FIRST ENQUIRY BY THE
DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM
What is thy beloved more than another beloved,
O thou fairest among women?
What is thy beloved more than another beloved,
That thou dost so charge us?
Greater tenderness and consideration from the daughters of Jerusalem than from the watchmen of the city. The people of Jerusalem ‘magnified’ the early converts, while the priests and rulers sought to put them to death. The Spouse, in the eyes of the daughters of Jerusalem, the ‘fairest among women;’ in those of the watchmen of the city, a mere street-walker. That, in Christ and His Church, revealed to babes, which is hidden from the wise and prudent. Hopeful and others in Vanity Fair attracted to Christain and Faithful, while the rest mocked and persecuted them. A hopeful indication to discern the beauty and excellence of holiness, especially in times of persecution and spiritual desertion. Observe from the appellation given to the Bride—
1. Something especially lovely and beautiful in a believing soul earnestly seeking after a missing Christ. Grace in exercise makes the most plain-looking lovely.
2. Believers to appear in the eyes of the world what they really are—possessed of a spiritual beauty which exalts them above others. ‘The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour.’ The Spouse of Christ the ‘fairest among women.’ The world to be compelled by a believer’s life and spirit to acknowledge the reality and beauty of true religion. Christ’s preciousness and excellence to be seen in the character and disposition of His people.
From the inquiry of the daughters of Jerusalem: ‘What is thy beloved,’ &c., observe—
1. Earnest search after a missing Saviour often blessed to the awakening of a spiritual concern in others. The ‘daughters’ especially struck with the earnest manner and language of the Bride: ‘that thou dost so charge us.’ Nothing more likely to impress others than earnestness in seeking Christ. One living, loving, earnest Christian may shake a whole Church and neighbourhood out of its slumbers.
2. The world to learn from the earnestness of believers that there is a preciousness in Christ not to be found in anything else.
3. The world and mere nominal professors of religion, ignorant of Christ’s loveliness and excellence. This ignorance the reason why others are put in competition with Him, and preferred before Him.
4. Serious inquiry about Christ often the beginning of a new life. A hopeful inquiry of the Greeks: ‘Sir, we would see Jesus.’
5. All have something as a ‘beloved’—either Christ or something else. The world full of Christ’s rivals and candidates for men’s hearts.
6. Believers expected to give a reason for their attachment to Christ, and to show His superior excellence and claim to men’s affection.
7. Christ infinitely above all other ‘beloveds,’ and supremely worthy of men’s hearts; as
(1) More excellent and lovely in Himself—the sum and source of all loveliness and excellence.
(2) More satisfying as a portion, being more suited to man’s nature and requirements.
(3) More durable, never changing either in Himself or His love, and unable to be taken from us either in life or in death.
(4) More loving and kind; having given the greatest proof of His love in what He has done and suffered for us—humbling Himself, laying down His life for us, seeking us in our wandering, and bearing with our weakness and waywardness.
(5) The longer and better known, the more loved and admired.
(6) Able, as being divine as well as human, to be loved with the whole heart, without danger either of idolatry or excess.