Song 3:2-4 | JFB | STEP | 2. Wholly awake for God ( ; ). "An honest resolution is often to (the doing of) duty, like a needle that draws the thread after it" [Durham]. Not a mere wish, that counts not the cost-- to leave her easy bed, and wander in the dark night seeking Him ( ; ; ). the city-- Jerusalem, literally ( ; ), and spiritually the Church here ( ), in glory ( ). broad ways-- open spaces at the gates of Eastern cities, where the public assembled for business. So, the assemblies of worshippers ( , ; ; ). She had in her first awakening shrunk from them, seeking Jesus Christ alone; but she was desired to seek the footsteps of the flock ( ), so now in her second trial she goes forth to them of herself. "The more the soul grows in grace, and the less it leans on ordinances, the more it prizes and profits by them" [Moody Stuart] ( , ). found him not-- Nothing short of Jesus Christ can satisfy her ( ; , 2).

‏ Song of Solomon 3:2-4

2. Wholly awake for God (Lu 14:18-20; Ep 5:14). "An honest resolution is often to (the doing of) duty, like a needle that draws the thread after it" [Durham]. Not a mere wish, that counts not the cost--to leave her easy bed, and wander in the dark night seeking Him (Pr 13:4; Mt 21:30; Lu 14:27-33).

the city--Jerusalem, literally (Mt 3:5; Joh 1:19), and spiritually the Church here (He 12:22), in glory (Re 21:2).

broad ways--open spaces at the gates of Eastern cities, where the public assembled for business. So, the assemblies of worshippers (So 8:2, 3; Pr 1:20-23; He 10:25). She had in her first awakening shrunk from them, seeking Jesus Christ alone; but she was desired to seek the footsteps of the flock (So 1:8), so now in her second trial she goes forth to them of herself. "The more the soul grows in grace, and the less it leans on ordinances, the more it prizes and profits by them" [Moody Stuart] (Psa 73:16, 17).

found him not--Nothing short of Jesus Christ can satisfy her (Job 23:8-10; Psa 63:1, 2).

3. watchmen--ministers (Is 62:6; Jr 6:17; Eze 3:17; He 13:17), fit persons to consult (Is 21:11; Mal 2:7).

found me--the general ministry of the Word "finds" individually souls in quest of Jesus Christ (Ge 24:27, end of verse Ac 16:14); whereas formalists remain unaffected.

4. Jesus Christ is generally "found" near the watchmen and means of grace; but they are not Himself; the star that points to Beth-lehem is not the Sun that has risen there; she hastens past the guideposts to the goal [Moody Stuart]. Not even angels could satisfy Mary, instead of Jesus Christ (Joh 20:11-16).

found him--(Is 45:19; Ho 6:1-3; Mt 13:44-46).

held him, &c.--willing to be held; not willing, if not held (Ge 32:26; Mt 28:9; Lu 24:28, 29; Re 3:11). "As a little weeping child will hold 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 So 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 (Joh 3:5-8; Ga 4:19, 26); for her we ought to pray continually (Ep 3:14-19), also for the national Jerusalem (Is 62:6, 7; Ro 10:1), also for the human family, which is our mother and kindred after the flesh; these our mother's children have evilly treated us (So 1:6); but, like our Father, we are to return good for evil (Mt 5:44, 45), and so bring Jesus Christ home to them (1Pe 2:12).