Song of Solomon 3
CHAPTER: SONG OF SOLOMON 3
Bride wants to find her bridegroom verse 1- 2
By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loves
I sought him but I found him not
I will rise now and go about the city in the streets
and in the broad ways I will seek him
whom my soul loves – I sought him
but found him not
Bride meets watchmen in her search verse 3
The watchmen that go about the city found me
to whom I said
Saw ye him whom my soul loves?
Bride finds her husband verse 4
It was but a little that I passed from them
but I found him whom my soul love – I held him
and would not let him go
until I had brought him into my mother’s house
AND into the chamber of her
that conceived me
Bride speaks to women of Jerusalem verse 5
I charge you – O ye daughters of Jerusalem – by the roes
and by the hinds of the field – that ye stir not up
nor awake my love – till he please
Women of Jerusalem speak to bride verse 6
Who is this that comes out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke
perfumed with myrrh and frankincense
with all powders of the merchant?
King Solomon arrives for the wedding verse 7- 10
Behold his bed – which is Solomon’s
threescore valiant men are about it – of the valiant of Israel
they all hold swords – being expert in war
every man hath his sword upon his thigh
because of fear in the night
King Solomon mad himself a chariot of the 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 paved with love
for the daughters of Jerusalem
Bride tells daughters of Zion to see Solomon verse 11
Go forth – O ye daughters of Zion
AND BEHOLD king Solomon with the crown wherewith
his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals
and in the day of the gladness of his heart
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loves: I sought him, but I found him not. (5315 “soul” [nephesh] means a breathing creature, appetite, body, desire, self, life, person, mind, heart, or will.)
DEVOTION: This book is a love story between a bride and groom. Solomon is king of Israel. The bride is a woman who has been tending the family sheep. She is lovely. She is expressing her love for her bridegroom.
During times of dating, it is usually the desire of those who are in love to want to be in the presence of our future spouse. The time seems to stand still when you are in love. The bride couldn’t wait for the wedding day to come. This chapter seems to describe the coming of the groom to the wedding.
The Bible instructs us that we are made up of three parts: body, soul and spirit. Each part of the body has a special purpose. The body is our outward appearance and protects us from the elements of nature. Our soul is the place where we find our personality. It is what makes us different from other individuals in the world. Our spirit is our God consciousness. Those who don’t make a personal commitment to the LORD are said to have a dead conscious. They are not listening to the LORD speaking to them.
In the study of this book we will find three characteristics of marriage that should be present in every marriage: protection, intimacy, and display of public compliments of spouse.
Throughout this book we will observe both the husband and wife complimenting each other. They tell everyone of their love for each other. The statement in this verse is made that she seeks her groom when he is away.
She makes it a point to mention that her inner desire is toward her husband to be. This shouldn’t just happen before marriage but after marriage as well. This wife loved her husband with every part of her personality.
Our soul is who we are. When we love God with our inner being, we love HIM with our whole personality. This can only happen with the influence of Holy Spirit on our spirit.
We can only love our spouse correctly, when the Holy Spirit influences us in our spirit. It is hard to love another person without God’s help. We are selfish creatures. We are lazy creatures. The LORD helps us to think of others and work on our relations with others, especially the one we are married to.
Who is influencing you today in your spirit? We gain strength by keeping our devotional life daily. We need this strength each day. It doesn’t take long for our old nature to overshadow our new nature in Christ.
CHALLENGE: Once we find our soulmate we have to work daily on showing our love. Don’t let the old nature take over today. Practice allowing the LORD to lead in our relationship with our spouse.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 The watchman that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw you him whom my soul loves? (7763 “watchman” [Showmer] means keeper, watch over, guard, a person who keeps watch over something or someone, be careful about, protect, or be secured)
DEVOTION: Here we find a bride looking for her husband in a dream. She is searching for him all over the city in her dream. She is asking everyone she meets if they had seen her husband.
One of the people that she meets in her search was a watchmen who protected the city from invasion or from those who would do harm to those on the street at night. She wants to know if he had seen her husband.
Some people who have interpreted this verse call this a dream where someone is searching for someone the “dark night of the soul.” Remember this is a dream. All of us have dreams at time that don’t seem to make sense but it is something that our brains are struggling with regarding our relationship to the LORD.
If, and we should, we love the LORD we want to have a close relationship with HIM in our life. We want to honor and serve HIM. We want HIM to respond to our prayers. We want to be close to HIM and serve HIM with a glad heart.
However, there are times that the LORD seems to be far from us and we want HIM closer. This can only happen through prayer and fasting. Our study of the Bible is one of the ways that we can understand and realize how to be close to the LORD even if we don’t see HIM in person.
The watchmen in our world could be those who are trying to help us have a closer relationship with the LORD. They give us instruction and pray with us to have that relationship we are wanting to have with HIM.
CHALLENGE: In our search for a closer relationship with the LORD we have to sometimes have help from others to give us directions regarding how to have a closer walk with HIM.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart. (8057 “gladness” [simchah] means mirth, joy, loving pleasure, delight, rejoice, or gaiety)
DEVOTION: Everybody loves a good wedding. I have officiated for over forty years over weddings. There have been some good ones and some interesting ones. I have had a man faint. I have had the bride show up late. Most of the weddings have lasted, some have not. It is a fact that even those who claim to be Christians during counseling really were not genuine believers. Even those who seem to be genuine believers forget that they are supposed to be forgiving individuals.
Here we have Solomon at one of his Wedding, he had many. He is marrying a common girl who worked in the fields of Israel. The daughters of Jerusalem or Zion were there to help her celebrate. It seems like the mother of the groom was there as well.
Once the ceremony is over there is a wedding party somewhere. In Israel some wedding lasted a week or more. People were having a good time. There was a lot of laughing and gaiety.
When we think of the individual, we married is their joy in our heart. This should be something that follows us throughout our married life but it can only happen if we are a forgiving people. We also have to have some memory lapses.
God informs us that when HE forgives our sins, HE buries them in the deepest sea. HE removed them as far as the east is from the west. HE wants us to be forgiving people.
Marriage is to be for a lifetime. There should be times of joy in every marriage on a regular basis. This only happens with planning. We plan our wedding and the reception. We need to plan times of joy. If you have problems with this, ask someone who seems to have an answer. Look at older couples and ask them what they have done to keep their marriage together.
CHALLENGE: Carry the joy of the wedding into the marriage. Plan times of celebration regularly.
_________________________________________________________
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Seeking the LORD whom we love verse 2
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
____________________________________________________
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Soul loves verse 2
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Watchman verse 3
Mother’s house verse 4
Merchant verse 5
Valliant men (60) verse 7
Lebanon verse 9
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Fear in the night verse 8
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Soul loves verse 4
Love verse 10
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Daughters of Jerusalem (Zion) verse 5, 10, 11
Solomon verse 7, 11
bed verse 7
chariot of the wood of Lebanon verse 9
crown verse 11
Valiant of Israel verse 7, 8
Hold swords
Expert in war
Sword on their thigh
Mother of Solomon crowned him verse 11
Day of his espousals
Gladness of his heart
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
______________________________________________________________
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church, please use that method. Thank you.
____________________________________________________________
QUOTES regarding passage
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
_______________________________________________________
Ver. 10. He made the pillars thereof of silver, &c.] The truths and doctrines of the Gospel are the pillars of it; which, like pillars, are solid and substantial, and continue firm and immovable, and are of great use to support the children of God under the several trials and exercises they are attended with; and, for their utility, value, and duration, are said to be of silver, and are as carefully to be sought for and into as that is, and even to be preferred to it, being of more worth than thousands of gold and silver; the ministers of the Gospel are sometimes compared to pillars, and the church itself is said to be the pillar and ground of truth, Gal. 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:15. The bottom thereof of gold; Christ, the golden bottom of the Gospel, the sum and substance of it, the principal subject in it to be insisted on; he is laid in it as the bottom, ground, and foundation of faith and hope, and of everlasting life and salvation; and for its richness, firmness, and duration, may be said to be of gold, as the street of the New Jerusalem, Rev. 21:21 or its pavement, as the word here signifies. The Septuagint render it, a recliningc place, to sit and rest, or lean upon; such is Christ. The covering of it of purple; or the top of it; the word signifies a chariot itself: it may respect such doctrines of the Gospel which relate to redemption, pardon of sin, and justification through the blood of Christ; and all under the purple covering of the blood of Christ are secure from wrath to come, and go safe to heaven. The midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem; the carpet wrought with lovely figures or with love-stories: the doctrines and ordinances of the Gospel are full of love, of God in Christ, in providing Christ as a Saviour, and sending him to be one; and of the love of Christ in assuming human nature, and suffering and dying in it for sinners, even for Jerusalem sinners; the Gospel sets forth the heart of Christ as inflamed, as the word here used signifies, with love to the daughters of Jerusalem, his dear children, which moved him to do all he did and suffered for them; and could his heart be looked into, the very images of these persons would be seen upon it: the ordinances of the Gospel are designed both to set forth, in the most striking manner, the love of Christ to his sons and daughters, for whose sake he became man and suffered death, and to draw forth their love to him; so the words may be rendered, paved with love by the daughters of Jerusalem, or with the love of themf: how delightful must it be to ride in such a chariot, or sit under such a ministry, where there is nothing but love! moreover, the whole description of the bridechamber, which some choose to render the word for chariot by, well agrees with the New-Jerusalem state, as given in Rev. 21 where the church being as a bride prepared for her husband, will be introduced, the nuptial feast will be kept, and Christ will be seen by the daughters of Zion in all his regal glory, with the royal diadem on his head, as he is described in the following verse. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, pp. 654–655). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
______________________________________________________
3:9–11. Solomon’s carriage was made of the very best, that is, wood from Lebanon (possibly his bride’s homeland; cf. (Deere, J. S. (1985). Song of Songs. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1017). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
_______________________________________________________
Vs 9–10 describe the wedding chariot. Again, it is nothing less than the best. It is custom-made and of the finest material. When the king arrives (11) all the ladies of the palace are summoned and requested to gaze at him wearing his special wedding crown. The crown (or wreath) was normally placed on the king’s head by his mother (see 1 Ki. 1:9–31; 2:13–25). How aptly it is that the day of his wedding is described as the day his heart rejoiced. Not every bridegroom can afford such magnificence and splendour, but every husband should provide the best for his wife and vice versa. True love brings out the best in other people. It improves character. (Balchin, J. A. (1994). The Song of Songs. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 623). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.)
_______________________________________________________
10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.
The pillars thereof; whereby the chariot is either supported or adorned; which may signify either, 1. Ministers, who are called pillars, Gal. 2:9, and that of silver, because they are, or should be, pure and precious, like silver. Or, 2. The firmness and certainty of Christ’s word, both of his doctrines and promises, which also are pure as silver, Psal. 12:6. Although there is no necessity that either this or the following particulars should be distinctly applied to several things in or about the gospel; but this in the general may suffice, that as all these particulars are added to show the perfection and beauty of the chariot, so they do imply that Christ’s word is every way amiable, and perfect, and able to make the man of God perfect. The bottom; either, 1. The couch or seat, which was made of or covered with cloth of gold. Or, 2. The under and lower part, which was at least covered with pure gold. Whereby he may seem to understand the foundation of the word and promises, which is either God’s covenant, or Christ’s mediation, in whom all the promises are yea and amen. The covering; either, 1. The curtains, whereby persons in the chariot are covered or hid from the sight of the people. Or rather, 2. The uppermost part of it, either in the outside or the inside of it. Some render the word, the seat or seats. Of purple; which represents Christ’s blood, which is our propitiatory or covering to shelter us from God’s wrath. The midst; the inward parts, especially those between the upper and lower parts, which have been already mentioned. Paved, covered and adorned, with love; with beautiful and lovely ornaments, such as curious embroidery, enriched with gold and precious stones; love being here put for lovely objects, as fear is oft put for terrible things, as hath been oft noted. Whereby we may understand the love of Christ to the sons of men, or his lovely life, and death, and resurrection, &c.; which is the most amiable part and matter of the word or gospel. For the daughters of Jerusalem; for their delight and comfort, who are all concerned and bear a part in this marriage. (Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 2, p. 315). New York: Robert Carter and Brothers.)
________________________________________________________
9, 10. A stately bed hath king Solomon made for himself of woods (or trees) of the Lebanon. The word rendered “bed” occurs nowhere else in Scripture, and is of doubtful etymology and meaning. It may denote here (1) the bride’s car or litter; or (2) a more magnificent vehicle provided for her reception on her entrance into the city, and in which perhaps the king goes forth to meet her. It has been made under Solomon’s own directions of the costliest woods (ceda and pine) of the Lebanon; it is furnished with “pillars of silver” supporting a “baldachin” or “canopy of gold” (not “bottom” as in A.V.), and with “a seat (not ‘covering’) of purple cushions,” while “its interior is paved with (mosaic work, or tapestry of) love from (not ‘for’) the daughters of Jerusalem;” the meaning being that this part of the adornment is a gift of love, whereby the female Chorus have testified their goodwill to the bride, and their desire to gratify the king. (Barnes, A. (1879). Notes on the Old Testament: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Jeremiah, Lamentations & Ezekiel. (F. C. Cook & J. M. Fuller, Eds.) (pp. 127–128). London: John Murray.)
_______________________________________________________
Verse 10. He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple; the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.
The church goes on to give some further account of this chariot, which Christ, the true Solomon, had made for himself; and says,
I. That “the pillars of it were of silver.”
II. The “bottom of gold.”
III. The “covering of purple.” And
IV. That “the midst of it was paved with love; and that either by or for the daughters of Jerusalem.” Now the explanation of these several parts must be according to the several senses which have been given of the chariot in the former verse. And
I. If by the chariot we understand the human nature of Christ, then
1st. By the pillars of it, are meant the several graces of the Spirit, which both adorned and supported it; for besides the habitual holiness of his nature, and the innocence of his life, there appeared in him a strong faith in God; and that not only throughout the whole of his life, but in the midst of his dolorous sufferings, nay, when deserted by his Father; as also great courage and magnanimity of mind, as well as much patience and humility in doing and suffering all he did; and these may be called pillars, both for the mighty strength that was in them; for grace was not weak in Christ, as it is in us; and also for the support they were of unto him; in the exercise of which the chariot of the human nature was kept, as it were, upon its wheels; and these are said to be of silver, to denote the excellency, brightness, and solidity of those graces; and which appeared to be so, even when as silver they were tried in the furnace of affliction. And
2ndly. By the “bottom of gold,” may be meant his Deity; and so denotes, that the subsistence of the human nature is in the Divine Person; the human nature never did, nor never will subsist without it; as soon as ever it was conceived in the virgin’s womb, it was united to the divine person of Christ, and has ever been since supported by it, both in its state of humiliation and exaltation; it is this which lies at the bottom of, and puts an efficacy into all Christ’s mediatorial actions, and makes them powerful to answer the ends for which they are performed; the effusion of his blood, the oblation of his sacrifice, and the bringing in of a righteousness, would not have been sufficient to have expiated sin, satisfied justice, answered the demands of a righteous law, and discharged the sinner, had they not been the blood, sacrifice, and righteousness of God; it is the impress of Deity upon them, which makes them efficacious to answer all the purposes. Now this being called a bottom, is no way a lessening or a diminution of the glory of Christ’s Deity, any more than his being called a foundation is; but rather serves to set forth the glory and greatness of it, as its being said to be of gold manifestly shows. And then also,
3rdly. By the purple covering of the chariot, which seems to be an allusion to the curtains of the tabernacle, Exod. 26:1, may be meant, either the passion and sufferings of Christ in the human nature, by which his garments were as though they had been dyed; and he appeared red in his apparel; nay clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; so that the covering of the human nature of Christ may well be said to be of purple; or else, it means his royal dignity, and his exaltation after sufferings; this being a colour used by kings and great persons; he was clothed with a purple robe before his sufferings, by way of derision; but now he is really made Lord and Christ; he was then, in a way of mockery, crowned with thorns: but now, in the same nature, is crowned with glory and honour. And then,
4thly. By the midst of it, which is paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem, may be meant the heart of Christ, which is filled with, and as it were, paved with love for poor sinners; or as the word may be rendered, inflamed, or set on fire with love. It was this that moved him to espouse their cause, take upon him the care and charge of their persons, assume their nature, and die in their room and stead; which love of his, as to its quality, is the best; as to its degree, the greatest; as to its duration, for ever; from whence there is no separation, to which there is no parallel; and at present, to us finite creatures, incomprehensible; and all this is for the daughters of Jerusalem, the elect of God, or young converts; that is, it is all for their sakes, and out of love to them he made this chariot, or assumed human nature, according to what is said, Heb. 2:14, “forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same:” or else the meaning is, that such is the love of Christ towards these daughters, that if any one could but look into his heart, they would find the very images and pictures of them drawn there; who are not only engraven upon the palms of his hands, but are also set as a seal upon his heart; which was prefigured by the high-priest’s bearing the names of the children of Israel in the breast-plate of judgment upon his heart, before the Lord continually; all which is expressive of that strong affection which he has unto them. But then,
II. If by the chariot we understand the church of Christ, then,
1st. By the pillars thereof are meant the ministers of the gospel; so of James, Cephas, and John, the apostle Paul says, that they seemed to be pillars, and such as these are intended by the seven pillars, which wisdom had hewn out, and built her house upon, in Prov. 9:1; who, for their strength, stability, and support to the church of Christ, may be compared to those two pillars in the porch of the temple, which are called, the one Jachin, and the other Boaz: for these are of great strength to the building; there is a very great weight rests upon them; these are the legs in Christ’s body, which, like pillars of marble, stand firm and immoveable, notwithstanding the several pressures of reproaches, afflictions, persecutions, &c., which fall very hard and heavy upon them; for none of these things move them; but with an unshaken courage and magnanimity of mind they stand up under them; and in so doing, are very great supports to the cause, interest, and church of Christ; for though Christ is the Foundation and the chief Corner-stone, yet these are pillars, and have their usefulness. Now these are said to be of silver, because of their valuableness, both in the esteem of Christ, who has placed them in his church, and from whom they have all their strength and usefulness; and likewise in the esteem of saints, to whom they are made useful; for the tongue of the just, and especially of a gospel-minister, is as choice silver: these are the silver trumpets, which sound forth and proclaim peace and pardon, life and salvation to poor, lost, and rebellious sinners; their words, when fitly spoken, and adapted to the cases of souls, either of afflicted saints, or distressed sinners, are like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Moreover, this may be expressive of their shine and lustre, both in doctrine and life; who preach the gospel in its power and purity, hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience; and who, the more they are vilified, reproached, afflicted, and persecuted for the sake of the gospel, the brighter they are, like silver purified seven times. And then,
2ndly. By the “golden bottom,” may be meant Christ; who is the foundation of his church and people, on which they are laid and firmly built; and is the only foundation of their everlasting salvation, of all their faith, hope, joy, and comfort here, and of their eternal happiness hereafter: and a good bottom this is; happy is every one that is upon it; it may well be said to be “of gold,” because of the glory and splendour of it; it is the “foundation of the apostles and prophets,” which they ministerially laid, and on which their persons are secured equally with others; hence the foundations of the new Jerusalem are said to be twelve, and each of them compared to a precious stone, to set forth the excellency thereof: nay, this foundation is a super-excellent one; “for other foundation can no man lay,” which is in any respect valuable, or upon any account to be compared to this “which is laid, which is Christ Jesus.” Moreover, for the durableness of it, it may be said to be of gold; for “the righteous is an everlasting foundation;” that is, the righteous man’s foundation is such an one; or he is built upon one that will last for ever; and such an one is Christ; a foundation that will never decay; but will always abide firm and strong; and is sufficient to bear the whole weight of the building to all eternity. And then,
3rdly. The “purple covering” may intend either, 1. The suffering state of the church; being attended with a variety of afflictions, tribulations, and persecutions, and sometimes as it were covered with blood, as the histories of several ages testify. Or else, 2. Her regal dignity, to which she and all believers are advanced by Christ, who has made them “kings and priests to God and his Father:” purple being a colour in use among great persons, may very well represent this. Or, 3. Her being clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness; which may be said to be of a purple colour, because it is the produce and effect of Christ’s blood, and is as it were dipped into it; hence believers are said to be “justified by his blood,” in Rom. 5:9. Or, 4. It may signify her being washed in Christ’s blood, together with the outward garments of her conversation, and so appear to be of this dye. And then,
4thly. By the midst thereof, which is “paved with love,” may be meant, either the hearts of believers, or of the church, filled with a sense of Christ’s love shed abroad in them, or inflamed with love to Christ, which, though it is sometimes in a decaying and declining condition, yet is never entirely moved; for who “can separate from the love of Christ?” that is, either from Christ’s love to his people, or from their love to him: or else, by this pavement of love in the midst of the church, may be meant the ordinances of Christ; which he has instituted for the sake of the daughters of Jerusalem, or young converts; through which he discovers his love unto them, and by an attendance on which they discover their love, both to Christ and to his church; and the church again discovers her love to them, by a cheerful admission of them to these ordinances. But then,
III. If by the chariot we understand the gospel and the preaching of it, then,
1st. By the “silver pillars thereof,” are meant the truths and doctrines of it; which, like pillars, are solid and substantial, and continue firm and immoveable, and not like chaff, which is driven away with every wind; nor like such combustible and perishing things, as wood, hay, and stubble; but like gold, silver, and precious stones; and are of very great use to support God’s children under the several trials and exercises which they are attended with, and that either in adversity or prosperity, life, or in death: and therefore for their value, utility, and duration, may be compared to pillars of silver: and ought to be as diligently and carefully sought for and into as silver is, and to be received and preferred before it: for to get wisdom in Gospel truths, “is better than gold;” and to get understanding in Gospel-doctrines, “is rather to be chosen than silver,” Prov. 16:16. And then,
2ndly. By the “golden bottom,” may be meant Christ himself, who is the sum and substance of the Gospel: to preach Christ, and him only, as God’s way of salvation to sinners, was the old, primitive, and apostolical way of preaching: and which God blessed and owned, and continues so to do, for the conversion of sinners, and the comfort of saints that gospel, of which Christ is not the sum and substance, is like a chariot without a bottom; and such an one is good for nothing; for who would venture to ride in it? but where Christ is the main and principal subject insisted on, there is a good bottom, nay, a golden one: or a good scat, ἀνακλιτον, “a reclining place,” as the Septuagint render it, to sit and rest in, or lean upon. And also,
3rdly. By the “purple covering,” may be meant particularly those doctrines of the Gospel, which concern our redemption from the law, and the curses of it; the pardon of our sins, and our justification through Christ’s precious blood; for which reason they may be said to be of this colour. And
4thly. This pavement of love may signify that the whole Gospel is full of love; wherein, in a very lively manner, is set forth the love of God the Father, in contriving and drawing the scheme and the model of our salvation before all time; and in sending his Son in the fulness of time, to accomplish what was agreed on before, that he should do; as also the love of Christ in becoming man, sustaining all the sorrows of life; and sufferings of death; and all for the sake, and in the room and stead of vile, sinful, and rebellious sinners; it gives us such instances of love as never were heard of before, which never were, nor never will be paralleled; its whole language is love; it is nothing else but a free promise and declaration of God’s love and grace to sinful man; so that it may well be said to be paved with it; and how delightful must such a pavement be to the daughters of Jerusalem, to all young converts, either to behold or sit upon, where nothing but the love that is between Christ and his church is beautifully described? But then,
IV. If by the chariot we understand the covenant of grace, then,
1st. By the silver pillars, may be meant the promises thereof; which, like pillars, are firm and immoveable, solid and substantial; they are all yea and amen in Christ; not one of them shall ever fail, being free, absolute, and unconditional; and therefore are called better promises, as being preferable to those in the covenant of works, which required conditions to be fulfilled before the enjoyment of the things promised. These, like pillars, are the support of God’s children, under the variety of troubles they are exercised with; these yield them relief, are reviving cordials, and fill them with joy and comfort when nothing else can. O! of what profit and advantage has a promise been to a sinking believer, when it has been seasonably brought, and suitably applied by the Spirit! there are some promises which the saints would not have out of their Bibles for millions of worlds: and these may be said to be of silver, because of their preciousness, richness, and durableness; they are “exceeding great and precious,” are of more worth than “thousands of gold and silver;” and will last for ever, being the sure “mercies of David;” nay, the more they are tried, used, and handled by faith, the brighter and more glorious will they look. And then,
2ndly. By the golden bottom of this covenant, must be meant Christ; who is the covenant itself, not only materially, but fundamentally; he is not only the matter and substance of it, all the blessings and promises of it being comprised in him, but also the Foundation of it; he bears the whole weight of the covenant, and is, as has been observed, the Surety, Mediator, and Messenger of it. Now this bottom, for its richness, firmness, and duration, may be said to be of gold; souls who are in this chariot, the covenant of grace, need never fear falling through; it can never be unbottomed: once in covenant, and always so; and therefore it is said to be “ordered in all things, and sure;” because it has such a bottom, it can never be broken, nor will it ever be removed. And then.
3rdly. Its purple covering may intend the blood of Christ, which is called “the blood of the everlasting covenant;” by which, not only the covenant is ratified and confirmed; but all that are in it and are under this cover, have their sins blotted out, hidden and covered; so that when they are sought for, and the most diligent scrutiny made for them by justice, they shall not be found. Moreover, their persons are hereby eternally screened from the wrath of God; so that though showers of wrath shall fall upon the heads of Christless sinners, yet all under this purple covering shall be safe, and not have the least drop fall upon them; but shall, in this chariot of rich and glorious grace, be safely preserved, protected, and conveyed to eternal glory.
4thly. The midst of it being paved with love shows that this covenant is full of love. It was love that set Christ on work to make it, and engaged him to be the Surety, Mediator, and Messenger of it; it is made up of nothing but love; love has filled it with precious promises and spiritual blessings; and all for the daughters of Jerusalem, to whom love in time communicates them. O! what a delightful and easy chariot must this be to ride in, which is lined with love! love is the hangings of it all around, and the velvet cushions and pillows on which faith leans; with what splendour, stateliness, and majesty, as well as ease and pleasure then, does the believer go to glory?
The Jewish writers, as I have already observed, by the chariot, understand the tabernacle or temple; and by its pillars, bottom, covering, and middle, the ark of the testimony, with the two tables of stone, which are more precious than gold and silver; the golden mercy-seat, the vail of blue and purple, and the seat of the shechinah between the two cherubims, which are upon the mercy-seat. To this purpose are the Targum, and the gloss of R. Solomon Jarchi upon the place.
Moreover, besides the several senses which have been already given of these words, it may not be amiss to observe, that by this bride-chamber, as some render the word in ver. 9, may be meant the royal palace: and how well the description of it in this verse agrees with what is given of the new Jerusalem, in Rev. 21, will best appear by comparing both together: which bridal palace Christ is now preparing for his spouse, and when that is ready for her, and she for that, being “perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,” she shall be kindly welcomed and cheerfully received; where the nuptial feast will be kept, and Christ shall be seen by all the daughters of Zion in all his glory, and with his royal diadem upon his head, as he is described in the following verse. (Gill, J. (1854). An Exposition of the Book of Solomon’s Song; Commonly Called Canticles (pp. 127–131). London: William Hill Collingridge.)
____________________________________________________
FROM MY READING:
Paul Decker writes: Common sense is not a gift. It’s a punishment because you have to deal with everyone who doesn’t have it.
_______________________________________________________________
1 John 2
If we keep His commandments and love our brothers, we walk in fellowship.
INSIGHT
It is sometimes difficult to know if we are in fellowship with the Lord. We erroneously tend to rely on our feelings to gauge our relationship with Him. If we “feel” spiritual one day, we think we are in fellowship with Him. If on another day we do not “feel” spiritual, we assume we are not in fellowship. John helps us with this dilemma; he describes fellowship for us. If we are keeping the LordÕs commandments and loving others, we are in fellowship whether we “feel” in fellowship or not. Do not let your feelings deceive you and encourage you to sin.
________________________________________________
Bill Johnson writes (MO): These gas prices are probably the reason the armies in the Book of Revelation are riding horses.
__________________________________________________
Samuel publicly introduces Saul to the nation of Israel.
INSIGHT
Leadership is at the same time a blessing and a curse. Leaders like to have the allegiance and esteem of their followers, but such is rarely the case. Inherent in humanity are differences of opinion, and those differences cause some to be for certain leadership and against other leadership.
The day Saul is presented as king over Israel, a faction of “worthless men” grumble against him. If you are in a position of leadership, you should not be insensitive to dissension, but you must also realize that you will never make all the people happy all the time. (Quiet Walk)
___________________________________________________
OUTSPOKEN ABOUT SIN
It is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. Matthew 18:8
All talk about sin, say the self-expressionists, is utterly foolish, leading to self-repression, which is, they aver, the only sin. What used to be called sin is just expression of self, the greatest and the most vital possession that man has, they say. Not to sin, according to the old meaning of the term, is to do violence to the greatest gift he possesses. They plead, therefore, for the abolition of the word sin in its earlier associations. They deplore what they term the tragic spectacle of mankind shackled against its highest good by adherence to the warnings of the Bible, the Church, and the saints.
We can best consider this human view of life, and show its complete fallacy, by contrasting it with God’s view as stated in the Bible. The teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, are outspoken against sin. He said, “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire” (Matthew 18:8-9).
Now there we are reminded of the way in which every conceivable view of life and of men is invariably dealt with somewhere or another in the Scriptures. Modern man is constantly flattering himself and suggesting to himself that certain of his ideas are quite new. But here again we find an illustration of a view that prides itself on its modernity dealt with completely and exhaustively in the Bible.
A Thought to Ponder: The teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, are outspoken against sin.
(From Truth Unchanged, Unchanging, pp. 18-20, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Generous Giving
Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. Leviticus 19:10
General Charles Gordon (1833–1885) served Queen Victoria in China and elsewhere, but when living in England he’d give away 90 percent of his income. When he heard about a famine in Lancashire, he scratched off the inscription from a pure gold medal he’d received from a world leader and sent it up north, saying they should melt it down and use the money to buy bread for the poor. That day he wrote in his diary: “The last earthly thing I had in this world that I valued I have given to the Lord Jesus.”
General Gordon’s level of generosity might seem above and beyond what we’re able to extend, but God has always called His people to look out for those in need. In some of the laws He delivered through Moses, God instructed the people not to reap to the edges of their field nor gather the entire crop. Instead, when harvesting a vineyard, He said to leave the grapes that had fallen “for the poor and the foreigner” (Leviticus 19:10). God wanted His people to be aware of and provide for the vulnerable in their midst.
However generous we may feel, we can ask God to increase our desire to give to others and to seek His wisdom for creative ways to do so. He loves to help us show His love to others. (By Amy Boucher Pye – Our Daily Bread)
_____________________________________________________
Sweet-Smelling Sacrifice
“I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.” (Philippians 4:18)
The reference in this text goes back to the “sweet savour” that God smelled when Noah offered his initial sacrifice after disembarking from the year-long Flood. That offering triggered a promise from God that He would never again curse the earth or destroy every living thing with water, as the Flood had done. Furthermore, the Lord promised to maintain the seasons and functions of the earth until the end (Genesis 8:20-21).
Later, Moses would bring the Lord’s instructions for those laws of Israel that would keep the nation separate from the rest of the world and constantly remind them of the very personal relationship that the Creator of all things was establishing with them. Some of the sacrifices would be an “offering by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savour unto the LORD” (Numbers 15:3).
It is interesting to note that the twice-born are “unto God a sweet savour of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:15). Our very existence as His children smells good to our heavenly Father! We are also compared to living stones that are being built into a spiritual house that is “to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). Our bodies are to be “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1) that render the “sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15), while God Himself is making us “perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ” (Hebrews 13:21). (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
_____________________________________________________
Doing Righteousness
“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” (1 John 3:7)
Every genuine Christian knows that part of the salvation gift is the promise of being made “unblameable in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 3:13). We sometimes have trouble, however, with the concept of present-tense holiness in our everyday lifestyles.
John speaks of the abiding Christian who “sinneth not” (1 John 3:6). Indeed, such a Christian “doth not commit sin” (1 John 3:9) because, John notes, the “seed” of God “remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” Furthermore, “whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not” (1 John 5:18).
It’s accurate to translate those passages with the “continuing” implication of the Greek structure (i.e. “does not continue in [the practice of] sin,” etc.). However, the emphasis is on an obvious, continuous, clearly embraced lifestyle of righteous living!
The visible transformation from a worldly conformity (Romans 12:2) begins with a desire for “the sincere milk of [God’s] word” (1 Peter 2:2), fashioning ourselves after God’s holiness “in all manner of conversation” (1 Peter 1:14-15). Neither are we to let sin reign in our bodies, but we are to yield ourselves as “instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:12-13). Since we are “risen with Christ,” we are to “mortify” the fleshly appetites, “put off” emotional outbursts that reflect an ungodly nature, and “put on” godly attributes so that whatsoever we do is done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:1-17). HMM III
______________________________________________________
We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.