Song of Solomon 5:12

Son 5:12 His eyes [are] as [the eyes] of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, [and] fitly set.

Ver. 12. His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of water, &c., ] i.e., they are full of all innocence, singleness, and chastity; {See Trapp on "Son 1:15"} {See Trapp on "Son 4:1"} where Christ had attributed the very same to the Church, who is his image and glory, as the woman is of the man, {1Co 11:7} the very looking glass of his dignity and reflex of his comeliness. His eyes are elsewhere said to be as a "flame of fire," {Rev 1:14 Dan 10:6} sharp and terrible, such as pierce into the inward parts, and need no outward light. Here they are as the "eyes of doves," casting an amiable, gracious, joyful, and comfortable look upon his Church. As his "eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men" {Psa 11:4} - the one points out his knowledge, the other his critical descant - so he casteth an eye of singular providence and tender affection upon his afflicted people. "I have seen, I have seen," saith he, "the sufferings of my people; I know their sorrows, and am come down to deliver them." {Exo 3:7-8} His "eye affects his heart," and his heart sets his hand to work for their help and safety. In Eze 1:8, we read of faces, eyes, wings, hands, &c., all to express the sufficiency of God’s providence for all means of help; see Psa 33:18-19; Psa 34:16. The Church is like the land of Canaan, which is said to be "a hind which the Lord careth for: the eyes of the Lord are always upon it." {Deu 11:11} He seeth that loveliness in her that he overlooks all, as it were, to look upon her; he beholds that worth in her that the buzzards of the world cannot ken. Therefore the "world knows us not," respects us not, "because it knew not him," {1Jn 3:1} saw "no such beauty that they should desire him." {Isa 53:2} Nicostratus in Aelian, himself being a cunning artisan, finding a curious piece of work, and being wondered at by one, and asked by one what pleasure he could take to stand gazing as he did on the picture, answered, Hadst thou mine eyes, thou wouldst not wonder, but rather be ravished, as I am, at the inimitable art of this piece. Similarily, had men those dove like single eyes that Christ and his people have, "washed in milk," that is, in milk white waters, cleansed from the dust of sinful prejudice, and "fitly set," as a precious stone in the foil of a ring, or as the precious filling stones in the holy ephod, {Exo 25:7} they would "kiss the Son" and admire his spouse; whereas, for want of spiritual eyes, the northern proverb is verified, "unkent, unkist," unknown, unrespected.