Reading 'Verbatim', the Books of the Old Testament - 'Song of Songs' - An Allegory; Bi-Monthly, Post H, Chapter 5, July 29, 2020

​Welcome back, my friends,

Now, my friends, let us study the 'allegorical' interpretation of the 'Song of Songs' Chapters 3-8 this week, with daily posts, July 27-28-29-30-31, August 1, 2020 with all chapters from the allegorical interpretation posted, as the Lord wills.  This includes either the relationship between Israel and God and/or the church and Christ,  through  'Comments of Matthew Henry', 1710.

No matter how you choose to 'study the Word', you, I, must always have the corresponding Holy Bible Scripture to read directly.  It is important to ALWAYS remember, the Holy Spirit will 'quicken', 'enliven our spirit' to the 'truth'. John 16:13 provides audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 
  
13 'But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.' ​ Therefore:

​​The Holy Spirit illuminates our minds by helping us to see how the events in the past recorded in Scripture carry over to today a vision for the future, shaping our view of the world, of God, and a path for our life of faith in the process. The Spirit orients our present, on the basis of the past, towards the future vision.

[Reading 'Verbatim', the Books of the Old Testament - 'Song of Songs' 'Review'; Bi-Monthly, Post-A/B, July 13/15, 2020] Link to a list of All Prior Posts.
Reading 'Verbatim', the Books of the Old Testament - 'Song of Songs'; Bi-Monthly, Post Introduction, June 29, 2020​ Link to Introduction
​Reading 'Verbatim', the Books of the Old Testament - 'Song of Songs'; Bi-Monthly, Post Chapter 5, July 6-AM, 2020 Link to Chapter 5, Verbatim.  audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 

Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.
​Chapter 5 Christ's answer. (1) The disappointments of the church from her own folly. (2-8) The excellences of Christ. (9-16)  audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 

Christ's answer. (1) audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html ​ 
1 '​See how ready Christ is to accept the invitations of his people. What little good there is in us would be lost, if he did not preserve it to himself. He also invites his beloved people to eat and drink abundantly. The ordinances in which they honour him, are means of grace.'

​2-8 The disappointments of the church from her own folly.  audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html ​
'Churches and believers, by carelessness and security, provoke Christ to withdraw. We ought to notice our spiritual slumbers and distempers. Christ knocks to awaken us, knocks by his word and Spirit, knocks by afflictions and by our consciences; thus, Revelation 3:20. audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html   

When we are unmindful of Christ, still he thinks of us. Christ's love to us should engage ours to him, even in the most self-denying instances; and we only can be gainers by it. Careless souls put slights on Jesus Christ. Another could not be sent to open the door. Christ calls to us, but we have no mind, or pretend we have no strength, or we have no time, and think we may be excused. Making excuses is making light of Christ. Those put contempt upon Christ, who cannot find in their hearts to bear a cold blast, or to leave a warm bed for him. See the powerful influences of Divine grace. [See Matthew 22 audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html ]   

He put in his hand to unbolt the door, as one weary of waiting. This betokens a work of the Spirit upon the soul. The believer's rising above self-indulgence, seeking by prayer for the consolations of Christ, and to remove every hinderance to communion with him; these actings of the soul are represented by the hands dropping sweet-smelling myrrh upon the handles of the locks. But the Beloved was gone!

​By absenting himself, Christ will teach his people to value his gracious visits more highly. Observe, the soul still calls Christ her Beloved. Every desertion is not despair. Lord, I believe, though I must say, Lord, help my unbelief. His words melted me, yet, wretch that I was, I made excuses. The smothering and stifling of convictions will be very bitter to think of, when God opens our eyes. The soul went in pursuit of him; not only prayed, but used means, sought him in the ways wherein he used to be found. The watchmen wounded me. Some refer it to those who misapply the word to awakened consciences. The charge to the daughters of Jerusalem, seems to mean the distressed believer's desire of the prayers of the feeblest Christian. Awakened souls are more sensible of Christ's withdrawings than of any other trouble.'  Amen. Amen.

9-16 The excellences of Christ.  audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html 
​ 
'Even those who have little acquaintance with Christ, cannot but see amiable beauty in others who bear his image. There are hopes of those who begin to inquire concerning Christ and his perfections. Christians, who are well acquainted with Christ themselves, should do all they can to make others know something of him. Divine glory makes him truly lovely in the eyes of all who are enlightened to discern spiritual things. He is white in the spotless innocence of his life, ruddy in the bleeding sufferings he went through at his death. This description of the person of the Beloved, would form, in the figurative language of those times, a portrait of beauty of person and of grace of manners; but the aptness of some of the allusions may not appear to us. He shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all that believe. May his love constrain us to live to his glory.'  audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html ​Amen. Amen.

We shall continue with Post I, Chapter 6, tomorrow, July 30, 2020.  So, please take your time when in the 'presence of the Lord', prayerfully studying His Love Letter to You, the Holy Bible.  Amen. Amen.