“Go forth, O you 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” (vs11).
The church bids you to enjoy the fellowship of Jesus Christ, to come to Him and be changed by Him, so that you may be safe, fruitful, and happy (Rev 22:17).
The gospel of grace changes men; it takes us from the misery of religious duty and licentious vanity, and it changes us by the glory of Christ REVEALED, so that we know God’s love and are made loving by it. The gospel comforts the soul, soothes the fears, and it is SAFE; it isn’t a “looking over my shoulder” pleasure, but a pleasure from God that purifies the heart and keeps me from sin, strengthening my resolve and causing my face to shine.
Our praises go up, as God’s mercy comes down to us, even as she is perfumed with pillars of smoke, as her love for and dependence on Christ ascended to God - “Who is this that comes out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the powders of the merchant“ (Song 3:6).
She is safe in God’s promises, kept from alarms, and comforted amidst a really cruel world; it isn’t that she has “light headed” but empty fellowship while danger lurks about; it is that in the teeth of REAL dangers, fears, and grief, she obtains power and security in the Beloved’s arms and loving embrace - “Behold his bed, which is Solomon’s; sixty valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel. They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man has his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night” (vs7-8). He keeps her from fear that is there, for He is the refuge that we need. Forgiveness, promises, and the eternal security of the believer produces faith which works by love.
This pleasure of communion, this peace, this joy, and this happiness are not to be condemned. This isn’t illicit joy or the pleasure of this world that is vain and short lived; it is the joy of Christ, the love of God, the pardon of sin, and the promises of blessing that move us inwardly with peace. God’s gospel, and not this world, is what you need. Thus, He calls us to Himself by His love and the good that it does for us. He says, “Come”. Now, having come, we say, “Come” to you too - “Go forth, O you 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” (vs11). We say experience this love and don’t live without it. Come home to Christ your Beloved and enjoy the benefits of His love to you - “King Solomon made himself a [traveling bed or carriage] 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” (vs9-10)
His heart thrilling love is the crown of His glory, that He’d be so good to sinners as to make us holy in heaven to commune with us, having made us holy by the Spirit whereby He communes with us here.
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