His cheeks [are] as a bed of spices, [as] sweet
flowers
Which may intend the presence of Christ with his people in his
word and ordinances; often called his "face", which he shows, and
they seek after, than which nothing is more desirable; walking in
the light of his countenance is preferable to walking among spicy
beds, where fragrant plants and odoriferous flowers grow: or the
cheeks, being the seat of modesty and blushing, may denote the
great humility of Christ, seen in his assumption of our nature,
throughout the whole course of his life, and especially at his
death, and which renders him very delightful to his people; how
lovely does the meek and lowly Jesus look! how beautiful are
those blushing cheeks of his, who, being equal with God, took
upon him the form of a servant! The cheeks may intend not bare
cheeks, but with the hair growing upon them, the hair of the
beard; which puts forth itself, and grows upon the cheeks or
"jaws" {o}, as it may be rendered, which makes a man look
graceful and majestic; so Aben Ezra interprets the word of the
beard, and so many Christian F16 interpreters, which puts out
like aromatic plants on spicy beds. This was literally true of
Christ, who was a grown man when he suffered, and gave his cheeks
to the smiters, and who plucked off the hair of his beard: and in
a mystical sense it may intend either believers in Christ, who
are the hair of his cheeks, as well as of his head; and who, like
spicy beds and fragrant flowers, are odoriferous to Christ and to
one another; or "[as] towers of perfumes" F17 as
some, which ascend upwards in the exercise of faith, hope, and
love: or rather the graces of the Spirit in Christ, as man and
Mediator; which, like the hair of the beard, are in Christ, in
great numbers, without measure, and make him very lovely and
graceful; and are like beds of spices and sweet flowers, for the
variety and sweet smelling savour of them. Though it seems, best
of all, to be expressive of the manliness, courage, prudence,
gravity, and majesty of Christ; of which the beard, thick set and
well grown, is an indication; all which appeared in the whole
conduct and deportment of Christ among men; in his ministry, in
his life and conversation, at his apprehension, arraignment,
condemnation, sufferings, and death. The cheeks rising, and being
a little elevated, are fitly described by beds in a garden, by
"towers of perfumes", or fragrant flowers and fruit trees, reared
up in the form of towers, or pyramids; or by a dish of fruit
preserves, placed in such a figure: and the hair of the cheeks,
or beard, are aptly represented by spices, rising up from a bed
of them; and all denote the beauty, savour, and majesty of
Christ. Or, as the Vulgate Latin version, "as beds of spices set
by confectioners"; not as aromatic plants, set in rows by the
gardener; but the spices themselves, set in rows by the
confectioner in vessels F18, placed in his shop in rows to be
sold; which being of various colours, especially white and red,
the cheeks, for colour and eminence, are compared unto them;
his lips [like] lilies dropping sweet smelling
myrrh;
by which are meant the words of Christ, which drop from his lips;
which are like lilies, for their purity, thinness, and beautiful
colour: the words of Christ are pure words, free from all
pollution, deceit, and human mixtures; nor are his lips big with
his own praises, but with expressions of regard for his Father's
glory; and are very pleasant, gracious, and graceful. But then
the comparison is not between them and white lilies, for not
white, but red lips, are accounted the most beautiful; see (
Song of Solomon 4:3
) ; wherefore rather red or purple lilies are respected, such as
Pliny F19, and other writers F20, speak
of; such as grew in Syria F21, a neighbouring country; and
also in Egypt F23 grew lilies like to roses. Some
F24 think the allusion is to crowns,
made of red or purple lilies, wore at nuptial festivals, on which
were poured oil of myrrh, and so dropped from them; but the
phrase, "dropping sweet smelling myrrh", is not in construction
with "lilies", but with "lips": signifying, that the lips or
words of Christ were like to lilies; not so much or not only for
their thinness and colour, as for the sweet smell of them, very
odorous, grateful, and acceptable; as are the doctrines of peace,
pardon, righteousness, life, and salvation, to sensible souls,
delivered in the ministry of the word: the manner of which
delivery of them is expressed by "dropping"; gradually, by little
and little, as Christ's church and people can bear them;
seasonably, and at proper times, as their wants require
constantly, as while Christ was here or, earth, so now he is in
heaven, by his ministers, in all ages, to the end of the world;
and yet sweetly and gently refreshing, and making fruitful; see (
Deuteronomy 32:2 ) .
Moreover, the kisses of Christ's lips, or the manifestations of
his love, may be taken into the sense of this clause; which
together with the grateful matter and graceful manner of his
words, render him very acceptable to his church; see ( Song of
Solomon 1:2 ) ; and such a sentiment is expressed, in much
the same language, by others F25.