Section 475
II. She declares that Christ her "well beloved, was a bundle of myrrh unto her"
By "a bundle of myrrh," we are not, I think, to understand the twigs or branches of the myrrh-tree bound up in faggots, which the Arabians used to make fires with, the fumes whereof were very noxious and pernicious, as the historian[3411] tells us, and unless they burnt the gum, called storax, would produce incurable diseases; but either the little sprigs or flowers thereof bound up together, and put in the bosom as a pleasant nosegay to smell to, may be meant; for Christ is exceeding sweet and delightful to the believer, being "the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the vallies:" or else the gum stacte, which springs from the myrrh-tree, and so the Septuagint read it, "a bundle of stacte;" or liquid myrrh, which sweats from the tree of its own accord, without incision, and is accounted the best: and then by a bundle of it is meant a bag,[3412] or bottle of it, the same word which is used is translated a bag, in Haggai 1:6; Job 14:17, and is an allusion to persons who carry bags of perfumes, and sweet powders, or smelling-bottles in their bosoms, for the reviving of their spirits; now what these are to such persons, that and much more is Christ to his church. R.. David Kinchi[3413] relates out of Midrash Chazith, that Abraham, the father of the faithful, is there compared to myrrh; but Christ, who was the object of Abraham's faith and joy, may be much better and more aptly compared thereunto[3414] which I shall now consider. And,
1st, Christ may be compared to myrrh, if we regard the nature and properties of it; it being, 1. An excellent spice, and one of the most precious and principal spices; it is reckoned among the chief spices, chapter 4:14, and as such Moses is ordered to use it in the anointing oil (Exodus 30:23). Christ is "the chiefest among ten thousands," and exceeding precious to every believer, in his person, office and grace; there is none among the angels in heaven, or saints on earth, so desirable to them as he is; nor none who deserves to have the preeminence in, and over all things, as he does; seeing he is "the image of the invisible God, and the first-born of every creature." 2. It is very odorous, it is called "sweet-smelling myrrh," chapter 5:5, and the church is said to be perfumed with it, chapter 3:6. Christ, in his person, sacrifice, and righteousness, is of a sweet-smelling savor, both to God and believers, as has been shewn on verse 12. Believers smell a sweet smell in all his offices, characters and relations; he is in all these as a bundle of myrrh, exceeding delightful to them. 3. Yet it is somewhat bitter in taste, it is gustu leniter amara, as Pliny[3415] observes; which may be expressive, (1.) Of the sufferings of Christ; which, though they were grateful, and of a sweet-smelling savor to God, for it pleased the Lord to bruise him; here was not only voluntas Dei, the will of God, but here was also voluptas Dei, the pleasure of God; yet they were bitter to Christ,witness his agonies in the garden, his sorrows on the cross, and the spirtings, buffettings, scourgings, and revilings of his enemies; his head being crowned with thorns, and his hands and feet pierced with nails; being forsaken by his God, and by his friends, could not be grateful and pleasant to him: but though these were so bitter to Christ, yet, like myrrh, how sweet and odorous is a crucified Christ to believers! They desire to know none but Christ, and him crucified; the bitter cup, which he drank, is the ground of their joy and triumph; his death and sufferings are the foundation of their comfort, and which only can secure them against the fears of hell and wrath; it is this which embitters sin unto them; sin never appears more odious than in the glass of Christ's sufferings; and they never mourn for it in a better or truer sense, than when they "look upon him whom they have pierced;" repentance is a tear that drops from faith's eye, and is never more evangelic than when faith views a sin-bearing and sin-atoning Savior; now from the sufferings of Christ, or from a crucified Christ, distil and drop down the sweet-smelling myrrh of spiritual blessings, as justification, sanctification, adoption, pardon of sin, peace, reconciliation, and a right to eternal glory; all which come to us through the blood, sufferings, and death of a crucified Jesus. (2) The myrrh, being bitter in taste, though sweet in smell, may shew, that the cross goes along with Christ; for as Luther says, Christianus estcrucianus, a Christian is a cross-bearer; it is required of every one that will follow Christ, that he take up the cross; for he that would wear the crown, must bear the cross; and he who would have the sweet, must have the bitter; indeed, the Christian generally has his share of afflictions, crosses and trials in this life. The passover-lamb was eaten with bitter herbs, to shew, that he that "will live godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution;" yet so sweet is Christ, this bundle of myrrh, to believers, and communion with him, under all afflictions, so delightful, that they would not be without him, though they might be freed from them; this tree of life sweetens these bitter waters of Marah; they have peace in him, when in the world they have tribulation: they are contented with, and rejoice in their portion, and are willing to have the bitter, so they may have but the sweet; for these bitter afflictions and tribulations which they endure for Christ's sake, distil and drop down some precious gums of faith, patience, experience, and hope (see Romans 5:3, 4, 5)mixture of myrrh and aloes to preserve the body >.
2dly, Christ may be compared to myrrh, for the use that has been made of it. 1. It being very valuable, and highly esteemed of, was used in gifts and presents to great persons; thus we find it in the present that Jacob made to his son unknown, then governor of Egypt (Genesis 43:11), and it was part of that which the wise men of the East brought to Christ at his incarnation (Matthew 2:11). Christ is the great gift of God's grace to sinners, and an unspeakable one he is, which does not go alone, for "with him he freely gives all things:" When God gave Christ, he gave a manifest proof of his greatness and goodness; he gave like himself, and what was statable to us sinners; a favor which we neither deserved, desired, nor expected. O boundless grace! amazing love! 2. It was used, and was a principal ingredient in the anointing oil (see Exodus 30:23); and may signify that "oil of gladness which Christ is anointed with above his fellows," which being poured upon his head, in its fullness, ran down to all his members, like the oil on Aaron's head, which ran clown to the skirts of his garments; for it is from him that we receive that "anointing which teacheth all things." 3. The stacte, which is the gum that drops from the myrrh-tree, was used in the sweet incense (see Exodus 30:34); and may represent the intercession of Christ, who stands at the golden altar, with a golden censor in his hand, to offer up the prayers of all his people, which he perfumes with his much incense; which is exceeding grateful and odorous, like sweet-smelling myrrh unto the saints. 4. It was used to render persons comely and acceptable in the eyes of others; thus Esther, and the rest of the maidens, were purified with oil of myrrh, for their admission into the presence of king Ahasuerus (Esther 2:12), it is in Christ the beloved, that saints only are accepted with God, being clothed with those garments of his, which "smell of myrrh, alloes and cassia:" Thus they have liberty of access into God's presence now, and shall have a ready admittance into his kingdom and glory hereafter. 5. It was used in the embalming of dead bodies, being useful to keep them from putrefaction and corruption; for this purpose Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes to preserve the body of Jesus, John 19:39, 40, an interest in Christ, this "bundle of myrrh," and an application of him to our souls, will secure us from going down into the "pit of corruption," and will eternally save us from perishing; nothing safer and better them to have this in our bosoms, without which sinners, "dead in trespasses and sins," will rot and putrefy. 6. It is very useful in healing[3416] wounds and ulcers. Christ is the great physician that heals all the diseases of his people, freely, perfectly, and infallibly, which he does in an uncommon and unusual way; he performs his cures by his blood and stripes; his blood is a panacea, a sovereign medicine for all diseases, and "by his stripes we are healed," (Isaiah 53:5).
3dly, Christ may be compared to "a bundle of myrrh." 1. To denote the abundance of the spiritual odors of divine grace in him, he is "full of grace and truth," as a man and mediator; "for it hath pleased the Father, that all fullness should dwell in him;" which is communicated to believers, as they stand in need of it; who sometimes receive such large measures of it, that they can say, "the grace of our Lord is exceeding abundant" in them; Christ is "a bundle of myrrh" unto them; they have large views of his love, and sweet communications of his grace. 2. To shew the security of this grace in Christ; our life is sure in Christ's hands, being bound up in the bundle of life with the Lord our God, "with all the mercies and blessings of it, both for time and eternity; therefore they are called "the sure mercies, of David, being hid with Christ in God, so that they can never be taken away from us. 3. To shew the inseparableness of Christ and his grace; Christ and the blessings of his grace never go separate; where God gives his Son, he gives all things with him; and where a soul enjoys Christ, he possesses all things; peace, pardon, righteousness, and life are all in Christ; and the believer is blessed with all spiritual blessings, in heavenly places in him.
Now Christ is not so to all persons, only to them that "believe he is precious," and to none but them; Christ is a "bundle of myrrh" to none but his church; "my beloved, is unto me, etc.; which shews not only the strength of her affection to Christ, the value that she had for him, and the delight she took in him; but also a particular application of him by faith, to her own soul; which is also expressed in the following verse, "my beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire, etc."