Section 758
II. She expected instruction in her mother's house, upon the bringing of him there
And this she expected either from her, or else from him; for the word in the Hebrew text will bear a reading which will suit either sense.
1st, They may be read, "who teacheth me;"[4246] referring it to her mother, who would do so; so Junius and Tremellius read them, to which our version agrees, and which is also favored by R. Aben Ezra. From whence may be observed, 1. That the church is a school of instruction, where souls are instructed in the ways of Christ, in the doctrines of the gospel, and in all the duties of religion; both how to carry themselves in the church, and how to behave themselves agreeably to Christ, in all acts of love and obedience to him; which she may here have chiefly a regard unto: it seems to be an allusion to a grave and prudent woman, who, taking her new-married daughter apart by herself, teaches her how to behave herself towards her husband, that so she may have his affections, and live comfortably and happily with him: some such instructions the church expected from her mother. 2. That the greatest believers are not above instruction, and the means of it; but count it a mercy to have both the one and the other; some persons who know nothing as they ought to know, think they know every thing better than others; and therefore are above ordinances, despise instruction, and contemn the ministry of the word; but those who know most of themselves and of Christ Jesus, desire to know more, value the means of instruction, and make use of the ordinances of the gospel to improve therein: the difference of these two sorts of persons may be seen in Proverbs 9:8, 9.
2dly, The words may be rendered, "thou shalt instruct me,"[4247] meaning Christ; and this sense is favored by the Targum upon the place, and is followed by many interpreters; for though the church is the school, and ordinances are the means of instruction; yet Christ is the teacher, who teacheth as none else can: this the church knew, and therefore expected instruction from him in her mother's house; being there in the way of her duty, where persons may more reasonably look for it. Now when Christ and the church are in their mother's house together, he instructs her, and shows her her interest in all the goods of the house; acquaints her with her work and duty, and how she ought to behave herself towards him; he gives some such marriage-precepts as those in Psalm 45:10, 11. "Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; so shall the king greatly desire thy beauty; he is thy Lord, and worship thou him:" He informs her what respect and affection, homage and obedience; he expected from her; and that she should not now hanker after her own kindred and relations, being married unto him.
Now Christ teaches and instructs his church and people many ways: as, 1. By his Spirit; who being sent by him, teaches them all things, goes before them, and leads them into all truth, as it is in Jesus (John 14:26, 16:13), 2. By his ministers; who are both fathers and instructors to Christ's babes, and therefore are called "pastors and teachers:" pastors, as they have the oversight of the flock; and teachers, as they are the instructors in Christ's school. 3. By the scriptures; which "are profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;" for there is nothing written there, whether promises or doctrines, words of advice and direction, or of exhortation and comfort, but what is "written for our learning; that we thro' patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope," (2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 15:4). 4. By his ordinances; for as in his church he teaches men his ways, so he teaches them by them, and in their waiting and attending on them. 5. By afflictive providences; he sometimes takes the rod, and makes use of that to promote his people's learning, when need requires; and "blessed is the man whom he chasteneth," and thereby teacheth out of his law (Psalm 94:12).