Song Of Songs Chaper 3

Song of Songs

(Lexical Notes/Comments)

Introduction and Chapter 3

Verse 1. “By night on my bed, I sought the One I love; I sought Him, but I did not find Him.” Lex. Lit. “On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but I did not find him.” Lex. Night can mean “repeated nights.”  

Gregory.  The initial seeking “on the bed” is an attempt to find God while still resting in self-comfort and not yet detached from earthly ease. The failure to find Him urges her to rise up (as in verse 2) — to act, seek, and labor in love.

Origin. “I sought” is repeated seeking.  “When the Bridegroom withdraws His light, the Bride, though she searches on her bed — in the silence of contemplation — cannot find Him. She must rise and go forth into the city of the virtues.”

At night when others sleep, the Shulamite’s thoughts were toward Him. She sought Him even during the night. Her heart longed for Him, but He was not found by her. He had withdrawn the manifest signs of His presence, although still there. Why? Perhaps it was just that He was withholding His presence to refine her desire. It need not be that she was in sin or apathy. Key: She sought His presence. Sought is repeated. Her whole being was in seeking Him. Nothing else will do.

Wesley. By night — When others compose themselves to sleep, my affections were working towards him. I sought — I sought for Christ's powerful presence. I sought — This repetition conveys her perseverance in seeking him. Found him not — For he had withdrawn the manifestations of his love from me, either because I had not sought him diligently, or because I had abused his favor.

Kale. The dark night... of the soul. For the first time, she has told him to go without her. She is tossing and turning at night in the bed. She isn't made for the bed; she is made for the mountains. Her refusal brings her sleeplessness. The mystics call this the dark night of the soul... where she feels He has left her. But she calls Him the one her heart loves, not the one who left her. Her attitude is still love for Him, not hurt. But He only steps in the shadows; He never leaves us or forsakes us. He is there all the time. He never leaves, but she doesn't know it. There are seasons of heartache, of pain, of frustration...what makes it unbearable is the feeling that Jesus has left us. The Hebrew indicates that this is not just one night. The cure to depression is "I will get up now", she arises. The root of depression is passivity, self-pity. When you continue to accept what God does not desire for you to have, when you accept it in a passive state, you invite depression into your soul. Self-pity is the devil's babysitter as long as you stroke that demon you will have it in your house. Some of the pain is not the devil, but because you didn't say "yes", because you didn't get up and go with him.

Nee. Night here is plural. Jesus was gone for many nights. Having lost her sensible feeling that He was near, she feared that she had lost Him, but she had not. Was she really seeking Him or the feelings? Still, she is seeking (to her credit).

Wurmbrand. V. 1 is nights, so she sought him night after night.

Verse 2. “I will arise now, I said. And go about the city; in the streets and in the squares (into places which I do not know). I will seek the One I love. I sought Him but I did not find Him.”  

Lex. Lit. “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 I found him not.” Rising from the bed. Readiness to act in love.

Bernard. “She goes about the city, she frequents the assemblies, she listens to preachers, she prays in the churches, and yet she finds Him not—for He is not found by the steps of the body, but by the affection of the heart.”

She “arises” to obey by leaving her comfort zone (3:2).

The city is the Church. Perhaps she goes from church to church, looking for His presence. It’s a place with government, order, and overseers. What does it mean to arise? Did she shake off slumber or increase her intensity of seeking? I found not. He sees fit to withhold evidence of His grace. Perhaps the public squares are conferences.

Wesley. The city — The city of God, the church in which Christ resides.

Nee. The “arise” in Lu. 15:8 was the prodigal toward the Father; here it is the mature believer’s movement toward the Son. In 3:1, she sought from her bed; in 3:2, she arises and moves out which is what He wanted her to do. Step one in knowing Jesus: Born again and an experience of the Cross salvation; 2) Possessing Christ as an indwelling reality (Baptism of HS?); 3) Abiding constantly in Christ wherever He may lead.

Kale. The city is a picture of the local church, which has government, order, and

overseers. She goes from church to church looking for the One she loves. Looking for Him, but unable to find Him. Love conquers her fear. She runs out into the city (the local church), but she cannot find him. What does the “city” represent? The local church. Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be

hidden." Isaiah 26:1-2 "In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a

strong city: he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in." Abraham searched for a city and a bride for his son.

Hebrews 11:8-10 "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance...For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God." “I will rise now,” I said, “And go about the

city; In the streets and in the squares. I will seek the one I love.” I sought him, but I

did not find him.  The bride is depicted as a city coming down from heaven. A bride that is a city, a city that is a bride. Both. Revelation 21:2 "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Revelation 21:9-11 "Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal." People really aren't looking for sermons and equipping. They move from church to church, conference to conference, looking for Jesus. They aren't tumble weeds; they are looking for the one their soul loves.

Bickle. Bickle sees v. 1-2 as the Shulamites season of discipline.

Verse 3. “The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, have you seen the One I love?”

Lex.Lit. “The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’  

Origin. The watchmen can point the way but cannot give union; true encounter comes only from the Word’s own initiative. Bernard allegorizes the watchmen as pastors and preachers who “go about” the Church exhorting the faithful. The Bride’s encounter with them marks a stage of spiritual direction—she submits her search to wise counsel.

Kale. The Watchmen. When she goes looking for him in the city "the church", she finds the watchmen. They are overseers, the shepherds, the ones keeping watch over the flock. These are the pastors, those in spiritual authority. A city has government and boundaries; protocols and functions; all the functions in a city happen in the church. She grabs the watchmen and says, "have you seen him, the one my soul loves?" People will stay in a church where they find Him, where they find the one their soul loves. It is not about the programs, the church celebrities, the sermons, the style of worship, that will keep them. People who go to church are seeking Him.

Wesley. The watchmen are the leaders, pastors, elders of the church. When they “go about,” they are looking after the government of the church. She asks them where His presence can be found. They did not answer and to save time, she moved on. Perhaps the leaders could not tell her where His presence could be found.

Nee. The watchmen were charged with watching out for the good of the souls they were entrusted with. Could they help her find the desire of her heart? Can a pastor help an unbeliever find the desire of his heart, even if the person doesn’t know that he is really desiring Jesus? This maiden passed the watchmen, went a little further on her own, and then found the one she loved.

Wurmbrand. Watchman of the City. Five-Fold Ministry?

Verse 4. “Scarcely had I passed by them when I found the One, I love. I held Him and would not let Him go. Until I had brought him into the house of my mother, and into the chamber of the One who conceived me.”

Lex.lit. “It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loves.”

His manifest presence returns (3:4).

Guyon. Bring Him into your Mother’s House, which is the bosom of God, where you were born.

She experiences God’s loving discipline as He hides His face from her. The sweetness of Song 2:3-5 is gone. God disciplines us in His affection for us (Heb. 12:5-12). His correction has no rejection. He longs to pry our fingers from that which holds our heart in bondage. The Father loves us too much to allow us to come up short of partnering with Jesus in a deep way. 3:1. By night on my bed I sought the One I love…but I did not find Him. 3:2. I will rise now…I will seek the one I love…. 3:4. I found the One I love. I held Him and would not let Him go…

After leaving the pastors and leaders, she found Jesus and His presence in a new way. Jesus manifested His love toward her. She found him, hugged him, and sank down into His arms.

Wesley. Mother's house — Her mother is the universal church, or the true Jerusalem, which is the mother of us all, Galatians 4:26, in which Christ and believers are united, and have sweet communion together.  Into which believers are said to bring Christ, by faith and prayer. Conceived me — Christ is the father who begets, and the church the mother that conceives and brings forth believers.

Nee. The goal is always complete, eternal union. She had arisen, found Him but had not yet “gone forth” with Him in resurrection power to others. One cannot have a true life of faith and permanent feelings of the Lord’s presence. We live by faith. He must have the freedom to come and go as He pleases. Is His presence in her feelings her supreme good? Is “the mother’s house” the system of grace?

Kale. I found the One my heart loves. "Scarcely had I passed them (the watchmen), when I found him... You have to go past your leaders. It is not about the leader. A really good watchman will step right out of the way; will not stand in between you and Jesus. She held Him and would not let Him go. How do we cling to Jesus? Abide in Him. Bring Him back "to the mother's house". The mother's house - is the local church. We are all born again the in womb of the church; the church is our mother; we are nursed at the breasts of the church; the nurturing of the church brings us into maturity; she wanted to bring him back into the church The wording in this passage is similar to Mary in the garden...I have found him and

won't let him go... I will take him. John 20:11-18 "But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus

standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why

are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she

said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and

I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in

3. Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me,

for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I

am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. Don’t let anyone keep you from clinging to Jesus. Once you’ve seen Him, Abide in

Him.

Wurmbrand. The worth of a church service consists only in the fact that the worshippers, the brides, have come to the service bringing Jesus with them. She continued seeking Him beyond the pastors, teachers, etc.

The chamber of her who conceived me. Inner sanctuary, the womb of grace—mystical union.

Origin. “When she had passed beyond the watchmen—that is, beyond the instruction of men—she found Him whom she loved. For none can show Him but He Himself.”

Verse 5 Commentary. “I charge you O Daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and does of the field, Do not stir up or awaken my love until He pleases.”

Guyon. She believes the maiden is sleeping.

Kale. He says, in tenderness, "do not awaken her.” "Do not pull her from my embrace until she is ready"; "let her embrace me". In chapter 2, he was holding her; now in chapter 3, she is holding him. A new season of worship & intimacy requires tenderness. We are each on us

own journey. The Lesson to learn from beginning of chapter 3... He never left her. Some of the pain you go through is not the devil, it is your doing. You said "no" when

you should have said "yes". Her fear that she couldn’t climb the mountain kept her back. Her fear that He couldn’t help her kept her back. Cling to Him; Abide in Him. The rest of the story is the result of holding onto Him.

Bickle. Bickle sees 5-11 as a unit which he titles: The Paradox of Grace: Dark But Lovely.

Teaching Theme in 3:1-5:

1. Night of longing (v. 1) – the absence of God felt in prayer.
2. Rising and seeking (v. 2) – active pursuit through works and community.
3. Encountering the watchmen (v. 3) – seeking counsel and guidance.
4. Finding and embracing the Beloved (v. 4) – mystical union.
5. Adjuration of silence and rest (v. 5) – guarding the fruit of love.

Verse 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?

Lex. Who is this? An astonished exclamation—something glorious is being revealed. Coming up. Spiritual ascending. Wilderness. The placer of temptation, testing, difficulty, persecution. Pillars of smoke. Image of sacrifice, prayer, and ascent to God. Myrrh/frankincense. Both are priestly and bridal fragrances: myrrh = suffering love, frankincense = worship. Merchant’s powders. Rich mixture of spices—symbol of virtues, graces, and gifts of the Spirit. Gregory. “She who was hidden now appears; for the soul that has passed through temptation and found the Beloved is lifted up in the sight of all, radiant with the perfumes of virtue.”

Holy anointing oil is made from myrrh (Christ’s suffering love) and frankincense (a perfect life led in holiness and purity). This could be the King’s marriage carriage but with only the Bride to Be in it. The sixty valiant ones are angels sent to minister to those who are to inherit salvation.

*The pillars of smoke (glory) resemble Israel being led by a pillar of fire by night and pillar of cloud by Day – both representing His Presence. Where can we go without His presence?

*Bride is perfumed with gifts and graces of the HS to give fruits of the Spirit and Power of the Spirit.

Kale.  Who is the One coming up out of the wilderness? (YHWH). Like a pillar of cloud - This is the ascension of Jesus into the glory realm. A new attribute of him; seeing him in the peak of glory. The earth to Jesus was like a wilderness; he rose up from this wilderness. Perfumed with spice – Myrrh & incense: suffering & splendor. The spices of the merchant - The Merchant Matthew 13:44-45. The man who found a treasure in a field; he bought the field

so, he could get the treasure. We are the treasure. Jesus bought the whole

world with His blood so He could get the treasure. Eph 1:4. The Pearl of Great price is not Jesus, it is us. We are the pearl. A Merchant found a pearl; the merchant sold everything to buy the field with the treasure.

Nee. Part Three (3:6-5:1). Growing Love. The New Creation (3:6-4:6).

Perhaps the Shulamite rests and realizes that all she has is from Grace and rests there. Does she understand complete union (3: 6-11)? Nee thinks that neither the Bridegroom nor the Bride speaks these words, rather the Holy Spirit through inhabitants of Jerusalem. He sees inhabitant one asking a question and then 3 other individual inhabitants answering. The Shulamite is leaving the wilderness (her wandering) to enter His rest and His presence. Is she headed toward New Jerusalem? Joel 2:30. The Holy Spirit is giving her new strength. The pillar indicates a new strength in the Holy Spirit. Rev. 3:12. She has experientially partaken of the cross and Jesus’ suffering and emits the fragrance of the cross. Phil. 3:10. There has been some “dying to self.” Frankincense indicates Jesus in His risen and triumphant life as a living High Priest. His life of prayer arises to God. We must first identify with His death before His life can come forth. He lived, then died; we die, then live. Hence myrrh is before frankincense. See Mt. 13:45. She also possessed the riches of His exalted life. It was with faithfulness that she purchased the fragrant virtues of His life.

Verse 7 Commentary. Behold, it is Solomon’s couch, With sixty valiant men around it, Of the valiant of Israel. Couch. Symbol of rest, union, or royal procession. Solomon.  Represents Christ, the Prince of Peace. Solomon’s name: Shlomo ↔ Shalom

Guyon. These soldiers will do battle with anyone foolish enough to attribute to self what belongs to God. The righteousness of God fights the self-righteousness of man. All self must be destroyed before being admitted to Solomon’s couch. The Word Swordsmen search within you to deal with self. God is confronting the pride in you. He fights against all that keeps you in darkness.

Wesley. Bed — The bed denotes the church, which is beautiful through Christ's beauty, and safe by his protection. In it, Christ is glorified, and believers enjoy sweet fellowship with him.

Solomon's — Which is the bed, not of an ordinary man, but of a great king, whom Solomon typifies, and who is greater than Solomon.

Threescore — Very many, the certain number being put for an uncertain. He alludes to Solomon's guard, whereby he designs all those creatures, whether angels, princes, ministers, or others, whose ministry God uses for the protection of his church.

Kale. What is this carriage? It is the “marriage-carriage”. When he said "arise, come away, let's go to the mountains", what he didn't tell her was "you don't have to go up the trail, I will take you, I will carry you." In the safety of the marriage-carriage. You don't have to walk up the dark mountain trail in your own strength. He will take you in the marriage-carriage. In ancient times, Far Eastern brides were carried on men's shoulders in a

sedan chair, a palanquin, referred to as a carriage. The Bride and Groom reclined within the veil, screened by curtains from public view. We dwell behind curtains, like the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark was carried in the same way. You aren't just going to sit on the Mercy seat. You are the mercy seat. The Mercy seat was made of wood and gold, inside and outside. God and man. The same thing that is in the mercy seat is in us. The lid of the seat was made of gold and that is where God met with his people. The mercy seat had a golden crown around it. You are crowned with glory and honor. The mercy seat was sprinkled with blood and over shadowed (protected) by angels. We have been sprinkled with blood and protected by

angels. Everything about the Mercy seat, is a description of the last day's church. The same three things that rested inside the Ark of the Covenant are inside of us. 1) The golden jar of manna, 2) The rod that budded, 3) The testimony that I will give you. 60 warriors - the warriors are the angels of God that surround us and minister to us; Jesus keeps His bride protected. You will not be ambushed by the devil when you are riding with your King in His Royal Chariot. The Tabernacle in the wilderness had 60 strong poles to hold up the linen curtains. Jesus has his noblest warriors surrounding you.

Nee. For Nee, this is the first reply to the Question 6 question. (Excursus: The palanquin of 3:9 represents the development in the believer’s life where Christ’s love becomes the motive power carrying the believer. We are carried along by the power of Divine Love. This symbolizes a deeper spiritual maturity, moving from resting in Christ’s work to being carried into union with Him. The bed/couch of 3:7 is the believer’s rest in Christ’s finished work. The guards are spiritual disciples necessary at this stage for spiritual growth. This stage emphasizes protection rather than intimacy.).

His couch is His rest of victory. But there are demonic powers to challenge his rest while we are on earth. With the warriors, Solomon was well prepared to deal with any alarms raised by demonic forces. She shared his victory because she was united with Him. As she shared Jesus’ victory, we can share it too.

Nee summary: The believer is emerging from the wilderness (a season of testing, discipline, and dealing with self. The glory cloud represents the Shekinah Glory of God necessarily containing a life of prayer, worship, and consecration on the part of the Believer. Myrrh is the suffering and assumption of the punishment for sin which Christ endured. Frankincense is the resurrection fragrance. The couch represents resting in Christ.

Verse 8. They all hold swords, Being expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh
Because of fear in the night.

“They all…” Universal readiness. Gregory. Gregory interprets the armed men as the virtues that stand guard over the soul where Christ rests. Each virtue must be “trained in war,” opposing its corresponding vice — courage against fear, temperance against lust, humility against pride. Swords. The Word of God; truth, faith, and virtue as spiritual weapons. Trained in war. The discipline of sanctification; experience in resisting temptation.

*Wesley: “The night may denote the whole time of this life, possibly called night in respect of that ignorance and error wherewith it is attended, (as the future life is compared today) this life being the only time wherein such a guard is necessary.

Verse 9. Of the wood of Lebanon Solomon, the King Made himself a palanquin.

A palanquin is a litter, a covered bridal chariot. Christ made the bed. Gregory. The King fashions it “for Himself,” meaning the soul is shaped by divine grace, not by her own effort. He also suggests the palanquin foreshadows the Cross, the vehicle on which the King triumphs and bears His Bride to glory.

*Wesley says that the cedar is incorruptible as the Word is incorruptible. A chariot — In which the bridegroom and bride ride together. The word of Christ dispensed by his ministers, whereby Christ rides triumphantly in the world, and believers are carried into heavenly glory. I Peter 1:25

Kale. He made the carriage Himself. Jesus created the tree, which he was crucified on.

Our resting place is the cross; we are carried along in the safety of His cross. The wood of Lebanon - was the most costly and fragrant wood, a type of the humanity of Jesus.

Verse 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.

This verse reveals the inner beauty and divine craftsmanship of the King’s chariot. The Church Fathers lingered lovingly here, drawing out the spiritual meanings of every material — silver, gold, purple, and love — as metaphors for faith, divinity, royalty, and charity. Base of Gold. Christ’s divine nature; eternal glory and foundation of salvation.

Wesley. He made — There is no necessity that either this or the following particulars should be distinctly applied to several things in the gospel; this in the general may suffice, that as all the particulars are added to shew the perfection and beauty of the chariot, so they do imply that Christ's word is every way amiable and perfect.

The bottom — The under and lower part. 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. Covering — The uppermost part of it. Midst — The inward parts. Paved — Covered and adorned. Love — The love of Christ to the sons of men. For the daughters — For their delight and comfort, who all bear a part in this marriage.

Kale. Made of what? Posts of silver - the four pillars supporting the covering and curtains were made of silver. Silver – redemption. Base of gold - the bottom of the carriage is made of gold. Our foundations of our relationship are holy, pure, and divine. The silver and gold speak of Jesus, who is both our Redeemer (silver) and our God (gold). Purple Upholstery - points to the royalty of Jesus; come and sit with Me in royalty; the Hebrew word for "purple" is actually "crimson" - It is the crimson blood of Jesus; we are sitting on the blood-covered mercy seat. A Bride within the veil - inside the Holy of holies; the ark of the covenant within the

veil. She now calls them daughters of Zion. They start to hunger for Him.

Wurmbrand. In the Bible the Word of God is described as silver cleansed in the furnace. So, the palanquin is based on God's Word. The covering is of purple, which means that the bride is covered by the blood of Jesus, shed for her. The interior of the palanquin is paved with love shown by the daughters of Zion. Love is belittled in our world, as mere sentimentalism or time-wasting. 

Guyon. The pillars of silver are the humanity of Jesus. The couch is the Divine Nature of Christ and is gold. The ascent or entryway is our journey to find Christ.

Verse 11. “Come out, O Daughters of Zion, Brides to Be. 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.”

Summit: the crowning of King Solomon on the day of his marriage.

Jesus reveals Himself as one who is safe to obey. She comes to believe that 100% obedience is the only safe path in life. Walking with Jesus on the water is far safer than being in the boat without Him.

Bernard. “The same head once pierced with thorns is now crowned with love.
That which was mockery has become majesty; for love has turned the instrument of pain into the symbol of triumph.”

Wesley. In the day — When the church is married to him, which is done when the covenant is confirmed between them, or when persons are converted to Christ, and more completely when they are received by Christ into his immediate fellowship in the kingdom of glory. Gladness — When he rejoices over his bride. Mother speaks of the church.

Kale.  The day of His gladness. Isaiah 62:5 "...as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." You crown Him on the wedding day, You are His crown, crowned with love.

Nee. Daughters of Zion are those who have taken responsibility for others and have special views on the Lord’s sovereignty. Some say the crown could be: 1) a crown of Glory; 2) crown to rule as King with power and authority. This is a crown of joy which the Lord Jesus has because of those who are married to Him. I Thes. 2:19-20. His crown is the Bride of Christ. Mother could be: 1) System of Grace, 2) Israel, 3) human race as a whole.

Wurmbrand. Christ has possessed glorious crowns from all eternity - the crown of the eternal Sonship of God, the crown of love, of goodness, and of wisdom - but he owes one crown to his mother. She gave him something that he had never had before: a human nature. She made him

man, as well as God. It was her gift to him, at the wedding of the godly and the human that was his conception. God had always known the life of all men, but from the outside, so to speak; from the perspective of Godhead. Now he knew it from the inside.