Song of Solomon 4:8

Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.

I would have the Reader observe in this verse how Jesus calls his church by a new name, not before made use of in the Song, namely, his Spouse: perhaps in allusion to what was said before, the day of his espousals. Song of Solomon 3:11. It is blessed to observe in this, as well as the several other tender names by which Jesus speaks to his church, how very dear she is to him: and no doubt can be entertained of it. He loved her from all eternity. And he so loved her as to give himself for her. And when we see how earnest Christ is that his people should be ever with him, can anything more fully set forth the love of Jesus? Oh! that every poor, distressed, fearful soul, would think of this when calling in question, or doubting, his love. Isaiah 49:14. The call of Jesus to come from Lebanon, the goodly mountain, as Moses called it, Deuteronomy 3:25, may be supposed to imply the necessity of leaving everything, however apparently goodly in itself, for Jesus. Psalms 45:10. And Amana, Shenir, and Hermon, which some have thought the mountains about Syria, have certainly a spiritual sense like the former. Indeed what follows in the verse explains it. Lions and leopards could not be very numerous in those mountains, which were resorted to occasionally by travellers. But the sense is, Jesus calls his own, his spouse, his fair one, to leave all society, which in ungodly men is dangerous at the best, and for the most part hurtful, and to come with him in whom true joys alone are to be found. What can be more expressive of divine love! How exceedingly ought the faithful in Christ Jesus to delight in these views of the Lord.