It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.
(It was) but a little that I passed from them. Jesus Christ is generally "found" near the watchmen and means of grace; but they are not Himself: the star that points to Bethlehem is not the Sun that has risen there; she hastens past the guide-posts to the goal (Moody Stuart). Not even angels could satisfy Mary, instead of Jesus Christ (John 20:11-16).
Found him - (Matthew 13:44-46.)
I held him ... - willing to, be held; not willing, if not held (Revelation 3:11). 'As a little weeping child will bold its mother fast, not because it is stronger than she, but because her bowels constrain her not to leave it; so Jesus Christ, yearning over the believer, cannot go, because He will not' (Durham). In Song of Solomon 1:4 it is He who leads the bride into His chambers; here it is she who leads Him into her mother's. There are times when the grace of Jesus Christ seems to draw us to Him; and others when we with strong cries draw Him to us and ours. In the East one large apartment often serves for the whole family; so the bride here speaks of her mother's apartment and her own together. The mention of the 'mother' excludes impropriety, and imparts the idea of heavenly love, pure as a sister's, while ardent as a bride's; hence, the frequent title, 'my sister-spouse.' Our mother after the Spirit is the Church, the new Jerusalem (John 3:5-8); for her we ought to pray continually, also for the national Jerusalem (Isaiah 62:6-7); also for the human family, which is our mother and kindred after the flesh: these our mother's children have evil treated us (Song of Solomon 1:6), but, like our Father; we are to return good for evil, and so bring Jesus Christ home to them.