Song of Solomon 1

Solomon 1:1-17 . CANTICLE I.--(Solomon 1:2-2:7')--THE BRIDE SEARCHING FOR AND FINDING THE KING.

1. The song of songs--The most excellent of all songs, Hebrew idiom ( Exodus 29:37 , Deuteronomy 10:14 ). A foretaste on earth of the "new song" to be sung in glory ( Revelation 5:9 , 14:3 , 15:2-4 ).
Solomon's--"King of Israel," or "Jerusalem," is not added, as in the opening of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, not because Solomon had not yet ascended the throne [MOODY STUART], but because his personality is hid under that of Christ, the true Solomon (equivalent to Prince of Peace). The earthly Solomon is not introduced, which would break the consistency of the allegory. Though the bride bears the chief part, the Song throughout is not hers, but that of her "Solomon." He animates her. He and she, the Head and the members, form but one Christ [ADELAIDE NEWTON]. Aaron prefigured Him as priest; Moses, as prophet; David, as a suffering king; Solomon, as the triumphant prince of peace. The camp in the wilderness represents the Church in the world; the peaceful reign of Solomon, after all enemies had been subdued, represents the Church in heaven, of which joy the Song gives a foretaste.

2. him--abruptly. She names him not, as is natural to one whose heart is full of some much desired friend: so Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre ( John 20:15 ), as if everyone must know whom she means, the one chief object of her desire ( Psalms 73:25 Matthew 13:44-46 Philippians 3:7 Philippians 3:8 ).
kiss--the token of peace from the Prince of Peace ( Luke 15:20 ); "our Peace" ( Psalms 85:10 , Colossians 1:21 , Ephesians 2:14 ).
of his mouth--marking the tenderest affection. For a king to permit his hands, or even garment, to be kissed, was counted a great honor; but that he should himself kiss another with his mouth is the greatest honor. God had in times past spoken by the mouth of His prophets, who had declared the Church's betrothal; the bride now longs for contact with the mouth of the Bridegroom Himself ( Job 23:12 , Luke 4:22 , Hebrews 1:1 Hebrews 1:2 ). True of the Church before the first advent, longing for "the hope of Israel," "the desire of all nations"; also the awakened soul longing for the kiss of reconciliation; and further, the kiss that is the token of the marriage contract ( Hosea 2:19 Hosea 2:20 ), and of friendship ( 1 Samuel 20:41 , John 14:21 , 15:15 ).
thy love--Hebrew, "loves," namely, tokens of love, loving blandishments.
wine--which makes glad "the heavy heart" of one ready to perish, so that he "remembers his misery no more" ( Proverbs 31:6 Proverbs 31:7 ). So, in a "better" sense, Christ's love ( Habakkuk 3:17 Habakkuk 3:18 ). He gives the same praise to the bride's love, with the emphatic addition, "How much" ( Solomon 4:10 ). Wine was created by His first miracle ( John 2:1-11 ), and was the pledge given of His love at the last supper. The spiritual wine is His blood and His spirit, the "new" and better wine of the kingdom ( Matthew 26:29 ), which we can never drink to "excess," as the other ( Ephesians 5:18 ; compare Psalms 23:5 , Isaiah 55:1 ).