Song of Solomon 3:6

Now, because we’re having the Lord’s supper today, I now invite you to turn with me to the book of Song of Solomon as we continue to look through this book. As we come to the table of the Lord this morning, I hope that this would be of some benefit to us. to look at verse 6 of chapter 3 of this book. Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfume with marred frankincense, with all powders of the merchant. Who is this? Now you recall that the daughters of Jerusalem, which were, we said were really young professing Christians, having solemnly been warned not to disturb the intimate fellowship between Christ and his bride, the church, verse 5, speak of the wonder and admiration that they have for the church here in verse 6. The more they look upon the bride, the more amazed the daughters of Jerusalem are. and they highly commend her. Now the bride is portrayed here as coming out of the wilderness. Who is this? We never saw anyone like her. She has no equal. She has a wonderful beauty and loveliness about her. And she comes or she ascends out of the wilderness. Now the wilderness here, the desert, a dry, lifeless place. The wilderness here signifies the spiritually dead world. And they are called, it’s called the wilderness of the people in Ezekiel 2035. God tells us to come out from among them and be separate, saith the Lord in 2. Corinthians 617 to his people. You’re not of the world, for Christ has chosen you out of the world. John 1519. And you’re to be someone different from the world. So the Bible speaks of the beauty of holiness in Psalm 292. There’s a certain attractiveness to the godly life that should be admired. Is your life beautified by holiness? Do you live differently from the world around you? Have you come out? out of the wilderness? And so the bride is portrayed here as coming out of the wilderness. My second thought is this. Associated with the bride are pillars of smoke. Notice that it’s not just one pillar. It’s plural. Pillars. Many pillars rising up on every side spreading into a canopy. In the Hebrew, the phrase can be translated going up like a pond. tree straight upward for a distance and then spreading out like the branches of the palm tree. The word for smoke here is not the word that would be applied to the smoke of a fire. This is the smoke of incense that we’re talking about, ascending heaven rules. And thus this represents the prayers and the praise of the praise of the people. people of God. Going up continually to God. Because there is a plurality to it. Constantly, there are pillars of smoke going up. Look with me at, if you would, with me at Revelation chapter 8 and verses 3 and 4, if you would. Revelation chapter 8 and verses 3 and 4, we read this. and another angel came and stood at the altar having a golden censor. And there was given unto him much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar, which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, descended up before God out of the angel’s hand. So, the smoke of the incense is connected with the prayers here of the saints of God. And that’s what I think we see here. And what does this tell us? It tells us this, if you were a child of God, if you were a member of the bride of Christ, you ought to be a person of prayer. That should be something that dominates or as a continuous activity of your life. Remember the first of the first. thing that was said of Paul after his conversion on the Damascus road, behold he prayer. Behold he pray. Can that be said of you? So associated with the bride are pillars of smoke. Thirdly, and lastly, a sweet smell is associated with the bride according to verse 6 also. The spices and powders which perfumed the bride are commonly used in the song of Solomon to refer to the graces of Christ’s spirit. And so what this is telling us is the influences of the Holy Ghost are more fragrant than all the spices of the east. Lively Christian graces are a powerful influence and make the believer a sweet savor in every place, 2 Corinthians 2. Now the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. The world takes note of your Christian graces, but other believers should admire them. Do Christian graces stand out in your life? Do you send them? off the perfume of the various fruits of the Spirit of God. Well, I’ll conclude with this thought. You would do well, before you dismiss this verse and go on to the next, to inquire how far your experience bears a correspondence to it. Have you come out of the world? Are you a person of prayer and praise? and is the fruit of the spirit abundant in your life. May God bless us this morning as we come to the table.