Solomon s Song of Songs CHAPTER 3: UNITED IN LOVE Verses 1-5 THE BRIDE S ANXIETY OF SEPARATION CANTICLES VI [By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him.] The Shulamite maiden is troubled at not being able to find Solomon in the evening. Perhaps this was the normal time she expected to meet him. Some believe the bride here is dreaming because she has another similar experience but in a dream in Songs 5:6-8. There, her going out at night has more serious consequences. This theme, of lovers separated by space or time and yearning for one another, has been written about from early times and there have been many poems and odes dedicated to the subject. [REFER TO SONG OF SONGS SUPPLEMENT FOR CHAPTER 3]. The bride s yearning for the lover of her soul in the night and on her bed illustrates the desire and passion we are to have in seeking after the LORD. {See Psalms 42:1,2; 63:1-7; Isaiah 26:8,9}. [ I will rise now, I said, And go about the city; in the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love. I sought him, but I did not find him. The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, Have you seen the one I love? ] Whether in a dream or in reality, the maiden does something foolish because a woman going out at night into the streets and squares usually meant she was a prostitute. The watchmen were usually priests who guarded the city and watched for intruders or enemies. They quickly found her and she asks them if they have seen the one I love?. This supposes that these watchmen knew that she was betrothed to Solomon but if this was a dream that would not matter. <The Jews take this to refer to the Wilderness Wanderings>. [Scarcely had I passed by them, when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, until I had brought him to the house of my mother, and into the chamber of her who conceived me.] The Shulamite maiden finally finds Solomon and is comforted and consoled. She clung to him and brings him her mother s house the house she probably lives in where she was when Solomon visited her in Song 2:8-15. [I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field, do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases.] Here is the same exhortation as in Song 2:7 and it is repeated the third time in Song 8:4 this evidently is an important truth Solomon wants us to know. The idea here is to guard and protect sexual relationships until the proper time appointed by God namely marriage. It is what the Shulamite maiden and Solomon have done. Canticles 6 ends and Canticles 7, recounting another time and place, about to begin. 1
Verses 6-11 THE WEDDING PROCESSION FROM JERUSALEM CANTICLES VII [Who is this coming out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh 1 and frankincense 2, with all the merchant's fragrant powders 3?] In Jewish weddings, the bridegroom would go to the bride s house with his companions to get her for marriage. In this passage we basically have the Solomon s procession through the desert to the Shulamite s house to get her for the wedding {refer to Song 4:8}. It was obviously an awesome sight to see the approaching royal nuptial entourage coming out of the desert, billowing up pillars of smoke, that is large clouds of fragrant incense. {It could also refer to the dust clouds produced by the caravan}. The scene here is actually reminiscent of that of the LORD leading the Israelites in the wilderness as a pillar of fire at night and a pillar of smoke during the day. His presence was made known in a very visible and conspicuous fashion. There is something intrinsically awe-inspiring in watching smoke rise from a large fire or the billowing up of clouds in a thunderhead. The cloud from an atomic bomb is an awesome thing, especially for those scientists who saw it for the first time eyewitness accounts describe a somber, almost reverent attitude of the power and energy that was released. But even that pales in comparison to the power and might of the LORD represented by the smoke as a furnace rising up after He overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah {Genesis 19:27-29; and compare Revelation 14:9-11; 18:9,18; 19:3.}. Ultimately, smoke is identified with God s awesome power and glory in heaven {Revelation 15:7,8}. Myrrh, frankincense and aromatic powders are associated with romance and lovemaking {Song 4:13-15; 5:5}. See also Proverbs 7:17,18 for this association in a negative sense and Psalms 45:6-8 of the God. The Shulamite maiden here is expressing utter delight in the sights and smells in anticipation of being wed to Solomon. Oh how the Christian should have the same excitement and enthusiasm in worshipping the One and only LORD who is returning to earth to whom belongs all power, glory, beauty, honor and might! As we anticipate our LORD s return for His bride what kind of people are we to be? We are told in 2 Peter 3:8-14. 1 Myrrh [4753 more (mor) ] or mowr (more); from 4843; myrrh (as distilling in drops, and also as bitter). Arabian gum from the bark of a tree, used in making sacred oil and in perfume. This word is used only 13 times in the O.T., 9 times in Song of Songs! 2 Frankincense [3828 lebownah (leb-o-naw') ]or lebonah (leb-o-naw'); from 3836; frankincense (from its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke): -frank-) incense. A white resin burned as fragrant incense. Used either ceremonially, personally or in compounding the holy incense. 3 Fragrant powders [81 'abaqah (ab-aw-kaw') ] Feminine of 80 used only here in the O.T.. Light particles, dust, powder. Aromatic powders. Most often translated as dust occurring 7 times. 2
Spices and perfumed oils were also used as part of beauty treatments 4 {see Esther 2:12}. And we have already seen that these ointments and oils were used after baths to soothe and moisturize the skin and make it smell good we would call it aroma therapy. Proverbs 27:9 says; Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man's friend gives delight by hearty counsel. But myrrh, frankincense and aromatic powders are also associated with worship. See for example Exodus 30:22-38. It is perhaps here that the fragrant smells reach their highest purpose enhancing a person s worship of God. [Behold, it is Solomon's couch 5, with sixty valiant men around it, of the valiant of Israel. They all hold swords, being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh because of fear in the night.] This was an impressive and regal entourage and expresses the authority and importance of the bridegroom. The valiant men were brave and mighty soldiers and each was an expert in war. This means they were learned in the weapons and strategy of war. The word used here for valiant also means these men were teachable in the weapons and strategy of warfare. That is how they became expert they were willing to practice, work hard, study and learn. As Christians we also need to be valiant men learned and teachable since we are also in a battle a spiritual battle. Note what 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 says: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. And God has given us spiritual weapons to fight this war which He desires for us to be expert in. {See Ephesians 6:10-18}. We are also to be teachable as it says in 2 Timothy 2:15: Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. We are also to mature and grow spiritually so that we can be strong in the faith and teach others also. {See 2 Timothy 2:1-4; 24-26}. Why? So that like Solomon s 60 valiant men, we will be able to defend the Truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ our bridegroom. Each one had his sword ready at his side. For Christians the sword is the Word of God and we need to learn to how to use it and when to use it. 4 In Revelation 18:13 we see that as part of the Tribulation period, where God s wrath is poured out on the earth, we see the economic system of the world destroyed. Some of those commodities specifically mentioned are:. cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense.. The idea being that those things which people enjoyed because God provided it will come to an end because they did not give God the glory and thanks for it. {Compare Jeremiah 7:32-34; 16:9-11; and 25:4-11}. 5 Couch [4296 mittah (mit-taw') ] from 5186; a bed (as extended) or couch for sleeping or eating; by analogy, a sofa, litter or bier. Most often translated bed, once translated (funeral) bier, i.e., a coffin. 3
And as Jude 1:3 says: Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. [Of the wood of Lebanon Solomon the King made himself a palanquin 6 : He made its pillars of silver, its support of gold, its seat of purple, its interior inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.] A palanquin was an ornate couch or bed with a canopy that was carried by four to six men using poles or handles. This could have also been the nuptial bed later brought to the palace. The one built by Solomon must have been a sight to see. The frame of the carriage was made of the strong and aromatic wood of Lebanon cedar! {This was the construction material of Solomon s choice for both his palace and the temple}. It had a seat of purple cloth (symbol of royalty), a base of gold and the pillars or posts for the canopy were made out of silver. The interior of the carriage was laid out and hand stitched and embroidered by maidens in Jerusalem. The entire description of the carriage speaks of strength, authority and a groom that was wealthy and left nothing to chance for his bride. It was a symbol of the bridegroom s skill, order and creative power just like our bridegroom, Jesus Christ. As beautiful and ornate as Solomon s hand transported carriage was, it pales in comparison with God s glory and temple in Heaven. And when the LORD returns for His bride He will come not with human soldiers but a heavenly host of angels to receive His bride, the Church! {See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18}. Later Jesus, the bridegroom, will return to the earth after the Tribulation period and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords in the same splendor, power and glory. {See Matthew 16:27; 24:30,31; 26:63,64; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 1:7}. [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.] It was the custom for a mother to crown her son on the day of his wedding. This crown is known by the Greeks as a diadem a garland of leaves (wreath) or a band of gold, silver or embroidered cloth worn around the head. Here the Shulamite maiden is inviting the other maidens of Jerusalem to see her bridegroom with the wedding crown a symbol and confirmation of their marriage. We who are Christ s Body, the Church, are His bride {2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 21:2,9; 22:17} and we too have a bridegroom that has been crowned {see Revelation 19:12}. We have also been invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb our 6 Palanquin or chariot [668 'appiryown (ap-pir-yone') ] probably of Egyptian derivation. A sedan chair, ornamented couch, litter, throne chair. Usually an enclosed couch for one person borne on the shoulders of men by means of poles. This is the only place in the Old Testament that this word appears. 4
Bridegroom {see Revelation 19:6-9; 21:1-4}. 5