SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:3
Me hallaron los guardas que rondan la ciudad, y les dije: ¿Habéis visto al que ama mi alma?
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. The watchmen that go about the city found me , etc.] By whom are meant the ministers of the Gospel; who are called watchmen, as the prophets were under the Old Testament, ( Isaiah 52:8 Isaiah 62:6 Ezekiel 33:7); in allusion to watchmen in cities; and are so called in regard to themselves, it being their duty to watch over themselves; and to their doctrine, and all opportunities to preach it, and the success of it: their business with respect to others is to give the time of night; to point out the state and condition of the church; to give notice of danger to sinners in the broad road to destruction; and to saints, through the prevalence of error, heresy, and immorality; all which require sobriety, vigilance, prudence, courage, and faithfulness; and show the necessity and utility of the Gospel ministry, and the awfulness of it; and the care Christ takes of his churches, in providing such officers in them. These are said to “go about the city”, denoting their industry and diligence; and being in the way of their duty, they “found” the church, fell upon her case in their ministry, and hit it exactly; which shows the efficacy of the word under a divine direction; which finds out sinners, and their sins; saints, and their particular cases, unknown to ministers; and the church, having met with something suitable to her case under their ministry, [to whom I said] , took an opportunity privately to discourse with them, and put this question to them, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth ? meaning Christ; who was still the object of her love, and uppermost in her thoughts; whom she thus describes, without mentioning his name, as if he was the only “Him” in the world worthy of any regard; which shows how much he was in her mind, how much the desires and affections of her soul were towards him, and that these ministers needed no other description of him. No answer is returned to her question that is recorded; not because they were not able to give one, nor because they did not; and if they did not, it might be owing to her haste, not waiting for one; and if they did, she not being able to apply it to her case, no notice is taken of it: however, though she did not find immediate relief by them, yet she met with something from them that was of use to her afterwards, as appears by what follows.
Matthew Henry Commentary
The trials of the church by the withdrawing of Christ. (Song 3:1-5) The excellences of the church, The care of Christ for her. (Song 3:6-11) Song 3:1-5 It was hard to the Old Testament church to find Christ in the ceremonial law; the watchmen of that church gave little assistanc to those who sought after him. The night is a time of coldness darkness, and drowsiness, and of dim apprehensions concerning spiritual things. At first, when uneasy, some feeble efforts are made to obtai the comfort of communion with Christ. This proves in vain; the believe is then roused to increased diligence. The streets and broad-ways see to imply the means of grace in which the Lord is to be sought Application is made to those who watch for men's souls. Immediat satisfaction is not found. We must not rest in any means, but by fait apply directly to Christ. The holding of Christ, and not letting his go, denotes earnest cleaving to him. What prevails is a humble, arden suing by prayer, with a lively exercise of faith on his promises. S long as the faith of believers keeps hold of Christ, he will not be offended at their earnest asking, yea, he is well pleased with it. The believer desires to make others acquainted with his Saviour. Whereve we find Christ, we must take him home with us to our houses, especiall to our hearts; and we should call upon ourselves and each other, to beware of grieving our holy Comforter, and provoking the departure of the Beloved.
Song 3:6-11 A wilderness is an emblem of the world; the believer come out of it when he is delivered from the love of its sinful pleasure and pursuits, and refuses to comply with its customs and fashions, to seek happiness in communion with the Saviour. A poor soul shall com up, at last, under the conduct of the Comforter; like a cloud of incense ascending from the altar, or the smoke of the burnt-offerings This signifies pious and devout affections, and the mounting of the soul heaven-ward. The believer is filled with the graces of God' Spirit; his devotions now are very lively. These graces and comfort are from the heavenly Canaan. He, who is the Peace of his people, the King of the heavenly Zion, has provided for the safe conveyance of his redeemed through the wilderness of this world. The bed, or palanquin was contrived for rest and easy conveyance, but its beauty an magnificence showed the quality of its owner. The church is wel guarded; more are with her than are against her: believers, when the repose in Christ, and with him, though they have their fears in the night, are yet safe. The chariot here denotes the covenant of redemption, the way of our salvation. This is that work of Christ which makes him loved and admired in the eyes of believers. It is framed and contrived, both for the glory of Christ, and for the comfor of believers; it is well ordered in all things and sure. The blood of the covenant, that rich purple, is the cover of this chariot, by whic believers are sheltered from the wind and storms of Divine wrath, an the troubles of this world; but the midst of it is that love of Chris which passes knowledge, this is for believers to repose upon. Christ in his gospel, manifests himself. Take special notice of his crown Applying this to Christ, it speaks the honour put upon him, and his power and dominion __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
מצאוני 4672 השׁמרים 8104 הסבבים 5437 בעיר 5892 את 853 שׁאהבה 157 נפשׁי 5315 ראיתם׃ 7200
