The watchmen that go about the city found me: [to whom I said], Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
Ver. 3. The watchmen that go about the city found me,] i.e., The angels, who are God's watchmen a over the world, and are so called somewhere in Scripture, as also ministering spirits, guardians of the saints, &c. But here I conceive are meant either those princes of the world, strangers to the mystery of Christ, 1Co 2:8 and therefore can tell no tale nor tidings of him. For what reason? They are of Gallio's religion, which is no better than a mere irreligion, Act 18:15 being de regione magis soliciti quam de religione, as one saith: or else, the officers and ministers of the Church, set as "Watchmen upon Jerusalem's walls, with charge never to hold their peace, day nor night." Isa 62:6 But they, alas! prove too too oft "blind watchmen, dumb dogs; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber." Isa 56:10 And such it seems were these here, by the small directions they gave the Church, or intelligence of her best beloved. Howbeit, because the priests' lips should preserve knowledge, and they are given for guides to God, Heb 13:17 however they prove, she repairs to them, or rather, lighting upon them, inquires for Christ.
Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?] They that love Christ in sincerity, are apt to imagine that others also do love him no less than they. So much worth they find in him, that they wonder how any can do otherwise than affect and admire him. This made Mary Magdalene, who "loved much," to ask the gardener, for so she took him to be, what he had done with the Lord's body, Joh 20:15 whereabout she thought he had been as solicitous as herself. So the Church here, Have you seen him? when they perhaps were perfect strangers to him. But be they as they will, they should have known and loved the Lord Jesus Christ, upon pain of utter cutting off, 1Co 16:22 and whether they do or do not, they shall know that she loves him; Quis enim celaverit ignem? For who can hide fire in his boston, or musk in his pocket? The love of Christ cannot possibly be concealed. A man may as easily hide the wind with his fist, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself, as Solomon speaketh in another case. Pro 27:16 He that "believes with his heart, will confess with his mouth." Rom 10:10 Christ's true worshippers are marked "in their foreheads." Rev 7:3 Antichrist's limbs receive his mark "in their hands," Rev 13:16 which they can cover or discover, as they see the occasion. We have also many political professors among us, who for want of true love to Christ, either run away in the plain field, Heb 10:36-39 and so incur the danger of martial law; or else, under a colour of discretion, fall back into the rearward: the battle is sharp, and it is not good to be too forward. "But is this thy love to thy friend?" as he said to Hushai the Archite. David's parents and brethren came down to him to the cave of Adullam, though to their great danger; 1Sa 22:1 and Basil being blamed for his forwardness to appear for his friend in danger, answered, Ego aliter amare non didici. A friend is made for the day of adversity.
a εγρηγοροι. Dan 4:10 Eze 33:2