Song of Solomon 3:11

Go forth; the bride, to wit, the church, bids particular believers go forth to see this sight; whereby is implied that Christians must go out of the world, to wit, in affection, and out of themselves, by denying themselves, and putting off the old man, their corrupt nature, if they desire to see and enjoy Christ. Daughters of Zion; the same with daughters of Jerusalem; for Zion and Jerusalem are ofttimes promiscuously used in Scripture. Behold king Solomon; looking in and through him upon the Messias, who is the King of peace, and of whom Solomon was an illustrious type. The crown wherewith his mother crowned him; which being applied to Solomon, may design either,

1. The crown royal, wherewith his mother, Bathsheba, is said to have crowned him, because Solomon was crowned by David's order upon her suggestion, and by virtue of his promise confirmed by an oath to her, 1 Kings 1:16, &c. Or,

2. That garland or crown which was usually worn in nuptial solemnities, as may be gathered from Ezekiel 16:12, and is expressly affirmed by divers ancient writers. But being applied to Christ, it notes that honour and glory which was given to him, which though principally done by his Father, yet is here ascribed to his mother, i.e. to the universal church, or congregation of believers, which in respect of his humanity may be called his mother, partly because he was born in and of her, and one of her members, and therefore was subject to her institutions, whence she is represented as a woman in travail, bringing forth a man child, to wit, Christ, Revelation 12:1; and partly because in a spiritual sense she is said to conceive and bring forth Christ in particular believers, Galatians 4:19. And this mother may be said to crown Christ, both because it is the great design and business of the church to advance Christ's honour in the world, and because she brings forth believers, whom Christ esteems as his crown and glory, as God calls them, Isaiah 62:3. In the day of his espousals; when the church is betrothed or married to him, Jeremiah 2:2 Hosea 2:19 2 Corinthians 11:2; which is done when the covenant is made or confirmed between them, or when faithful persons are converted and united to Christ, and more completely when they are received by Christ into his more full and immediate fellowship in the kingdom of glory. In the day of the gladness of his heart; when he rejoineth over his bride, as the phrase is used, Isaiah 62:5. So this is the same thing expressed in other words. The conversion and salvation of sinners is the joy of Christ, as appears from Isaiah 53:11 Luke 15:32, and many other places of Scripture.