Song of Solomon 4:15
Song of Solomon 4:15
A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
Christ having commended his church as a well watered garden, and declared her fruitfulness; she breaks forth in these words, and ascribes it all to him, saying, "O fountain of gardens, and well of living waters," etc. as the words are rendered by some:[3858] though others[3859] take them to be the words of Christ; but rather are the church's. It is true, as if she should say, I am a garden, and a garden enclosed by thy sovereign grace, where the streams and flows of thy grace run and water all my plants, and make them so fruitful as they are: but I am not the spring, the fountain from whence they flow it is thou who art the fountain of gardens, from whence I am supplied, and am put into, and kept in the flourishing condition I am; it is not owing to myself, but it is by thy grace I am what I am; and therefore I will ascribe all the glory to thee. So that the church here acknowledges Christ,
I. To be "a fountain of gardens".
II. "A well of living waters." And,
III. His grace to be like "streams from Lebanon."
There seems to be a respect to several places called by these names: there was one called "the Fountain of Gardens," which flowed from Lebanon, six miles from Tripoli, and watered all the gardens about, whence it had its name, and all the country that lay between those two places:[3860] and there was another, called "the Well of living Waters," a little mile to the south of Tyre; it had four fountains, from whence were cut various aqueducts and rivulets, which watered all the plain of Tyre, and all its gardens; which fountains were little more than a bow's cast from the main sea; and in which space six mill, were employed:[3861] and there is a rupture in mount Lebanon, as Mr. Maundrel[3862] says, which runs up in seven hours traveling; and which on both sides is steep and high, and clothed with fragrant greens from top to bottom; and every where refreshed with fountains, failing down from the rocks, in pleasant cascades, the ingenious work of nature: and Rauwolff,[3863] who was on this mountain in 1575, relates; "We came, says he, into pleasant groves, by delightful rivulets that arose from springs, that made so sweet a noise as to be admired by king Solomon," (Song of Solomon 4:15).