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In this lovely pastoral the literal meaning is, we think, as stated in introduction to homily on ver. 15. But it may be taken as setting forth how Christ woes and wins the souls he loves. The various stages are shown.

I. THE SOUL HEARS HIS VOICE. "The voice of my Beloved" (ver. 8). It is as said in John 10., "My sheep hear my voice." They hear it in the loving exhortations of those who would win them for Christ; in his Word; in the silent pleadings of his Spirit; in his providence. And it is gladly heard. The tone of this ver. 8 shows that she who hears is pleased to hear. There is the response of her heart; cf. "My sheep hear... and follow me;" "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth."

II. THEN THE SOUL SEES HIM COMING. "Behold, he cometh leaping upon," etc. Christ says to his Church, "Behold, I come quickly." There, as here, his coming is:

1. Swiftly. Conversions to Christ very rarely are sudden, but they often seem so (cf. those of penitent thief, Paul, Philippian gaoler). The conviction that Christ alone can save us, and that he will, is borne in upon our souls all in a moment, as it were; the truth rushes in upon us.

2. No distance can keep him back. The soul has been distant enough from him; "over the hills, and far away." How we have kept aloof from him! What space we have put between him and ourselves! Gone, maybe, into some "far country."

3. Difficulties do not daunt him. Mountains and hills - he leapeth upon them. What impossibilities have sometimes seemed to stand in the way of a soul's salvation! Take the instances above named. What human probability was there that they should be won for Christ? But he makes nothing of them; they cannot hinder him. "Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel," etc. (Zechariah 4:7).

4. Very near. "He standeth behind our wall." Just outside (cf. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock"). Often the soul when sought by the Saviour is conscious of his nearness, and that he is seeking her. Sometimes when we are alone and in serious thought; sometimes in sacred services, when his Word has been preached with power.

III. KNOWS THAT HE IS SEARCHING FOR HER. "He looketh in at the windows" (ver. 9). He will find her if she is to be found, and so his eyes search for her. This, too, the soul often knows. "Thou God seest me" (cf. Psalm 139:1-12, "O Lord, thou hast searched me," etc.). Our hearts' inmost secrets, unknown to our nearest and dearest earthly friend, are known to him; for all our hearts have windows through which his eyes often keenly glance. Conscience shows us those "eyes of the Lord which are in every place." (For illustration of this loving search, cf. parables in Luke 15.)

IV. IS AFFECTIONATELY ENTREATED BY HIM. He:

1. Addresses her as his much-loved one. "My fair one." Such name of endearment tells the truth as to what our souls are to him. So also "my dove" (ver. 16). We should not call them fair - no, indeed! But love invests all it loves with beauty. What mother does not think her child lovelier than everybody else's? Other people do not see it; she does. And so Christ sees in our souls what we certainly cannot see.

2. Bids her "rise up and come away. (Cf. He arose and came to his father.") How many would be saved willingly if only they could stay where they are - in self-indulgence, in gainful trade, in worldly conformity, in allowed sin! But it may not be. The soul must "rise up," etc. We must leave our sins behind us when we come to Christ.

3. He encourages her by telling of the pleasure he desires for her. He would have her go forth with him in delightful walk amid the flowers and fragrance, the sunshine and song, of a lovely spring morning. No more exquisite description of such a morning was ever penned. And so the Divine wisdom moves us, saying, "Her ways are ways of pleasantness," etc. And we are taught that the course of the soul should be as a going forth amid the loveliness of such a morning in spring. It is not through a vale of tears, but amid what is here told of. Joy should be a chief element in the soul's life in Christ.

4. He bids her cast away her fear. (Cf. as to her fearfulness, on ver. 15.) Young souls are often fearful - of themselves, of the world, of the cress. Christ would dispel such fears.

5. He asks for response. He would hear her voice. The voice of the soul in prayer, in praise, in self-surrender, - that is the voice Christ loves to hear.

V. IS FINALLY AND FULLY WON. (Cf. ver. 16.) See how gladly:

1. She confesses him, openly avowing that he is the Beloved of her heart, and that she is altogether his (cf. "She fell down before him, and told him all the truth"). Confession is the law of love.

2. She declares that he dwells in her heart. Those pure graces, the lilies of his creating, are those amongst which he takes delight. Christ dwells in our hearts through faith.

3. She desires that whilst her life lasts he may come to her as he has done. (Ver. 17.) So long as the night of life lasts, and until the eternal dawn breaks, will she welcome his presence and rejoice in his coming.

CONCLUSION. Christ does so woo our souls, especially those who, as the one told of here, are young. May he win them as he won this! - S.C.

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KJV: The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

WEB: The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills.