Watchman Nee taught that verses 6-11 were not spoken by the Beloved or his beloved maiden, but rather the Holy Spirit speaking through the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The question of Vs 6 is spoken one of them and the replies that follow are spoken by others, revealing the scene before them.
Song 3:6, “Who is this coming out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the merchant’s fragrant powders?”
What they see in the distant cloud of dust, rising like columns of smoke, approaching from the wilderness. We learn later that it is caused by a progression of men, carrying the Beloved and his beloved maiden on a palanquin.
- Wilderness – midbar, pasture, uninhabited land, desert, or mouth
- Pillars of smoke – smoke represents the glory of God in the Tabernacle. Smoke comes out of fire, revealing Holy Spirit investing her with new truth.
- Myrrh – burial spice, He is perfumed, no longer smells of death, rising to God as a sweet smelling sacrifice; first born from the dead
- Frankincense – Used in the Holy Place & Holy of Holies. Jesus is rising to His role as High Priest (Heb 7:25)
- Merchant Powders – Merchant is singular. This speaks of Jesus’ commitment to us, at a cost of faith and obedience. Matthew 13:45-46; merchant finds a pearl at great price (Church); sold all.
First Reply: Song 3:7, “Behold, it is Solomon’s couch, with sixty valiant men around it, of the valiant of Israel. (8) They all hold swords, being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh because of fear in the night.’
Solomon’s Couch/Palanquin: a portable enclosed chair, royal wedding bed. Charles Spurgeon preached, “Great princes of the East are in the habit of traveling in splendid palanquins, which are at the same time chariots and beds. The person reclines within, screened by curtains from public view; a body-guard protects the equipage from robbers, and blazing torches light up the path along which the travelers proceed.”
- This speaks of our rest with Him. Just as the world cannot see Jesus or the Church right now, hidden in spiritual places, but very real.
- We are seated with Him ABOVE this evil world. Where He is seated, there are great victories while on earth darkness prevails.
- 60 Men – There are 60 pillars of support in Moses’ Tabernacle
- Valiant – gibbor, they were mighty and experts of war
- Fear of the night – demonic powers of darkness
Song 3:9, “Of the wood of Lebanon Solomon the King made himself a palanquin. (10) He made its pillars of silver, its support of gold, its seat of purple, its interior paved with love by (for) the daughters of Jerusalem.”
The King made the palanquin Himself!!! The wood of Lebanon was the most beautiful, fragrant, expensive and strongest of all wood. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” The wood in the Tabernacle was covered with gold because wood represents humanity and gold represents deity. Our life is covered with His grace and all He is.
- Pillars of Silver – Pillars are what holds up a structure. Silver represents ‘redemption’,
- Support of Gold – Around the royal seat and base.
- Support – rĕphiydah, only time used in the Bible. It is the base, the floor, foundation
- Seat of Purple
- Seat speaks of our spiritual position, seated with Him in heavenly places, ruling from that seated position IN CHRIST
- Purple speaks of royalty and authority
- Interior paved with love (for) the daughters of Jerusalem
- Paved – ratsaph, fit together, patterned, designed.
- This speaks of the inner workings of God’s love for the entire Church (mature and immature), drawing them to His beauty
Song 3:11, “Go forth, O daughters of Zion, and see King Solomon with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, the day of the gladness of his heart.”
Mother is the Church.
- The Crown represents His power and authority to rule as the King. This crown is a ‘wedding crown’ that the Bridegroom wears to the wedding. Even if Jesus has all authority, He will not force us to crown Him, this only comes by ‘voluntary love’.
Enjoy this song as you meditate. https://youtu.be/O6lBUAWCE2s?t=1
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