And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth [down] sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.
Ver. 9. And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine.] Her word and doctrine (for the palate is an instrument of speech), often before commended by Christ, and here again, like as she comes over it in him the second time. Song of Solomon 4:13 ; Son 4:16 See Trapp on " Son 4:13 " See Trapp on " Son 4:16 " This he resembleth to the best and most generous wine. Such the word of God's grace is to those that have spiritual palates, that do not carry fel in aure, - their galls in their ears (as some creatures are said to do), that have their ears healed (as Demosthenes said of his Athenians), and their inward senses habitually exercised to discern good and evil. The doctrine of the Church seems to some bitter and grievous; it goeth down like the waters of Marah, or that water that caused the curse in case of jealousy. Num 5:12-31 It becomes a savour of death unto them, as the viper is killed with palm branches, and vultures with oil of roses. a But this is merely their own fault; for "doth not my word do good to them that are good?" saith the Lord. Mic 2:6 Excellently St Augustine, Adversarius est nobis, quamdiu sumus et ipsi nobis: quamdiu tu tibi inimicus es, inimicum habebis sermonem Dei, - God's Word is an enemy to none but to such as are enemies to themselves, and sinners against their own souls. This holy word in the mouths of God's ministers is like Moses's rod, which, while held in his hand, flourished, and brought forth almonds; but, being cast to the ground, it became a serpent. The application is easy. See Trapp on " Son 1:2 "
For my beloved.] These are Christ's words; but he speaks as if the Church spake, to show her great affection, that had dedicated all her good things to him. Some read it thus, which "goeth straight to my well beloved"; q.d., It is such excellent wine as I would wish it, or send it even to the dearest and best friend I have, even to her that I love as myself, if not before myself. Or thus, "which springs and sparkles in the cup." See Proverbs 23:31 .
Causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.] "Utterance" is called a "gift," 1Co 1:5 ; 1Co 1:7 and dumb Christians are blame worthy as well as dumb ministers. We should all strive to a holy ability and dexterity of savoury discourse. And for this end the word of Christ should dwell richly in us in all wisdom: our hearts should indite a good matter, that our tongues might be as the pen of a ready writer. Let there be a good treasure within our hearts, and the law of kindness will soon be in our lips; for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Graceless men are gagged by the devil; they cannot so much as lisp out one syllable of good language; if they attempt it, they show themselves but bunglers, and say Sibboleth for Shibboleth; you may soon see they speak by rote, and not by experience. But those that have well drunk of this wine of the Word, made effectual by the Spirit, talk lustily, yea, their tongues never cease talking and preaching forth the praises of him who hath drawn them out of darkness into his marvellous light: they speak "as the Spirit gives them utterance." Acts 2:4 ; Acts 2:11 ; Act 2:14 Those that were in a dead sleep of sin, are soon set to work to "awake and sing." Isa 26:19 This should stir us up to study the Word of God, and therehence to learn language. The ll9th Psalm is by David set before it as a poem of commendation, mentioning it in every verse, testimonies, laws, statutes, &c. Like as when a book is set forth, verses of commendation are oft prefixed. Such another, but far shorter, is that in Psalms 19:7,11. The Holy Ghost doth so much the more highly there extol it, because men are wont to have it in very light account, and to hold it a disparagement to be eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures.
a Pausanias, Aristot.