Song of Solomon 3:11

We’re going to do something different today. I’m going to break off of Luke and just do our study from the Song of Solomon. So I asked you to turn with me, chapter 3 of the song, and I’m going to read verses 6 through 11. But our focus is going to be on verse 11 this morning. Sonna Solomon, Chapter 3, reading from verse 6 through 11, and our focus will be verse 11 in particular. Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfume with myrr and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant? Behold his bed, which is Solomon’s. Three score valiant men are about it of the valiant of Israel. They all hold swords, being expert in war. Every man had this sword upon his side or thigh because of fear in the night. King Solomon made himself a chariot of wood of Lebanon. He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paid with love for the daughters of Jerusalem. Go forth, though, you daughters of Zion, and behold, King Solomon, with a crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals. and the day of the gladness of his heart. May God blessed to us. It’s sacred and holy word this morning. Now this passage relates to Christ conveying his bride, if you would, if you would, out of the wilderness of this world to the promised land of heaven. He uses a portable, enclosed chair. carried by poles on the shoulders of valiant men. Versus 8 to 10. Now, this royal chair is covered by beautiful curtains, and it pictures Christ’s intimate fellowship with his people as they go through this life. The valiant soldiers escorting this conveyance, this enclosed chair, portray the holy angels of God, who are encamped about the people of God, to protect them and watch over them, and to relieve our fears as we go through this life. Here, the people of God in verse 11 are to behold and admire their king, who is espoused to them. Now, let me begin by saying this. You should understand the reference to Solomon here as speaking about Jesus Christ. Now, if you go through the scriptures, there are times when David is chosen as the one to look to, but it’s not King David that he speaks of in this text. It’s King Solomon. He speaks on. King David is a type of Christ in his state of humiliation. Because David, you recall, while anointed king by Samuel, went many years in a state of humiliation, being attacked by Saul and hunted and so forth and hiding out in the caves and in the woods and so forth. He had a hard time, a state of humiliation. He was despised and rejected of men, our Lord, and thus fits right in with that situation with David, a man of sorrow is acquainted with grief, and yet, yet Christ was the king of the Jews that whole time. Now, the Psalms often speak of David, but as we read this morning from Acts 2, Peter declares that the Psalmist, being a prophet, looked beyond himself and saw the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, it is a prophecy. of the son of David, Jesus Christ, and his exultation eventually to the throne. This is how the prophets speak of Christ coming and rescuing his people. And it’s a reference really to Jesus Christ. Now let’s look at a couple of passages, because you’re going to run across these verses, and you should be aware of how best to interpret them. Jeremiah chapter. 30, verses 8 to 10. Jeremiah chapter 30, verses 8 to 10. For it shall come to pass in that day, said the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him. But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David, their king, whom I will raise up unto them. Therefore fear thou not, all my servant Jacob, said the Lord. Neither be dismayed, O Israel. For lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity, and Jacob shall return, and be at rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. So here we have the promise of David, their king, being raised up. Now, he’s not talking here about the resurrection, but he’s going to raise up someone here to lead the nation. And that person, of course, is the Lord Jesus Christ. This prophecy must be understood of Jesus Christ. And the Messiah, being sent by God, the Father. Father to break the sin yoke of His people. The people of God will serve the Lord their God in a spiritual manner, in righteousness, and in true holiness. They will serve Christ with reverence in godly fear. And this takes us to the New Testament Church. And what it means and how that this is how the Lord is going to work in this manner. And they will serve Christ. Now Christ is sent as the Savior. Christ is sent as the one who sacrifices himself to save His people from their sins. Even the Jews refer this passage to the Messiah. And so we see this passage, while it speaks of David, it’s really speaking about the son of David, Jesus Christ. Now, if you would, turn with me to another passage, to Ezekiel 34. And we’ll look at verses 23 and 24. And the scripture says, I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant, David. He shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God. And my servant David, a prince among them. I, the Lord, have spoken. Prince David is said to come and shepherd his people. Now, it doesn’t take much imagination. The think in the New Testament about what is saying, of Jesus himself, he speaks this manner. I am the good shepherd. And the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. He is the David that’s spoken off in his passage. And he comes to take care of and watch over his people. So Ezekiel here is describing Christ as sacrificing himself, even his life. life of the sheep in order to make us the people of the Lord our God. Christ humbled himself when he came to earth. Even under the death of the cross, the Bible tells us. And so this passage is again speaking of Christ, but using David as the lead in as a type of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Let’s look at one more passage in the book of Posea in chapter 3 and verses 4 and 5. Josea 3 verses 4 and 5. For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king and without a prince and without a sacrifice, without an image, and without an African, and while terrifying, and afterward shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God and David their king, and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days. Here, the word afterward, signifies that dire period where they were in captivity, and here they’re going to return from that. captivity. God will come to bring this to an end, and they will return and seek the Lord their God, it says. This speaks of repentance. This speaks of a change of heart. And of course, they will also seek David, their king, the Messiah, the representative of the Lord, who has been brought out to fulfill the word of God. So this promise goes beyond just returning from captivity and speaks of returning in a sense of repenting of their rebellious ways and the Lord saving them. It speaks of not merely returning to the Lord, but seeking and embracing David their king. And David has been long dead, as people. are acknowledged. But it speaks of the son of David, the Lord Jesus Christ, which, as we’ve said before, David was the title. It speaks of Israel being saved or converted under the gospel, under the gospel of Jesus Christ it’s preached to him. There shall come out of Zion a deliverer and shall turn away on Godliness from Jacob Isaiah 59. And how does the Lord do this? He does it through his blood and righteousness being shed for his people. Let’s look at one passage here in Isaiah 55, which explains this. Isaiah 55, verses one to four. Familiar passage, but notice it carefully. Ho everyone that thirsteth, come you to the waters, he that hath no money, come ye buy and eat, ye come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread, in your labor, for that which satisfied not. Harkin diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me. Here, and your soul shall live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, and a leader and commander to the people. Now here again, we see David is used, but the sure mercies of David are the sure mercies of Jesus Christ that is being spoken of. And so we’re talking about his blood, his righteousness. This is the gospel that’s coming through in this passage of Scripture. So when we talk about King David in Scripture, we’re referring to Christ in a state of humiliation. But our text here speaks about King Solomon, and this speaks about Christ in a state of exaltation. King Solomon. is it Christ in the state of exaltation and where to behold King Solomon. He portrays Christ with regard to his wealth, his wisdom, his honor, his peace, and his greatness. Christ is the wonderful, the counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and He comes to the rule over his life. people. Now, if you look with me at Psalm 72, there’s an interesting thought here. I can’t develop this passage this morning, but let me just mention a couple of things. Now, notice the preface here. A song for Solomon. It’s not a song of Solomon. He’s not a song of Solomon. It evidently was written by David, but he writes of Solomon in this passage of scripture. In other words, it is a prophecy. And the prophecy is about really Jesus Christ, who is indeed King Solomon in this passage. And so it is with the song of Solomon. when we read about of Solomon, it is speaking really of Jesus Christ ultimately. We talked about how Solomon is a type of Christ in several ways. One, the vastness of his kingdom. Secondly, being a rich and powerful king. Thirdly, in the great wisdom he displayed. for all the world to see. Fourthly, in his peaceable reign, fifthly, and the fact of the happiness of his people. All these things are reminiscent of Christ and portray what Christ is going to do when it comes. So the application here of this text in Jose say, or excuse me, in the Song of Solomon, is about Jesus Christ. Behold King Solomon. To lay, let your eyes rest upon the Savior. Let your eyes behold his head that’s crowned with glory, and wearing many crowns. His hands once pierced, are now holding the scepter. His waist, he wears a golden girdle and bears the keys, both hell and death and heaven. His countenance is like the sun which shineth in its strength. His eyes are like a flame of fire. His feet are like brass as if they burned in a furnace. His voice, this is the sound of many waters and out of his mouth goes a sharp, two-edged sword, for he speaks the word of God. We fall down at his feet, and we realize that he loves you, and he’s washed you from your sins in his own blood, and he rules over you. Survey your glorious king and exclaim, yea, he is chief among 10,000 and altogether lovely. That’s our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Look up to him when you are troubled. When doubts and fears arise. If he be for you, who can successfully be against you? Or he’s all powerful. Behold your King Solomon in all his glorious splendor, and fear not, because he possesses all power in heaven and on earth. So learn to put your confidence in him. This is what we should do. So you should understand the reference here to Solomon is speaking of Jesus Christ. Secondly, you should also contemplate Jesus. Christ as wedding his bride. Notice how this is stated back in the Psalm of Solomon in verse 11. Behold King Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals. Now at first this may seem puzzling. And it’s troubling sometimes we read things in scripture because we’re not sure how best to interpret them. But the truth of the matter is if you study the scriptures, eventually you get the key that scriptures will reveal to us how the best interpret this. Mother is not to be understood of his physical mother. We’re not talking about Mary here. But we are talking about a mother in a spiritual sense. The Universal Church may be said to be the one that has brought forth Christ. Now, this is interestingly portrayed in the book of Revelation, if you would, turn with me there to chapter 12. Chapter 12, I want to read verses of verse of Revelation. one to six. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven. A woman glowed with the sun and the moon under her feet. Upon her had a crown of 12 stars. Notice that this is the church. This is the people of God. And she being with child, cried, prevailing in birth, in pain to be delivered. And there appeared in other wonder in heaven and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew a third part of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman, which was ready to be delivered, for to devire her child as soon as it was born. She brought forth a manchild who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up unto God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness where she hath a place prepared of God. They should feed her there a thousand, two hundred and three score days. And so in this passage of scripture, we see the church is said to bring forth the man-child, who will rule all nations with a rod of honor. And of course, if we read Psalm 2, we know that the word here is speaking about Jesus Christ. God’s established king is said to rule with a rod of iron. We see the universality of his reign. He’ll rule all nations. And we also see the irresistible power of his rule. For he has a rod of iron. And anyone who opposes him can be crushed very easily. Who else ascended to heaven to sit on God’s throne? We read about it in Acts 2. It was Jesus Christ who did this. Who else could be? Could it be? Did not Satan attempt to murder Christ as soon as he was born? Didn’t he use his agent Herod who killed all the babies? around about Bethlehem from two years of age and under. This is what it’s speaking of here. The key factor is the promised seed of the woman, despite his death on the cross, lives and is enthroned as king overall. There’s a reference here to Isaiah’s prophecy about the birth of the man-child by Zion. I know we’re looking a lot of passages up, but I hope it’s helpful to you. Look at Isaiah chapter 66 this morning. Isaiah chapter 66, verses 6 to 8. A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord, that renderseth recompense to his enemies. Before she travailed, she brought forth. Before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child. Who hath heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? So the earth be made to bring forth in one day, or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travail, she brought forth her children. And I, I’ll stop there. Well, let’s read, I’ll read verse 8. Yeah, that’s what I want to stop. That’s okay. Now, you’ll notice two things here. Zion has multiple children, but one man-child in particular is singled out first. And then it speaks of her children. Actually, the same is true in the book of Revelation. We read about the man-child first, and then at the end of the chapter, the last verse of the chapter, we read about the remnant of her seed, the other children that are brought forth. For the church, according to Paul, is the mother of us all. Through the gospel, we are brought forth. We’re born again. And so this is what it is speaking of in this past. So the man-child is born and then Zion has many sons so that it can come a nation in one day. So you have the birth of Christ, and the vision looks beyond even Pentecost, and sees all these people coming to know the Lord. There is something wonderful by Christ’s birth. According to Isaiah, it wasn’t with tremendous labor pain. pains. It was as soon as she travelled she brought forth quickly. And so it was not a normal birth, but a unique and special one. This must be explained, I think, in terms of Christ’s incarnation. And the word of God personally assuming the likeness of sinful flesh, even though Christ himself was sinless. However, normally the births of Zion’s children involved travail. remember Paul said about the Galatians? He travailed in birth until Christ was formed in the Galatians. The birth of the man-child means recompense to the Lord’s enemies. The rod of iron will fall, and Satan’s head will be bruised. So the mother here is really speaking about the church. Now we also read here about the daughters of Zion. Now Zion in scripture is often used to speak of the church over which Jesus Christ is set as king. For example, in Hebrews 12, but you are come unto Mount Zion, under the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn. which are written in heaven. Hebrews 12, 22, and 23. Or as we read in Psalm 2.6, yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. And so by the daughters of Zion, you are understand the children produced by the church, or the individual members of the church, universal church. They are the same as the church. the daughters of Jerusalem that we read about in verse 5 of this chapter 3 of Solomon. Elsewhere in this song, they often portray young converts and immature members. They are called the daughters of Zion because Christ is portrayed as king over them. As we read in Zachari 9-9, tell the daughters of Zion, behold, thy king cometh. So we see that is that is king. case. Zion was the mountain situated in the north side of Jerusalem where the temple was specifically located. That was where the physical temple was located. But here we’re reading beyond that, we’re talking about the spiritual temple that Christ will build as the king, Solomon. It’s important for professing believers take up the relationship by which they stand under Christ. They are subjects of the king and they’re to walk accordingly. Finally, we have this thought. Christ is crowned by his bride. According to Revelation 19 and verse 12, Christ wears many crowns. This crown that we’re talking about in verse 11 is given to him by his mother or the people of God in the day of his espousals. Now you’ll notice that the word espousalsalsals is plural. What does this mean? Well, we’re talking about being joined to Christ, being wedded to Christ. It is plural not because only one day is in view, but I think it’s plural because the individual days. in which we are brought to Christ or espoused to him or joined to him are included here. So that every believer in a sense is espoused to Christ in a certain way and at different times. As we read in 2 Corinthians 112, I have espoused you to one husband that I might present you as a chaste virgin Christ. And so each one of the people would, Corinth that was converted, of course, was espoused to Christ. And thus by faith, believers are to see Christ, crowned with glory and honor, and will more manifestly appear on the last day, but even now, we’re to behold the Savior. It is in this manner that his mother, the church as the bride of Christ, crowns the Lord in the day of his espousalance. A crown is given to him as the triumphant conqueror over the hearts of men. The mighty power of his gospel, displayed in the everlasting gospel, which Christ goes forth, conquering into conquer. He conquers us. He wins us over. His people. His people, made willing in the day of his power. So the crown which is spoken of then is that which every believer puts on Christ when their souls are brought to Christ. He’s our king. We crown him as such. When Jesus Christ is acknowledged as king, when you bowed down in submission to him as you, when you bowed down and submission to him as your king, you are crowning him. this honor is justly deserved by Jesus Christ. Have you crowned Christ with your heart and with your substance? How glorious Jesus Christ is when you are joined to him by faith in the day of your espousal. He is indeed the king of kings and Lord of the Lord’s. Well, let me close by saying this. Behold. it says your king. This implies a certain dullness at times on our part that we fail to behold him as king and must be reminded to behold him as king and the look upon him in a glorious man. You can lose your first love toward Jesus Christ, which you had when you came to him by faith, and you crowned him early on when you were brought to salvation. So here’s a call to renew your esteem for Christ the king. And what better time to do that than the time when we come to the Lord’s supper and we think about our Savior. Beholding here implies more than mere looking, speaks about attentiveness. It speaks about a staid-looking, a contemplating in earnestness, our king, the Lord Jesus Christ. May God’s word be a blessing to us this morning. Let’s have a word of prayer. Father, we thank you for Jesus Christ, the king. We thank you for this rich text and all its meaning. I pray you’d work in it. our hearts that we may indeed see our Lord crowned and keep our thinking in that direction. We may see him as our king and we would serve him in this life. We ask these things in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior with Thanksgiving. Amen. This time I’ll have Mark come forward. We’re going to take, we’re going to take. the Lord’s supper. I’ll mention that, you know, we hope that you’ve evaluated your heart and you’re prepared to worship the Lord this morning and also you’re prepared to take the succour. Heavenly Father, may you bless us as we part of the supper this morning. May we think about Christ our king. May we think about Him also in the stage of humility. as well as now on the stage of exile. We pray bless this meal to us, this feast in Christ’s name. When the scripture says after they had supped, they took of the supper, and we are to take of this broken bread for it represents his body. Afterwards, they also took of the cup, which represents his shit, blood. Let us pray. Father, we pray that this time of communion would be used by you to draw us closer to our Savior. And may we always look upon him as the glorious Savior that he is. While we appreciate his time of humiliation, may we not forget his time of exaltation, for he is our exalted king. And he rolls overall. We ask these things in Jesus, precious name with Thanksgiving. Amen. Let me give you the benediction this time. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.