This blog entry is part of an on-going series in response a study of the Song of Solomon by Mike Bickle. If you’d like to read more, click on the SOS titles listed individually on my sidebar. You can also read devotionals on this topic by visiting my “Bride” archives at Soul Scents.
Young Women of
6 Who is this sweeping in from the wilderness
like a cloud of smoke?
Who is it, fragrant with myrrh and frankincense
and every kind of spice?
7 Look, it is Solomon’s carriage,
surrounded by sixty heroic men,
the best of
8 They are all skilled swordsmen,
experienced warriors.
Each wears a sword on his thigh,
ready to defend the king against an attack in the night.
9 King Solomon’s carriage is built
of wood imported from
10 Its posts are silver,
its canopy gold;
its cushions are purple.
It was decorated with love
by the young women of
Young Woman
11 Come out to see King Solomon,
young women of
He wears the crown his mother gave him on his wedding day,
his most joyous day.
Song of Solomon 3:6-11 (NLT)
Definitions:
Pillars of smoke = God’s glory
Myrrh and frankincense = surrender to suffering (the cross)
Silver = redemption
Gold = God’s divine character
Purple = royalty
Prayer Response
Jesus My Groom,
To be near you is to breath in the sweet aroma of surrender. You, the Willing Sacrifice, gave yourself to bring me into eternal safety. My Savior drenched in myrrh, You offered yourself in love. A love that began with Your Father and your willing obedience to His plan. Obedience so intense you sweat drops of blood as you whispered, “Not my will, but Thine.” Obedience that, for a time, cost everything. You, the King of Glory, gave yourself over to be mocked, beaten, and rejected as You hung on the cross.
You did it for the One you loved, yet even as You died, He turned away, unable to embrace the multitude of sins You took upon Yourself. You felt the weight of my disobedience, my fears, my lack of surrender, though You had never sinned.
You also did it for me. For the hope of our coming union. For the joy set before you, the promise of the dance of the bridal feast. You purchased Your bride with your very blood.
Father God,
My parent heart aches for You, drawn to the pain you felt as You watched Your Boy, the Crowned Prince, the Perfect One, writhe in pain and humiliation. What unspeakable agony did You feel—what self-control held You back from storming the earth with the thunder of Your wrath as we crucified Your son? How could you plan such anguish for Your Beloved. The One who never did anything but bring You joy and glory?
What? I am Your child, too? You’ve grieved through long ages, watching Your children given to despair. Without hope. Without victory. Suffering the ravages of sin, separated from Your presence, powerless to resist the humanity that made us lust after pleasure and look for it in all the wrong places.
You allowed the cross because You knew Your Beloved Son would return, bringing with Him the children that had floundered for centuries in the futile brokenness of a world lost and fallen. Your joy is complete as Your loved ones come, together, to be with You.
It was the only way. We couldn’t do it ourselves, could we? No matter how we tried. No matter how much sacrifice. No matter how many lists we followed, how many rules we made. How many religious games we played. Our righteousness was only filthy rags, rank with our own pride. Putrid in our faults. Reeking with our sins.
But NOW!
OH Jesus! Now,
You come, seated on a palanquin, a couch with an aroma of surrender, a procession full of Your glory and the glory of Your Father. And I get to sit with You. Surrounded by mighty warriors, carried upon the finished work of the cross, we come to our Father. I rest next to You, Jesus. Your presence fills me with security. I know that He Who willingly sacrificed all will keep me safe. The precious Gospel provides safety, relationship, and empowerment.
You do all that is needed to take me to the wedding feast. You are my Lord who is able to keep me from stumbling and Who brings me blameless to the throne. There is no sin You can’t overcome. There is no foe so big that I am left unprotected. God’s authority supports us as Your redemptive work carries me forward.
I love this picture of rest. Of your complete provision for my safety. I love how I get to ride through the wilderness in communion with You, focused on You. My eyes don’t have to scan the horizon for the enemy, looking for attack from behind every tree and rock. Your valiant warriors watch out for us. They surround our chair, swords drawn, eagle eyes scouting out the path.
I get to simply look into Your eyes, trusting. The battle is Yours. You conquer all Your enemies. The most important thing I can do in the midst of the battle is to stay in communion with You, seeking Your direction, Your wisdom, Your encouragement.
I am safe. Carried by Your provision of grace. The Holy Spirit counsels me, teaches me, matures me, and comforts me. You have given me all I need and now we ride upon Your royal authority as King. Kept by the magnitude of Your Divine character.
And while there is strength and glory and privilege of the Highest Authority, there is also the tenderness of love. The tapestry of the palanquin is paved with love. Oh how beautiful that everything that surrounds me is love. You are gentle in Your dealings with me. You don’t allow one burden that is not necessary for my growth. Your affection is beyond my understanding.
Oh my God!
Why have I cowered in fear? Why have I allowed the raging battles to shut down my heart and exhaust me? Why can’t I embrace the depth of Your provision for me for all I need?
I want to glory in Your grace. To sing for joy as You carry me forward on our journey to the bridal feast. I want to glory in Your love and shout out the Good News that You have done it all! That even the most intimate, inner workings of the Gospel are decorated by Your love.
Why do I fear suffering? What keeps me from taking up the cross and being bathed in the perfume of surrender? I want to be willing. For Your sake.
Jesus,
I know a lot of what holds me back is fear. I want to be captured by how safe You are. I want this security to encompass me in my need and weakness. Reveal more of this to me. Show me what it is like to walk with a peace that passes understanding. Give me that heart of singular devotion that safely trusts in You. You have freed me from fear, and yet sometimes I it comes again to haunt me. Don’t let fear rule my life. Let Love rule it. Let me live beyond fear to proclaim Your love. Make courage rooted in love an intricate part of my soul so I can call to others and share Your love with them.
I have glimpsed Your splendor, my God. Explode my understanding of Who You are and send me forth to help others find You, too.
As I meditated this song came to mind. It seems an appropriate close.
Third Day \ King Of Glory
Who is this King of Glory that pursues me with his love
And haunts me with each hearing of His softly spoken words
My conscience, a reminder of forgiveness that I need
Who is this King of Glory who offers it to me
Who is this King of angels, O blessed Prince of Peace
Revealing things of Heaven and all its mysteries
My spirit’s ever longing for His grace in which to stand
Who’s this King of glory, Son of God and son of man
His name is Jesus, precious Jesus
The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart
The King of glory
Who is this King of Glory with strength and majesty
And wisdom beyond measure, the graceous King of kings
the Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things
Who is this King of Glory, He’s everything to me
The Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things
He is the King of glory, He’s everything to me