them. Has longings, and one to tell them to. An earnest, loving Christian has many petitions, and has boldness in presenting them. The King’s golden sceptre held out with—‘What is thy petition, and what is thy request? and it shall be done unto thee’ (Esther 5:2-3)
Shulamite still longs for the Beloved’s presence and fellowship. The chambers of the King not sufficient without the King himself. The Bride anxious to know where her Bridegroom is, in order to be with him. Addresses him as if he were present. Ardent love communes with its object though absent and unseen. The interview between a longing soul and a loving Saviour maintained through a thin veil. Bodily bsence no hindrance to communion with Christ. The loving soul must unbosom its feelings to the Beloved, whether present or absent. Good to turn from even professing Christians to Christ Himself. The daughters of Jerusalem unable to take the place of Jerusalem’s King. Ordinances good, and Christian fellowship good; but neither of them anything without Christ himself.
The ground of Shulamite’s longing given in the title with which she addresses her absent Beloved:
‘O thou whom my soul loveth.’
Love unable to rest without the presence of its object. The language expressive both of the sincerity and the ardour of her affection. The believer’s love to Christ a love of the ‘soul,’—deep down in the heart, and engaging all its affections. Christ to be loved with all and above all (Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:20). Jesus locked in the believer’s heart as its most precious treasure. Infinitely worthy of such affection—
(1) From His own loveliness;
(2) From His love. In regard to believers, Christ’s love that of a Bridegroom, who has—
(1) Loved them;
(2) Given His own life for them;
(3) Wooed and won them;
(4) Lavished the expressions of His love upon them (Ephesians 5:24-30). The believer’s love to Christ therefore that of a Bride. Christ in His loveliness and love, more than sufficient to attract and engage all our affection, if we possessed a thousand hearts instead of one. The believer’s
Love to Christ.
is—
(1) Divine in its origin; produced by the Holy Spirit in a renewed heart.
(2) Unquenchable in its character: survives all trials, sufferings, and discouragements.
(3) Discoverable in its effects: leading to—(i.) Obedience; (ii.) Self dedication; (iii.) Desire of fellowship; (iv.) Love and esteem for all that is His. True and hearty love to Jesus the distinguishing mark of a genuine Christian. The contrast of this in 1 Corinthians 16:22. Believers conscious, or ought to be, that they love Christ. Shulamite’s language that of unquestioning certainly. So Peter, even after his fall: ‘Yea, Lord; Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee’ (John 21). The Church’s language in the lips of the prophet: ‘The desire of our soul is to Thy name and to the remembrance of Thee’ (Isaiah 26:8). True of all believers: ‘Whom, having not seen, ye love’ (1 Peter 1:8). Observe—
1. Our comfort in darkness and desertion, to know that we love Jesus.
2. Consciousness and confession of blackness, in perfect harmony with love to Christ. Peter’s thrice repeated declaration of love to his Master consistent with his thrice repeated, but afterwards deeply repented of, denial of Him. Love greatest’ where most is forgiven.
3. Love to Christ a plea for the enjoyment of His presence. Acknowledged by Christ Himself: ‘He that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him’ (John 14:21).
In regard to the request in the text, observe—
I. The PETITION itself. ‘Tell me where thou feedest,’ &c. A desire for information. Implies ignorance. Believers while in this world, ignorant of many things pertaining to Christ’s ways and their own comfort. ‘Now we know in part.’ Our happiness to be able to go to Christ for light and instruction. Christ made ‘wisdom’ to us, as well as righteousness and sanctification. Believers not only weak, and needing to be drawn, but erring, and needing to be directed. Wells of refreshment in the Word not seen till Jesus reveals them. Christ found in the Word and ordinances only as He is pleased to discover Himself. Himself our best Guide and Teacher.
Shulamite desires to know where her Beloved ‘feeds and rests his flocks at noon.’ Scripture often represents
Christ as a Shepherd.
He is:
(1) Jehovah’s Shepherd; chosen by the Father to feed and save his people. ‘My shepherd’ (Zechariah 13:7). ‘I will set up one shepherd over them’ (Ezekiel 34:23).
(2) The Good Shepherd: good especially in ‘giving his life for the sheep’ (John 10:11).
(3) The Great Shepherd: being the Almighty, ‘and able to save to the uttermost all who come to God by Him’ (Hebrews 13:20).
(4) The Chief Shepherd: in distinction from all other shepherds, who, as teachers and rulers of the Church, are employed under Him in promoting the welfare of the sheep (1 Peter 5:4).
(5) The One Shepherd: the sheep being only His, and no under shepherd being to be compared with him (Ezekiel 34:23; Ecclesiastes 12:11).
As a Shepherd Christ has—
His Flock.
These are—
(1) Given Him by the Father (John 10:29; John 17:2; John 17:6);
(2) Redeemed by His own blood;
(3) Sought and found by Himself while straying in the wilderness;
(4) Called by His grace;
(6) Quickened by His Spirit;
(6) Kept and preserved by His power;
(7) Cared for and tended by His love. Hitherto, as compared with the world, a ‘little flock’ (Luke 12:32). Always a ‘beautiful flock’ (Jeremiah 13:20). Frequently a ‘flock of slaughter’ (Zechariah 11:4; Zechariah 11:7; Psalms 44:22; Romans 8:36). Known from their—
(1) Hearing His voice and obeying His call;
(2) Following Him through bad and good report even to the end;
(3) Avoiding and refusing to follow a stranger. Enjoy the privilege of being—
(1) Led by Christ as their Shepherd;
(2) Guarded by Him from all real evil and from every hurtful foe;
(3) Helped, supported, and even carried by Him; (Isaiah 40:11; Isaiah 46:4; Isaiah 63:9; Luke 15:5;
(4) Fed, sustained, and comforted by Him till they reach their home in heaven (Psalms 23:1-6).
Two actions here ascribed to Christ as the Shepherd:—
1. He feeds His flock. Believers require spiritual food. Living souls must be fed. Such feel their need of nourishment. Hunger and thirst for it. Desire what may inwardly satisfy them and enable them to grow in knowledge, faith, love, and every grace. Must be fed by Christ Himself. Willing to go anywhere where He feeds His flock, however plain the place, and poor the people, and painful the effort to reach them. Christ feeds them—
(1) With His Word, which is made ‘the joy and rejoicing of their heart;’
(2) With His ordinances, in which he makes them to lie down as ‘in green pastures;’
(3) With Himself, the Hidden Manna and Bread of Life, whose ‘flesh is meat indeed, and His blood drink indeed.’
2. He makes them to rest at noon. Noon the tune of oppressive heat,—‘the burden and heat of the day.’ Expressive of the time of—
(1) Temptation
(2) Trouble;
(3) Persecution (Matthew 13:5-6; Matthew 13:20-21; 1 Peter 4:12). Believers often in such circumstances (1 Peter 1:6; 2 Timothy 3:12; John 16:33). Therefore require rest and comfort, as well as food. Christ therefore rests His flock as well as feeds it. Able to make them ‘rejoice in tribulation.’ Speaks comfortably (or ‘to their heart’) in the wilderness (Hosea 2:14). Gives them rest and comfort—
(1) By the promises of His Word;
(2) By the doctrines of His grace;
(3) By the ordinances of His house;
(4) By the dealings of His Providence;
(5) By the consolations of His Spirit;
(6) By the fellowship of His people;
(7) By the manifestation of Himself. Christ the Rest of His people as well as their Food. ‘The shadow of a great rock in a weary land’ (Isaiah 32:2). Exemplified in the case of Churches in Acts 9:31. Typified in the rest given at times to Israel (Judges 5:31; 1 Kings 4:24-25). The Bride’s desire to be rested as well as fed by Christ along with his flock. Believers desire to be rested—
(1) By Christ Himself. The world seek rest and comfort in the creature. Believers choose rather to suffer with Christ than to reign with the world.
(2) Among His people. ‘Where Thou makest Thy flock to rest.’ Christ found where His flock is, and where He is feeding and resting them (Matthew 18:20).
Shulamite, while desiring to be rested by the shepherd along with His flock, probably speaks in the character of a shepherdess, wishing to feed her kids where her Beloved is feeding his sheep. Even the under-shepherds need to be fed and rested by Christ Himself. The labourer for Christ to keep near to Christ even in his labour. Best to feed our kids where Christ is feeding His flock. Whether toiling or resting, the believer’s place is to be near the Master.
II. The REASON for the Petition. ‘For, why should I be as one that turneth aside (or, is veiled, either as a mourner or an immodest woman) by the flocks of thy companions.’ Observe—
1. Unlike the Bride of Christ to be living without His presence and society. Natural to believers to have the presence of Christ and to be happy in it. Not to Christ’s honour that His bride should go mourning without Him, or turning aside to others for comfort.
2. The Bride of Christ in danger of turning aside, if without Christ’s presence. Believers justly afraid of turning aside from Christ to the flocks of His under shepherds, or even of wandering from those flocks themselves. Most happy in being by those flocks, but not to substitute them for Christ Himself. Not to be satisfied with being by Christ’s flocks, or being fed by His companions instead of Christ Himself. Safer to find no rest than to find it by turning aside.
3. The fear of turning aside, or of bringing reproach on His name, a powerful plea in pleading with Christ for His presence. Right to plead as well as pray.
4. Believers liable to be mistaken for hypocrites and mere professors Christ Himself thus mistaken. ‘We esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted’ (Isaiah 53:4).
5. Believers often unable to understand the reason of the Lord’s dealings with them. Rebekah’s question not uncommon with believers: ‘Why am I thus?’ (Genesis 25:22). Three Why’s: Why have I darkness and trouble while others have light and comfort? Why am I without quickening means of grace while others enjoy them? Why have I not the enjoyment of the Lord’s presence which others have?
Answer to Shulamite’s Request.
The request, though addressed to the absent Bridegroom, apparently ensuered by the Daughters of Jerusalem or Ladies of the Court who were present (Song of Solomon 1:8).
If thou know not,
O thou fairest among women,
Go thy way forth
By the footsteps of the flock,
And feed thy kids
Beside the shepherds’ tents.
Shulamite receives a speedy answer to her request, though perhaps not a very direct one; nor yet from the Beloved himself, to whom it was addressed, but from his friends and the inmates of his house. Observe—
(1) The earnest enquirer after Christ not long in receiving direction. ‘Ye shall seek Me and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart’ (Jeremiah 29:13).
(2) Various ways by which Christ may direct the enquiring soul. The Head of the Church at no loss for instruments.
(3) Enquirers often directed by the ministers of the Word, or by those already acquainted more or less with the Saviour.
(4) Those having any knowledge of Christ to do their best in guiding others to Him.
(5) The great end of the Christian ministry and of the Christian Church, to direct men to Christ. All Christians to be able to give such direction. From the language of the answer in the text, observe—
I. The ADDRESS. ‘O thou fairest among women.’ A superior beauty belonging to believers. That beauty a moral and spiritual one, the beauty of holiness. ‘The King’s daughter all glorious within’ (Psalms 45:11; Psalms 45:13; Psalms 110:3). Observe—
1. Believers to commend themselves to others by their spiritual beauty. Something in a spiritually-minded, loving, and consistent believer that attracts the notice and admiration of others.
2. Believers are, as they OUGHT to be, more excellent and lovely than their neighbours (Proverbs 12:26). Possessed of a Divine nature. Born of God. Made new creatures in Christ. Created in Him unto good works. The Spirit of Christ, and so the fruits of the Spirit, in them (Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:22). Not to be satisfied to be like others (Matthew 5:46-48).
3. Believers not merely to be, but to be seen to be, more lovely and excellent than other men (Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12). Ought to appear in the eyes of men as the Bride of Christ. Their calling to reflect His beauty, and be His witnesses and representatives in the world. Men to see in believers what Christ was and is. Christ Himself infinitely lovely, His Spouse, possessing His Spirit, expected to be lovely also. His comeliness put upon them (Ezekiel 16:10; Ezekiel 16:14).
4. Individuals never more lovely than when earnestly seeking Christ.
5. Others often stirred up by the earnestness of one soul seeking the Saviour.
II. The SUPPOSITION. ‘If thou know not.’ Observe—
1. Believers expected to know where Christ is to be found. Ought to know. Not according to their character to be ignorant.
2. Knowledge sometimes possessed when not exercised. Apparently the case here.
3. Young believers often deficient in spiritual knowledge (John 14:8-9).
4. Patience to be exercised in dealing with inquirers and young believers. Christ Himself a High Priest who has compassion on the ignorant. Believers to resemble Him.
III. THE DIRECTION. Twofold—
1. ‘Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock.’ Three ideas in this part of the direction.
(1) ‘Go thy way.’ To find Christ, we must use means, and use them earnestly. The direction opposed to indolence and sitting still.
(2) ‘Go thy way forth.’ To find Christ, we must not only go our way, but go forth. ‘Let us go forth unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach’ (Hebrews 13:13). Forth from—(i.) Ourselves: no longer trusting in anything we are or do; (ii.) The world: its pleasures and practices, its favour and fellowship. (iii.) Sin: so as no longer to love it or willingly to commit it.
(3) ‘By the footsteps of the flock.’ Observe in regard to the—
Footsteps of the Flock.
(i.) Christ’s flock has footsteps in common. One spirit in them; one faith and one baptism. The ‘common faith,’ the ‘faith of God’s elect;’ ‘like precious faith with us’ (Ephesians 4:4-5; Titus 1:4; 2 Peter 1:1). (ii.) The footsteps and daily life of believers to be such as conduct to Christ. (iii.) To find Christ, we need to be in the footsteps of the flock, not in the wanderings of the world. These footsteps are—(a) Obedience: ‘why call ye Me Lord, and do not the things which I say.’
(4) Faith: ‘whose faith follow;’ ‘the steps of the faith of our father Abraham’ (Hebrews 13:7; Romans 4:12). (c) Self-denial; ‘If any man will be My disciple, let him deny himself.’ (d) Meekness and humility: ‘Learn of me, for I am meek and holy in heart’ (Matthew 11:28). (e) Love: ‘walk in love;’ ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another (Ephesians 5:2; John 13:35). The footsteps of the flock exhibited in the Word of God for our guidance. The cloud of witnesses. The faith and obedience of Abel, Abraham, &c., recorded as footprints to guide those who should come after. Hence, also, the value of faithful Christian biography, (iv) Inquirers to be the careful followers of Christ’s faithful people. ‘Be ye followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.’ ‘Be followers together of me, and mark them that walk so as ye have us for an example.) ‘Followers of me even as I also follow Christ’ (Hebrews 6:11-12; Hebrews 13:7; Philippians 3:17). Believers to ‘enquire for the old paths, and walk therein’ (Jeremiah 6:16). To go back to the inspired words of prophets and apostles. ‘To the law and to the testimony;’ not to the decrees of Councils, or the dicta of Doctors, or the lives of so-called Saints. The Church early corrupted with heresy in doctrine, and error in practice. Even early Christian writers often heated with controversy. Not only contradicted one another, but often contradicted themselves. In many cases, impossible to obtain a clear and definite opinion from them. Their writings often mutilated and interpolated. Their views often manifestly and avowedly incorrect. The example even of the holiest of men to be only followed in so far as it accords with the written Word (v.) Inquirers to be content with old and ordinary directions as to finding Christ. No new or extraordinary direction given to the Bride in her difficulty. (vi.) Directions not the less useful because not immediately bringing us to the object of our search. ‘Lord what wilt Thou have me to do?’ ‘Go to Damascus, and it shall be told thee what thou must do’ (Acts 9:6).
2. ‘Feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.’ Shulamite addressed as a shepherdess. Believers made partakers of the calling and work of their Master. Christ the chief Shepherd; they, in their various spheres, and according to their various gifts, under-shepherds. ‘Feed my lambs; feed my sheep,’—the evidence of their love to the Great Shepherd (John 21:15-16). Shulamite, as a female, had her kids to feed. If unable to feed the sheep, we may be able to attend to the lambs. The gifts of some qualify them to minister to the adult and the mature Christian; those of others to the young and the weak. Two particulars in this part of the directions.
(1) ‘Feed thy kids.’ Observe—(i) Believers and inquirers have their kids to feed: (a) Their spiritual desires and longings to be satisfied; (b) Their new man, or young spiritual renewed nature, to be nourished and strengthened; (e) The souls of others, in one way or other committed to their charge, to be cared for and looked after. A Christian parent has his children’s souls as well as their bodies to feed and care for. A Sabbath-school teacher has his class; a minister has his flock, including both old and young. A District Visitor has the families of his or her district. Elders, deacons, and other Church office-bearers, have their respective charges. Each believer has the souls in his immediate neighbourhood, in the circle of his relations, within the sphere of his influence, or under his employment. The language only of a Cain,—‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ The injunction laid on believers in general,—‘On some have compassion, making a difference; others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire’ (Jude 1:22-23). The resolution of David to be that of every saved soul: ‘Then (when thou hast restored to me the joy of thy salvation) will I teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners shall he converted unto Thee’ (Psalms 51:12-13). Every believer, in his measure, charged with the care of his fellow-believers. Their duty to comfort, edify, and exhort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13). (ii.) Believers and inquirers to be diligent in feeding their kids. Christ most likely to be found by us when diligently attending to the charge committed to us. To be found in active duty as well as in private devotion.
(2) ‘Beside the shepherds’ tents.’
The Shepherds’ Tents,
representative of Christian assemblies gathered together in Christ’s name, or rather of the places where they are so gathered. A body of people, and the place of their ordinary meeting, naturally associated in thought. Hence the term ‘Church’ originally applied only to the former, also used to designate the latter. Churches and congregations of believers placed by Christ, the chief Shepherd, under the charge and care of under-shepherds. These ordinarily in the New Testament designated Elders or Presbyters, Bishops or Overseers, and Pastors or Shepherds. These titles acknowledged to have been originally applied promiscuously to the same persons (Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 Timothy 4:14; Titus 1:5-7; 1 Peter 5:1-4). Shepherds or Pastors Christ’s gifts to His Church after His ascension into heaven (Ephesians 4:10-12; Jeremiah 3:15). The Shepherds’ tents the places where the Shepherds are found ministering to the flock (1 Peter 5:1-2). Observe—(i) Christ found beside the shepherds’ tents’ (Matthew 18:19-20). Himself always engaged in tending His sheep. Not far off when we are beside the ‘Shepherds’ tents.’ Inquiring and believing souls directed to the place where Christ is feeding His flock through His under-shepherds. (ii.) True Pastors and Gospel ordinances to be highly valued and diligently made use of (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:12). None allowed to be above ordinances in the Church militant. (iii.) Believers to feed their charge and attend to their own souls, where Christ, His people, and His under-shepherds are. ‘They who separate themselves,’ given as a mark of those who have not the Spirit (Jude 1:19). ‘Forsaking the assembling of themselves together’ not the manner of Christ’s flock (Hebrews 10:25). Isolation from Christ’s ordinances not the way to find Christ. (iv.) The kids also to be fed beside the shepherds’ tents. Safest and best to accustom children to attend the ordinances of Christ’s house. ‘Train up a child in the way he should go.’ Christ’s will concerning children: ‘Suffer the children to come unto Me;’ but Christ is where two or three are gathered together in His name. The shepherds in their ministrations to have a portion for the young as well as the old. The children an important portion of the flock, and to be carefully attended to. ‘How is it that your sheep look better than other people’s?’ was asked of a farmer. ‘I look well to the lambs,’ was the reply, (v.) The importance, necessity, and permanence of the pastoral office indicated. Pastors and teachers, &c., given ‘for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man—unto the measure of the statue of the fulness of Christ’ (Ephesians 4:11-13). The charge difficult, and sometimes painful and hazardous; but honourable, often pleasant, and when faithfully executed, blessedly rewarded (1 Peter 5:1-4) People without a faithful pastor like sheep without a shepherd. As such, the object of Christ’s special compassion, and should be that of His people (Matthew 9:36-38).