A Revelation of Jesus as a “Safe Savior”
SONG 3:6-11
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?
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.
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 the
daughters of Jerusalem.
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.
I. OVERVIEW OF SONG 3:6-11
A. This is the fourth revelation of Jesus in the Song. In this section, she teaches the daughters of Jerusalem her new
discoveries of the safe leadership of Christ (3:6-10). Jesus’ incarnation and death prove that He has our good in mind.
B. The Holy Spirit asks a rhetorical question, then He gives a two-part answer. She communicates this two-part answer to the
daughters of Jerusalem.
1. The first answer is seen in 3:7-8. The Holy Spirit uses military language to reveal how safe the people of God are under
Jesus’ leadership.
2. Her second answer is seen in 3:9-10. Here the Holy Spirit uses the language of a royal procession to again reveal
how safe the people of God are under Jesus’ leadership.
C. She exhorts the daughters to press into Jesus in light of His glorious redemption and excellent leadership (3:11).
1. This is her first dialogue with members of the body since 1:6. Her personal experience from Song 1:7 to 3:3 has
been only with the Lord.
2. She received the revelation of Jesus’ safe leadership when she “held on” to Him (3:4). The Lord removed fear
from her heart in the context of her rising up in obedience to be involved in the purpose of God (3:2). She is now taking
the risk of ministering to others as she rose from her bed to minister in the city.
D. Jesus is being revealed to her as a “safe Savior”. The only safe place for our hearts is in the context of 100%
obedience. She reveals the fruit of her discovery in this section to the daughters of Jerusalem. She sees Jesus as
the “safe savior” that provides her safety on her journey through the wilderness.
1. The promise of safety focuses primarily on spiritual safety that protects our hearts.
2. In a secondary way, it speaks of protecting us physically and in terms of our earthly circumstances.
E. This section proves to be a significant revelation that prepares her for the great turning place in her commitment in
4:6-16. She believes that her heart will be safe so she is no longer afraid of leaving the comfort zone. She knows that
obedience will bring life and not death. The depth of commitment she manifests in chapters 4-8 flows out of this new
insight into the Lord’s safe leadership.
F. Many of the earthly authority figures in our life have not been safe. The enemy lies to us continually about Jesus
our ultimate authority figure. We can only see Him as safe from the point of view of eternity. He is omniscient. He sees
the end from the beginning and so He knows how to lead us. This is difficult to grasp, but it is the key to understanding
what is on His mind.
II. THE HOLY SPIRIT ASKS A QUESTION
“Who is this coming out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the
merchant’s fragrant powders?” (3:6)
A. The ascension of Jesus after His incarnation and crucifixion is being presented by the Holy Spirit to grant
assurance to the young bride.
“Who is this” coming our of the wilderness? (3:6)
B. This is a question being asked by the Holy Spirit to highlight the drama of Jesus’ return to the eternal city. It is a rhetorical
question in which the answer if obvious.
1. The question is answered in two different ways 3:7-8 and 3:9-10.
2. The Holy Spirit asks the rhetorical question. Then, she proclaims to the daughters her new discoveries of Jesus’ safe
leadership. She discovers the excellence of His leadership. He is not negligent in any of His leadership. He is a
triumphant king that uses great wisdom and power.
C. King David asked a similar question with the same intent to draw us into the beauty, drama, and pageantry of
Jesus’ return to heaven.
“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” (Psalm 24:7-8)
D. The necessity of the wilderness in God’s plan for the Bridegroom and the bride.
“Who is this coming out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke…” (3:6)
1. The wilderness can speak of several things:
a. The wilderness speaks of life in this fallen age. Israel’s 40 year journey through the wilderness is a picture of our
struggle in a fallen world, on our way to the promised land filled with the glory of God.
b. The wilderness speaks of difficult times of intense testing.
c. The wilderness speaks of a time of failure and sin, the time where sin and the flesh wage war.
d. The wilderness speaks of a season of spiritual warfare against satan.
e. The wilderness speaks of the place of encounter with God. Jesus and John the Baptist both had encounters with
God in the wilderness.
2. Jesus was driven by the Holy Spirit to an actual desert wilderness to be tested for 40 years.
a. Jesus spent 33 years on the earth in the wilderness of this fallen world. He laid aside the form of God and He
took upon Himself the form of creation. He leaves the eternal city to descend into a depressed, sin-ridden world filled
with demons and oppression. This world was a wilderness for Him. He possessed such holy sensitivity during his earthly
journey. He surely felt so much happening in the Spirit. We talk about people who are very sensitive in the Spirit and
they feel the burdens and oppressions. He walked for 33 years in perfect sensitivity. When the Holy Spirit rested on
Him His sensitivity was heightened.
b. Jesus spent 40 days in the desert fasting in the wilderness as He encountered the Father. Jesus was driven by the Holy
Spirit to an actual desert wilderness to be tested and to qualify as the High Priest who could make propitiation for sin
(Hebrews 2:17; Matthew 4:1-11).
c. Jesus knew the wilderness of testing in the garden of Gethsemane and the Cross.
E. Jesus’ victory over the wilderness.
“Who is this coming out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke…” (3:6)
1. Jesus ascended back to the Father in total victory in the resurrection, re-entering the celestial glory of the
eternal city. The host of heaven witnessed Jesus coming up out of the wilderness of this fallen world after the
resurrection as He took His position at the throne of glory at the Father’s right hand.
2. The angels watched Jesus in the resurrection. He is described as coming out of this fallen world to reenter the
celestial glory of the eternal city. As Jesus was coming, the host of heaven or the Spirit of God could have said, “Who
is this coming forth from the wilderness, coming out of this fallen and dark world”?
3. Jesus returns to the ivory palaces in the eternal city.
“all Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, by which they have
made You glad.” (Psalm 45:8)
a. Psalm 45 is sub-titled “The Song of Love”. It is the Psalm written in the language of the Song of Solomon.
b. Jesus is being pictured as “coming out of” the ivory palaces, as He descended in the incarnation.
c. These ivory palaces speak of His life as God in eternity past, in heaven or the eternal city.
d. Jesus descended from the ivory palace to dwell in the form of man in the wilderness of a fallen world. In the ivory
palaces, His clothes were scented with the rare fragrance of the ivory palaces. When Jesus left the throne of God, He
came to earth as a fragrant filled man.
e. He ascends back to the place scented with heavenly fragrances. In Song 8:14, heaven is called the mountain of
spices.
4. Jesus comes up out of the wilderness victoriously in 3:6. Jesus’ victory over this fallen world makes Him a
sympathetic high priest who understands our temptation.
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted
as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15).
a. He feels our pain because He had to come up out of the wilderness. Jesus is described in scripture as possessing
a unique dimension of sympathy that neither the angels nor the Father are described as possessing. The Father’s
compassion and mercy is not the same thing as Jesus’ human sympathy. In His humanity Jesus is not ashamed of His
weak and sinful brethren.
“…He is not ashamed to call them brethren…” (Hebrews 2:11)
b. He doesn’t stand at a distance, commanding us to come up to Him. He experienced human life in this fallen wilderness.
He knows what we are going through in our quest to come out of the wilderness victoriously.
c. This uniquely qualifies Him to bring us to a place of safety because He understands the perilous journey. He too
has traveled through the wilderness.
d. He came up out of the wilderness in victory. Therefore we do not have to fear. He is revealing Himself to her as
the One that she does not need to be afraid to obey. We are yoked to the One who conquered the wilderness.
Therefore, we will conquer the wilderness with Him.
5. The same question is asked in two different places in the Song (3:6, 8:5).
“Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? (Song 8:5)
a. The first one, Jesus is coming out of the wilderness victorious. Then, at the end of her journey, she comes up
out of the wilderness victorious.
b. The bride comes up victorious from the wilderness in like manner to Jesus. Her victory in 8:5 is a reflection of His
victory here in 3:6.
F. Jesus ascends to heaven in the glory of God.
“Who is this coming out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense …?” (3:6)
1. He is pictured as being like to pillars of smoke.
2. Smoke speaks of the glory and wonder of God.
“Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the
smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.” (Exodus 19:18)
“I saw the Lord sitting on a throne … above it stood seraphim … cried: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord” … and
the house was filled with smoke.” (Isaiah 6:1-4)
“Then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and
smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering.” (Isaiah 4:5)
“…I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh … I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire
and pillars of smoke.” (Joel 2:28-30)
“I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke.”
(Acts 2:19)
“And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.”
(Revelation 8:4)
“And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s
house.” (2 Chronicles 7:2)
“The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power and no one was able to enter the
temple…” (Revelation 15:8)
G. Smoke is a manifestation of God’s holy presence. Smoke is associated with the fire of the Holy Spirit. This smoke
speaks of the holy fire that burns within Him. The fire of God filled Jesus, and the smoke of His zeal ascended upward as
a sweet savor to God. Smoke rose from the sacrifices that revealed the love of God. He is filled with the pillar of smoke.
He is the sacrifice made to God. The smoke of His sacrifice is like the smoke of the sacrifice of the sacrificial system
under the priesthood. This is another way of referring to Jesus in His glory as our sacrifice. He is ascending in the
resurrection like a pillar of smoke.
1. He is clothed in the smoke of the glory of God. He ascended out of the wilderness wrapped in heavenly garments
that manifested the wonder of God’s glory.
2. She is describing Jesus as being like a pillar of smoke perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, when He ascended
out of the wilderness in victory.
H. The fragrance of the ascended Christ.
“Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense” (3:6)
1. He is “perfumed” with two different things, “with myrrh and with frankincense”. Myrrh speaks of Jesus’ sufferings. It is the
fragrance of His glorious death. Myrrh was a costly fragrant burial spice. It had a double meaning: it meant death, but it also
meant sweet aroma. It was death that worked unto sweet aroma. He has accomplished the finished work of the Cross.
He is perfumed with myrrh as He ascends back to God the Father’s throne.
a. “Myrrh” is a spice used to bury the dead. He is perfumed in myrrh. This speaks of the fragrance of Jesus’
suffering and His finished work on the Cross. When He cried, “It is finished”, the perfume of the myrrh of God drenched
Him.
b. If He suffered for her, how much more will He protect her? He is a sympathetic high priest. He experienced the
perils of the wilderness. He is clothed in the glory of God again. He can make a difference. He is perfumed with myrrh.
He embraced the cross. He knows what the cross is about, but He is also perfumed with frankincense.
2. Frankincense speaks of the fragrance of His intercession for the saints (Hebrews 7:25). As the Jewish High Priest
went into the most Holy Place with the golden censer of frankincense of incense, so Jesus entered the Holy Place in
heaven with His glorious censer, filled with intercession.
a. The bowl of incense of Revelation 5:8 is frankincense. It speaks of the prayers of the saints.
b. He offers to the Father His myrrh, the finished work of the Cross, His blood, and He says, “Father, I’m not just
perfumed in myrrh. I’m also perfumed in incense (which is the same frankincense). Visit my bride! Help her! Send
the angels of God! Release your power!” He is interceding for us night and ay. (Hebrews 7:25)
3. When the three wise men came to Him, they came to Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They were coming to Him
with three prophetic gifts, signifying what His ministry would be like. The gold spoke of His deity and His kingship. All
three of them spoke of His life and ministry on the earth. Some people relate them to His three offices as prophet, priest,
and king. He is perfumed with myrrh and frankincense.
4. Jesus’ deeds are scented.
“All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, by which they have
made You glad.” (Psalm 45:8)
a. All of Jesus’ deeds were scented with myrrh. He died to His own will to do the will of God; thus, His garments are
scented with myrrh. The Lord’s desire is that our garments, our deeds, be scented with myrrh, which again speaks of
that sweetness that comes out of dying to ourselves to do the will of God.
b. When He cried, “It is finished”, the perfume of God’s myrrh drenched Him. He was drenched in myrrh on that day
when He hung on the cross saying, “It is finished”.
5. This language is consistent with the dimensions of the Old Testament sacrificial system.
I. Jesus’ commitment to the bride.
“With all the merchants’ fragrant powders?” (3:6)
1. The Holy Spirit described a third aspect of His divine fragrance. He ascended with the pillar of smoke, perfumed in
myrrh and frankincense. He also was perfumed with all the merchant’s fragrant powders.
2. There are two applications in interpreting the merchant in the parables of Jesus. He spoke of the merchant as
the one that sold everything to obtain the treasured inheritance. The merchant found a pearl and then sold everything
for this pearl.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over
it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful
pearls.” (Matthew 13:44-45)
a. First, Jesus is this merchant who saw the pearl and sold all to have it. The pearl is His bride, which cost Him
everything to purchase. He paid the whole price, including His death upon the cross.
b. Second, we are the merchants who sell everything to follow Him. This is a secondary way to interpret the parable
of the merchant.
3. The fragrant powders sold by the merchant scented the merchant with perfume. The merchants were scented
as a result of handling the expensive powders in the marketplace. This speaks of the fragrance of Christ to God as
He embraced the Cross. The fragrance of the merchant is all over Jesus.
J. SUMMARY – Jesus did all to secure our safety. He is doing everything to bring us into safety. He is not negligent.
He is not overlooking anything. Jesus. Incarnation and death prove He has our good in mind (v 6-7). If He suffered for
her, how much more will He protect her in this season (Romans 8:32). He is a sympathetic high priest. He knows how to
get us through the wilderness. As believers, we are protected by His work on the Cross (myrrh), and His continued
intercession (frankincense), during our journey in the wilderness. The point is that He is safe because He is the
merchant who gave up everything to redeem us. We have no need to be afraid to follow Him.
1. First He is perfumed in myrrh, the finished work of the Cross.
2. Secondly, He is perfumed in frankincense. He is committed to intercession.
3. Thirdly, He is perfumed in the merchants’ fragrant powders. He has total resolution and commitment to us.
III. THE HOLY SPIRIT’S MINISTRY OF PROTECTION
The Holy Spirit anoints her to proclaim this message of protection to the daughters of Jerusalem, so that they
might overcome their fears. We find in Verse 11, she is speaking to the daughters. Some versions indicate that the
Holy Spirit is speaking, some indicate that the bride is speaking. It really doesn’t matter, because all the parties know
the truth. The extravagant safety and security in the grace of God is described in military terms.
“Behold it is Solomon’s couch, 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.” (3:7, 8)
A. The startling announcement of the royal procession.
“Behold, “It is Solomon’s couch”, with sixty valiant men around it…” (3:7)
1. Solomon was the king of Israel. He is a type of King Jesus throughout this Song.
2. The couch of all ages is prepared for those that will freely come. This couch is coming up out of the wilderness of a
fallen world, drenched in “merchant’s powders”. We are not standing. We are seated with Him in heavenly places. We
are there on the finished work of the Cross, on the Lord’s couch. She was seated with Him on His bed or His couch
(1:16) which is the picture of the Gospel.
a. This speaks of the Holy Spirit’s guarding, keeping, and protecting ministry. It is pictured in military language.
Solomon’s couch speaks of Jesus resting on His couch and of the Lord’s final triumph over all His enemies (Psalm 110;
Ephesians 1:20-22).
b. The sinner may find rest on His couch through the finished work of the Cross. It is the place where we are seated
with Him. Our eternal destination is to sit on Jesus’ wedding couch with Him as His bride. It is a revelation that also
speaks of the wedding couch that we will sit on in Revelation 19:6, 7.
c. One day we will be seated in heavenly places on a throne next to Him as His royal queen. We are presently
seated in heavenly places by faith (Ephesians 2:6), but throughout all of eternity we’ll be enthroned next to Him as His
royal queen.
d. “Who is coming up?” It is not just Solomon coming as God’s king. It is Solomon’s couch. It is His palanquin.
In the Eastern world, a bride, on her wedding day, was carried on men’s shoulders in a sedan chair referred to as a couch.
4. It is what He produced so that His bride could rest at His side, with His authority and affection, through out all
eternity.
a. If the Lord will seat us in this place throughout the eternal ages, how much more will He protect us as His bride to be?
b. Ezekiel 1 describes Jesus’ couch as a chariot of glory. Elijah left this world in a chariot.
c. Jesus’ couch is a corporate couch prepared for a corporate bride. Her safety will be found in sitting on His couch.
5. “Behold” indicates a startling announcement is being made. The couch of all the ages has been prepared for all that
will come freely to Him.
B. The question, “Who is this coming out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh, perfumed with
frankincense, perfumed with the merchants’ fragrant powders? Who is this?
1. The answer is in one sentence: “It is Solomon’s couch”. It is Jesus Christ and His protection of the bride.
a. He comes perfumed in myrrh, the finished work of the Cross. He comes perfumed in frankincense, His continual
intercession in heaven. He comes perfumed in the merchants’ powder, a 100% commitment to us. The whole picture of
Jesus is as the One providing the safe couch, the place where she would sit and rest at His side.
b. It is the king who is coming up out of the wilderness on His couch. He has sixty valiant men around Him.
Solomon’s couch is coming up from the wilderness. There is a grand procession, carrying the king’s couch, surrounded
with sixty bodyguards. IN the actual love story, they are coming to escort the young bride in the wilderness back in the
palace. In the spiritual interpretation she is in the wilderness of a fallen world being escorted to heaven.
2. The couch or chariot is coming to bring her to the wedding. Solomon sent the couch to escort the bride in a wedding
procession. This created the smoke and dust in the wilderness. The observers proclaimed with awe, “Who is this? Oh it is
Solomon and His palanquin, or His chariot, coming for the bride.” But in the symbolism, Jesus is the king that ascended
out of the wilderness, drenched with myrrh and frankincense, and His couch is now being revealed. The couch that brings
the maiden to the wedding feast, which is the gospel, is now revealed to the young bride. It is the place where we are
seated with Him in heavenly places. We are seated with the Lord on His couch.
3. Fear of 100% obedience is a significant reason why people compromise. There is obviously, the flesh, and the
principle of sin in us, as well.
a. Fear of 100% obedience was her problem in Song 2:8-17. It causes many to draw back. They fear they will be
hurt, left alone, or left without adequate resources.
b. These are the devil’s accusations against Jesus. The devil says, “You will be hurt if you obey. You’ll lose
so much. You won’t have enough.” We must resist these lies. We can speak verses 7 and 8 right back to the enemy
when we feel fear rising in our hearts. This is the Holy Spirit’s answer, or it is her answer to the daughters. Behold, it is
Solomon’s couch coming up out of the wilderness of a fallen world, drenched in merchant’s powders, and the myrrh
and frankincense.
C. Our extravagant security in the gospel.
“With sixty valiant men around it” (3:7)
1. This depicts, in military language, the Holy Spirit’s guarding, keeping, and protecting ministry. This palanquin, or couch,
has “sixty valiant men around it”. This speaks of Solomon’s ability to deal with his enemies in natural warfare. In a
spiritual sense, it is talking about spiritual warfare.
2. The guards speak of security for those on His couch. Sixty guards around one king speak of extravagant
protection. The president or king of a nation only has 20 to 30 bodyguards. So the number 60 speaks of extravagant
protection. The number 60 speaks of a sufficient army against the surprise attack of the enemy.
a. There are 60 pillars of support in Moses’ tabernacle. This guard of 60 men speaks of the extravagant security
protection around this couch that is on its way to the wedding feast.
b. The Holy Spirit is a skilled warrior who can even protect us from the lions and leopards in 4:8. The Holy Spirit
uses many agencies in the grace of God. He uses intercession, angels, the gifts of the Spirit, the authority of Jesus’
name, the affection of the Father, the cross of Jesus, etc. There are many ways that His protection is made manifest.
3. “Valiant men” speaks of Solomon’s ability to protect his bride in the wilderness. In the eastern world, often the
enemies would try to ambush a royal procession. A royal wedding party had the couch and all the bodyguards because
enemies who wanted to harm the royal family and steal the gold from the wedding ceremony would often ambush them.
Therefore, a king would have valiant soldiers around his wedding party when they went out to receive his bride. The
enemies wanted to harm the royal family, and steal the previous stones, gold, or the documents that were being
transported. So there was always this large number of bodyguards. Sometimes the bride would come from a neighboring
nation. When Solomon married one of the daughters of Egypt, or from another nation, they would have a great
procession bringing the bride back for the wedding ceremony.
4. In the same way, the enemy seeks to ambush the saints but the Lord watches over us as depicted by the 60 valiant
men guarding with great carefulness and power. In terms of the gospel, Jesus is on the couch with her as she
experiences abundant protection by the skilled warriors. Solomon is sending the couch to bring her to himself, as He
waits in Jerusalem. He is forever with us, but still the ministry of the Holy Spirit is protecting us until the day that we
are with Him face to face.
5. “Around it” – Jesus is pictured as coming up out of the wilderness with a procession around Him. The Holy Spirit
surrounds the bride on the couch with protection during her journey through the wilderness of this fallen world. There
are many ways in which the protection of the Lord is made manifest. Being surrounded by these warriors speaks of the
various ways in which Jesus protects us in the grace of God.
D. Jesus’ loyal guard is a picture of His extravagant protection.
“Of the valiant of Israel” (3:7)
1. Why do they talk about the valiant of Israel? The native-born bodyguards were true Israelites who loved the king.
They serve with loyalty. Therefore, they would lose their lives before they would see the king lose His life. They are
not hirelings or mercenaries who will flee if the pressure is too great. (Luke 10:11-14)
2. They have extravagant loyalty. IN other word’s the protection is sure. The king used native born, patriotic,
committed, Israel loving experts in war to guard him. “The valiant of Israel” means the best of the best because they
have loyalty and they are experts.
E. Skillful warriors pictures extravagant protection.
“They all hold swords, being expert in war” (3:8)
1. They are mature warriors, not novices in spiritual warfare. This group of soldiers around her provided great protection.
This is a military picture of the extravagant protection of highly skilled warriors. It means extravagant protection on the
way to the wedding feast.
2. They are mature soldiers who are experts in war. They know how to overcome every scheme of satan
(Ephesians 6:10-12). The Holy Spirit knows how to release the grace of God, to send people to us, to release angels.
The Holy Spirit has extravagant warring abilities. He is the most excellent protector there is. He is expert in war in
whatever agency He uses.
3. The Lord’s protection over us is passionate, loyal, skillful, and diligent. Therefore, nothing can escape His notice
as the enemy plans to attack us in the gospel palanquin, on the way to the wedding feast in Revelation 19. He will do
everything to protect us. That is the message here.
F. A prepared guard is a picture of extravagant protection.
“Every man has his sword on his thigh because of fear in the night” (3:8)
1. Their swords are girded on their thighs to be drawn at a moment’s notice. It is not the picture of a soldier sleeping at
night with his sword taken off and set aside. An officer with a sword girded on the thigh is a soldier ready for action.
He is vigilant. He is diligent. He is on call right then, ready to take action. This speaks of diligence and effectiveness
in warfare. Jesus is asked to gird His sword on His thigh as a type of intercession for Him to prevail over the powers
of darkness. (Psalm 45:3)
a. The expressions of the grace of God protect like protective soldiers. Every one has a sword on His thigh for the
fear of the night. The sword girded on the thigh is a sword ready to be drawn at a minute’s notice. However, when they
girded their sword on their thigh, they tied it and they were ready for instant action. At any moment they were ready to
putt it out for war.
b. Some one says, “I’m afraid that the devil’s going to cause me to sin”. The Lord says, “Give me your heart, and
I promise you there will be the 60 valiant, faithful, loyal warriors that are experts in war that have their sword upon their
thigh.”
c. The Psalm of love describes Jesus with His sword girded on His thigh:
“Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Might One, with Your glory and Your majesty” (Psalm 45:3)
2. The fear of the night speaks of the powers of darkness. Their swords are girded on their thigh ready to be drawn
during the fear of the night season in the wilderness because of the attack of the enemy.
G. The Lord’s promise to keep us with great power:
“Now to Him, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with
exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24)
1. Who is able to stop the Lord’s delivering power? He is able to make us stand blameless on that day with great
joy. He is able to keep us if we will stay within the simple boundaries and principles of the scripture. If we will hold the
word of God as the confession of our heart, and not yield to condemnation. If when fear and temptation come we will
speak the word of God, then He will protect us in these very simple ways.
2. There is no sin too great in which if we give our hearts to God He won’t give us victory in due time. There is no
pressure too great that we have to get bitter at the Lord. He has protected us from anything too intense. In fact, I believe
He gives us the easiest path that gets the deepest part of our heart. Again, it is brutal to the flesh and very difficult. But
the Lord knows that in order to reach that intensity of what He wants to reach in us, this is as gentle as He could be, even
though it is proportionately violent in terms of our experience.
3. The “victorious saints” of history are really just weak, broken men and women who continued in the simple
guidelines of scripture and so the ministry of the Holy Spirit kept them. He is able to keep us. He is a skilled warrior.
IV. JESUS’ REDEMPTION OF THE BRIDE IS DESCRIBED
The Holy Spirit’s protection was described in 3:7-8. Now Jesus’ redemption of the bride is described.
“Of the wood of Lebanon Solomon the King made himself a palanquin; He made its pillars of silver, its support of gold,
its seat of purple, its interior paved with love by (for KJV) the daughters of Jerusalem (3:9-10)
A. Our safety is rooted in the Divinely orchestrated plan to accomplish eternal redemption through the death of God’s
own dear Son on the Cross (v9-10).
1. The end of our journey is to be brought safely to the marriage supper of the Lamb. She has a revelation of the
heavenly chariot, which is fully described in Revelation 19:6, 7.
2. How safe is safe? God offered His own son, this is how safe, safe is. How safe is safe? He ascended from the
wilderness. He took upon Himself the form of a man. He is perfumed with myrrh and frankincense. He is as safe as it
can be. How safe is it? There are 60 loyal, passionate warriors standing around girded, ready for action against
anything that would disrupt us from the will of God. The point is that we are safe in this couch, in this sedan chair,
in this chariot or palanquin.
B. King Jesus provides an eternal palanquin for His bride.
“Solomon the King made Himself a palanquin” (3:9)
1. Solomon, the King of Israel, is a type of King Jesus throughout the Song.
2. He made a portable chair, enclosed with curtains and carried on poles by royal attendants. This is the couch of
verse 7. The KJV calls this palanquin a chariot. The palanquin is a chariot, or a couch. This royal chariot or palanquin
was used for a queen-to-be on her wedding day. A royal palanquin was very luxurious and comfortable being long
enough to lie down in. It varied in size and splendor according to the wealth of the king. This royal palanquin carried
her on her long journey through the wilderness.
3. “Made Himself” speaks of Jesus’ work on the Cross. King Solomon actually made a chariot to carry His queen.
King Jesus’ bride sits at His side in His palanquin resting and enjoying His protection as they travel through the
wilderness of this fallen world on their way to the eternal wedding ceremony. (Revelation 19)
C. Redemption came from a human Messiah.
“Of the wood of Lebanon” (3:9)
1. It is made from the wood of Lebanon. Wood, in the language of the Old Testament, speaks of humanity.
a. Jesus is the rock. The rest of us are wood (humanity). But in this case, Jesus had to become man. He had
to become of the wood of Lebanon.
b. This chair was not made by a distant God, who stayed in heaven to observe our dilemma. Jesus had to become
a man, i.e., the wood of Lebanon. He had to descend from the ivory palace to take on the human form. The wood had
to come under the fire of God. This chair was made by a God who was willing to become flesh and pay the price Himself.
c. In the temple, they would take wood and cover it with gold. Wood in the Old Testament, often spoke of humanity,
because it was strong and lasted long, although it eventually decayed. It could be broken by fire. There are many
metaphors as to why wood spoke of humanity.
d. The wood in the tabernacle, covered with gold, spoke of Jesus being man, yet fully God. Lebanon had the
strongest and the most costly wood in Israel. There was no wood stronger or more valuable than the wood of Lebanon,
the cedars of Lebanon.
e. Jesus could not make this couch by staying in heaven. He had to lay aside the form of God and become a man.
The chair had to be made of wood. It could not be made of any other substance. Jesus had to become flesh.
f. The glory and the marvel are that this couch was made of the most costly and the strongest flesh that ever walked
the earth. But the point is, not that the couch is strong and costly, but that He had to become flesh in order for this thing
to work. If He laid aside the form of God, how much more will He protect you? That is the point.
g. How condescending it was for Jesus to partake of the human nature in the incarnation that He might be like His
brethren in all things (Hebrews 2:17)
h. He became like the wood of Lebanon (3:9). Adam, before sin, was the choicest, strongest, most fragrant wood
that could be purchased of the human race, but he could not endure the temptations of satan. Jesus comes in the same
sinless state as Adam, and has victory over satan’s temptation and that is why He is the choice wood of Lebanon in a
unique way.
i. It was a very costly wood. The trees of Lebanon were the strongest, most powerful, stately, fragrant, rare, and costly
woods. That is the wood that made Solomon’s temple, which was the habitation of the Lord’s glory. The Lord wanted it
made of wood from Lebanon because it was the choicest wood. He wants His dwelling place made of redeemed humanity.
2. He is called the rock, when it refers to His deity. He is called the wood, when it refers to His humanity. Because
wood eventually dies, and Jesus did die in terms of His death upon the Cross. Those are the two main building materials
of God’s house: wood and rock, the deity and humanity. This palanquin was made by Jesus Himself. He personally
made it. He didn’t stay in heaven and decree something. He came down and made this palanquin out of the choice
wood of Lebanon.
D. Jesus’ redemption of the bride is described
“He made its pillars of silver, its support of gold, its seat of purple” (3:10)
1. This support, like support railings, is around the seat. This purple seat was on the inside. The support was made
of gold. In other words, God’s protective railing is around the gospel chair. The gospel seat, that we are all in going
through this wilderness, is made of the divine grace of God.
2. “Support” – the protective railing around the purple seat was of gold. The word ‘support’ in the Hebrew is the
word “the railing”. It’s the railing around it.
3. “Pillars” – the supporting structure was of silver.
4. “Gold” speaks of divine character. Its support is of gold. The protection is of divine wisdom and power. The protection
is made so that this bride to be, this legally engaged and yet not fully manifest bride, cannot fall out of it. There is a
railing of gold around it. God’s wisdom surrounds her, at every angle, protecting her on this palanquin.
5. “Silver” speaks of redemption; gold speaks of divine character; purple speaks of royalty and authority. God
planned the gospel that we rest on. It has the very authority of the Ancient of Days behind it. The Ancient of Days
Himself planned the making of this chair. It is purple; it speaks of royalty. Nobody can challenge it and win!
6. “Its seat of purple” speaks of royalty and authority. We rest on a gospel that was planned by God. Therefore,
it has the Father’s authority. The seat we are sitting on, has the Father’s authority. Nobody can overthrow it because
it is made of purple. It was His plan from the beginning.
E. God is motivated by His own eternal love.
“Its interior paved with love by the daughters of Jerusalem” (3:10)
1. The KJV says “for the daughters of Jerusalem”. It is paved with love “for” the daughters of Jerusalem, not “by”
them. That would be completely contradictory to everything happening here if they were the ones that paved it. It is
the work of Jesus for the daughters, not the work of the daughters for Jesus.
2. “Paved with love” means the affections of Jesus are foundational to His redemption. God’s plans are always and only
carried out through love for the saints. The interior, all the tapestry of this palanquin, was love. The manifestation of
God’s victory and purpose is only and always through love for the saints. This gospel, the tapestry of it is the affection
of God. The interior is paved with God’s passionate love for weak people.
3. “Its interior” – the tapestry of this palanquin (gospel) was woven by God’s love for us. He will not spare us
difficulty if it will prepare us to walk in greater love, but He never trains us with too great of an intensity. Notice the
luxury in this chariot.
a. The interior is paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem. God’s plans are always and only carried out
through love. He is as gentle as possible in His dealings. He will not spare us difficulty, but He will make it as gentle
as possible. Everything that He does for us in the gospel, even His discipline, is paved with love. The interior of the
gospel, the inner workings of it, are decorated by the love of God.
b. It speaks of the Lord making it as easy as possible without compromising His commitment to train us. This love
speaks of many of the Lord’s activities in wooing us, preparing us, and protecting us in love. The gospel increases
most abundantly when God’s affections are most clearly discerned. He says, “In my perfect wisdom, I wouldn’t add
one burden on you that was not necessary for you to grow in love”.
3. “By the daughters of Jerusalem” – KJV says “for” the daughters of Jerusalem. The whole church receives the
impact of the affections of Jesus. The point is it is for His people. It is made for the daughters of Jerusalem. The whole
church receives the impact. It is not just for the mature. It is for even the carnal ones. He did this for the weak and the
broken. He did this for those daughters of Jerusalem that are stumbling and tripping.
F. SUMMARY – the chariot speaks of three things. First it speaks of the gospel. It is the chair (gospel) He provided first
and foremost and most prominent. Second, it is the corporate church. We are the chair that He rides on. The way that
Jesus gets around in this world is through the chair, the body of Christ. Jesus moves and gets His will done in this world
through this chariot. Third, this chariot also can speak of His plan for our life. There is a chariot ride that we are on.
There is a course He is taking us up through the wilderness. Mostly it speaks of the gospel, but it includes those
other two thoughts.
V. THE YOUNG BRIDE EXHORTS THE WHOLE CHURCH
“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” (3:11)
A. The bride encourages the younger believers
“O daughters of Zion … see King Solomon with the crown” (3:11)
1. It is an exhortation to the whole church. O daughters of Zion see the king with the crown with which His mother
crowned Him on the day of His wedding. She is speaking with so much excitement now.
2. “O daughter of Zion” (3:11). The daughters of Jerusalem are referred to as the daughters of Zion. She uses the same
method in encouraging their growth as was effective in encouraging her own growth. She speaks prophetically according
to who they will become.
a. In other words, she is saying, you too will rise up and be mature by seeing who you WILL become in the grace of
God, as the daughters of Zion. They are the daughters of Jerusalem, but they are referred to in their mature state.
b. The Lord motivates her in 4:1-5. He looks at her and calls things that are not as though they were. He tells her
who she is in Him. She says, “You are the daughters of Jerusalem. You are the weak and immature ones, but you are
more than that. In His sight, you are the daughters of Zion. You are the mature queenly ones that will be His bride. I’ve
already seen Him on the day when He’s crowned by you” because the daughters crown Him King on His wedding day.
c. The safety of the gospel will encompass us, even in our need and weakness. She is really captured at how safe
He is. Obedience is not to be feared. Then we can be safe in the arms of Jesus. Come and see King Solomon with
His crown. She says, “Oh, look at Jesus in His sovereignty”.
3. She’s saying, “O daughters … see the King”. In other words, gaze on the person of Jesus. It is the revelation of
Him that is going to make the difference.
a. She is saying, “If you can find the Jesus that I’ve found in v3-4, then you will not be afraid anymore”.
b. “I’m not afraid anymore” doesn’t mean she’ll never have a moment of fear again. But the rule of her life isn’t fear. She says,
“I’ve seen the King. I held onto Him. I found Him in v4 and I want you to see him because you can be freed from your
fears in the way that I was freed from mine”. Fear is not the dominating rule of her life, as it was in chapter 2 when she
was so afraid to rise up.
4. “King Solomon with the crown” (3:11). To see Jesus’ sovereignty and kingship, is to see His authority over satan
and thus, over all that can harm us. When we see His crown we will not fear the mountains, the leopards, or the lions
(4:8). She is preaching to the daughters to build their faith in a triumphant, sovereign King.
B. The church in eternity is filled with voluntary love
“With which His mother crowned Him” (3:11)
1. “His mother” speaks of the church. The seed of the woman is Jesus who is the foundation of the church. Those
who do God’s will be His mother and brother (Matthew 12:46-50)
a. In Revelation 12:5 the people of God are represented as a “mother” that births the man-child. God is the author
of our natural and spiritual birth. However, the agency He uses for our natural birth is a woman i.e., our mother.
b. The agency He uses for our spiritual birth is a member of the body of Christ, i.e., the church. God is our Father
and the church is spoken of as our mother. In the virgin birth, Jesus is from the seed of a woman (Genesis 3:15). Paul
spoke of the New Jerusalem (the church in eternity in the heavenly city) as our “Mother” (Galatians 4:26). We are born
through the church by the Spirit because it is through the body of Christ that we come to the saving knowledge of Jesus.
2. “Mother crowned Him”. Revelation 19:12 says, “He is crowned with many crowns”. In other words, He is King over many
spheres, i.e., He is King over heaven, the angels, the earth, the church, the future, creation, and eternity, etc.
a. The church crowns Jesus as king when they respond to His kingship in a personal way. His kingship is manifested
over a billion souls when those billion souls submit to Him voluntarily in love. Because the boundaries He’s put on His own
redemption is that He will not bring us forth violating our own free will.
b. There is a crown that He wants more than all other crowns. He wants the crown of the voluntary love of His bride
(Isaiah 62:3). He has many crowns, but this is the crown we crown Him with. He will be crowned “On His wedding day”.
Which is described fully in Revelation 19:5-10. That’s the crown He’s waiting for. There will be a day when the church
from throughout all history will crown Him as the King.
c. She says, “If you could see that He has power and authority over all the works of darkness you wouldn’t be afraid.
If you could see He’s the Lord of the harvest you would know how urgent the hour is. If you could see that He is going to
be crowned on His wedding day and who you are as the bride of Christ. Oh, see the King! See who He is! See who you
are because of who He is! Don’t be afraid”. She is urging them to rise up and see the truth. He is king whether the
church recognizes it or not. The crown He most awaits is when the church crowns Him by submitting to Him in voluntary
love. She is using even some of the wisdom that the Lord used on her in v11-13 when the Lord was telling her about
the soon coming harvest.
d. Jesus wears a crown as the end-time harvest is reaped with power (Revelation 14:14). In his sense, the church crowns
Him as King in the last days when they come to maturity. John the apostle sees the Son of Man with a crown on His head
and He has a sickle in His hand to reap the great harvest at the end of the age, so we will see Him reaping at the great
end-time harvest, with a crown on His head.
3. The maiden is prophesying to the daughters. She is saying, “You will one day crown Him as King. Why not crown
Him now as King of your life? It is inevitable that His kingship will dominate you in eternity, why not let it dominate you in
this age? Why live like the daughters of Jerusalem when your destiny is to lie as the daughters of Zion? Reject your sin
as I did in 1:6-7 and reject your fear like I did when I rose up to obey in 3:1. How did I do this? By looking on the King
and His victory. It gave me faith to participate with Him when I realized how safe He really is.”
C. Jesus’ gladness on the wedding day
“On the day of His wedding, the day of the gladness of His heart” (3:11)
1. “See Him crowned as King on His wedding day” is an exhortation for her to see herself as the inheritance of the
Lord. See Him crowned as a King on His wedding day. In other words, you are in the palanquin. You are a part of the
bride. See who you are, the revelation that she had in 2:1 when she said, “I am the rose of Sharon”. She is pleading
with the daughters who are the more immature ones. “See what I have seen. Not only see the King, He has full authority.
See Him crowned on His wedding day and your role in that. He will only have gladness of heart if His people are His
bride on that day.” In other words, He is exhorting her to see who she is as the bride of Christ.
2. “On the day of His wedding” The final triumph is described in Revelation 19:1-16 as the wedding day between Jesus
and His church. This is the final day (Revelation 19). This is when, in all fullness, we become the bride. The day of His
wedding is when we fully give Him everything. The wedding day is called the gladness of God’s heart. Jesus is presented
as receiving us with the gladness of a bridegroom. Isaiah 62 says, “As the Bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so God
will rejoice over you.” It is bridal joy that God will have. The day of conflict and pain will soon be over. The war with
satan and the flesh will soon be over. The time of trial and testing will be over. There is a day that is coming. It is
called the day of the gladness of His heart.
3. If there is any confusion about how Jesus feels about that day it is called the day of the gladness of His heart.
In Revelation 19:6 all of heaven is rejoicing with great joy because it is the day of His wedding, the day of gladness
in the heart of God. The Lord Jesus is presented as receiving us with the gladness of a bridegroom.
4. It will also be the day of the gladness of our hearts, as we love our eternal Bridegroom throughout the eternal
ages. There is a day that will make your heart fully glad. When we crown Him King of kings by making Him the leader
of all that is on our hearts.
D. The essential revelation of our heavenly Bridegroom King:
“Go forth … and see King Solomon with the crown” (3:11)
1. “Go forth and see the king”. See King Solomon. Gaze on Jesus. The principal is that the revelation of Jesus
will motivate us to walk in obedience.
a. The church is exhorted to fix her eyes on Jesus, the triumphant one as the Bridegroom.
b. As she looked upon the Lord, she saw a new revelation of His safety and His splendor. She wants the daughters to see
the same thing so that they can arise like she did. She is now bringing the gospel to others. She has seen the chair,
the wilderness, the security, the marriage day, His authority, and His affection.
2. She wants everyone to see it. She is telling the daughters, “Go forth, rise up like I did”.
a. There is nothing that will motivate us more to challenge others on to obedience than by facing our sin in
chapter 1, our fears in chapter 2, seeing the crown, seeing the palanquin, seeing His victory in the wilderness, and
our hearts being encouraged.
b. When we face the shame of our sin and the power of our fears, and we conquer them, to whatever degree,
through the revelation of the triumphant Jesus, it gives us power to call others to it. That is what she is doing. She
is actually running with Him now. “Draw me unto you and let us run”. She is fully engaged to do the work of the ministry.
3. “See King Solomon with the crown”. Gaze on Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 12:2). The principle: revelation
of Jesus motivates us to walk in full obedience (Philippians 3:8). The church is exhorted to fix their eyes on the
triumphant King Jesus as the heavenly Bridegroom. She looked upon the Lord and received new revelation of
His safety and splendor. She now wants the daughters to receive this same revelation so that they can also arise
to fearless obedience. She is now bringing the message of the gospel to others.
4. “Go forth”. It is inevitable to take action when we see a fresh revelation of the majesty of Jesus as king of all. When
the power of fear is broken by this revelation, it leads to a new, boldness to go forth in active partnership with Jesus.