“Behold King Solomon” (Song 3:6-11)

“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.

“First Love” (Rev 2:4)

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love” (vs4).

Union and communion with Christ is the FIRST love of the child of God, the KNOWLEDGE and fellowship of Him.

We didn’t love a creed, system, or even DOING for Him, but we loved, like the Song of Solomon illustrates, to hear Him, know Him, be with Him, and learn of His love to us, to FELLOWSHIP in matchless grace (Rom 5:5, 11).  Then, for whatever reason, we GET DISTRACTED and forget Jesus Christ to earn favor, impress people, and exalt ourselves. We’ll go to “touch not; taste not; handle not” religion and deny ourselves food and drink (Col 2:21-22). We’ll go to LICENTIOUSNESS and labor to please ourselves in the world because Christ is gone, and in these things, we see how FAR we’ve fallen - “Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent” (Rev 2:5). Christ Himself - not preaching, prayer, service, doctrinal accuracy, impressive behavior, etc, but Christ HIMSELF is our delight and joy - “It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loves: 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“ (Song 3:4). We love to SEE Him in His beauty, and thereby, now we can obey Him, now we can preach, now the praying is a delight.

We labor to SEE Christ, and from this union and communion all else in Christianity flows.  The highest acts of worship are always by faith in Jesus Christ… the faith that POSSESSES and enjoys Christ, that counts Him more precious and generous than all, that BELIEVES unto the reception of the EXPERIENCE of Christ… it is the first love of the elect; it is the knowledge of Christ and the quickening of the soul - “Tell me, O you whom my soul loves, where you feed, where you make your flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turns aside by the flocks of your companions“ (Song 1:7).  If we are wise, then we’ll seek this gift, day by day, until we leave this world, for God will give.