Song of Solomon 3

Song of Solomon 3:1-5

“I will seek Him.” Son 3:1-5“By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: 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 loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: 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. 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.”Those who love the Lord Jesus Christ seek his manifest presence. Nothing in all the world is more pleasant to the believing heart than communion with our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who enjoy the spiritual presence and fellowship of Christ are supremely favored of God. Holy Scripture exhausts every earthly figure to express the charms and delights of this blessed fellowship between Christ and his redeemed ones. It is impossible for human language to express the sweetness of his grace, the joy of his communion, and the comfort of his presence. Just as it is the sweetest thing in the world to enjoy communion with Christ, it is the saddest thing in the world to a believer to be without the Lord’s manifest presence and fellowship. Yet, that is just the condition that we see the church in at the beginning of this chapter.—“By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.” But she was resolved not to rest in such a sad condition. She said, “I will seek him.” She would not rest until she had found him and brought him into her mother’s house. There she held him and would not let him go. Spiritual presence The Lord Jesus Christ is no longer physically present with his church. “He is not here, for he is risen.” Our Lord’s physical body is in heaven. There he sits upon the throne of God, making intercession for us according to the will of God and anticipating the day when his enemies shall be made his footstool. The papists tell us that our Lord is bodily present with us in the mass. But that cannot be.—“Such persons unwittingly deny the real humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, for if he has indeed assumed our humanity, and is in all points made like unto his brethren, his flesh and blood cannot be in two places at one time.” (Ch. H. Spurgeon) Since our Lord, as a real man, the God-man, is in heaven, his bodily presence is no longer with his church. We know that it is best for us that Christ is no longer present with his church in a physical sense, because he said so (John 16:7). As God, Christ is everywhere. He is omnipresent. As man, he is in heaven. His bodily presence is as much limited today to one place as it was when he was upon the earth. But as the God-man in one Person, the Mediator and Head of the church, Christ is present with us by the Holy Spirit, the Divine Comforter, whom the Father has sent in his name. It is by the working of God the Holy Spirit that Christ’s presence with his church is manifested. We need not expect or desire anything other than this spiritual presence of Christ. By his Spirit, Christ is everywhere present with his church at all times to guide, to protect, to instruct, and to comfort his people. This spiritual presence of Christ is the glory of the church of God; and this is the thing we desire. When Christ is manifestly presence with us in this spiritual sense we have all that we need or desire. When this spiritual presence is absent, our strength and glory is gone. I am afraid that the name of the church of the twentieth century might well be called “Ichabod, The glory is departed from Israel!” If a church is without the Spirit of God, she may have a name to live, but it is dead; and, you know, that corruption follows death. Those churches that have turned aside unto error, have not only lost all power to do good, but they have become obnoxious, loathsome, and the causes of great evil in the world. The one thing that we need is the spiritual presence of Christ. He said, “Without me ye can do nothing.” But if Christ shall come to us in the Person of his blessed Spirit our power and our glory shall be restored. The return of the Lord’s manifest presence by the Holy Spirit has been the birth of every true revival and spiritual awakening. The manifest presence of Christ in the midst of his people is the Sun of Righteousness arising with healing beneath his wings. Seeking the lord We ought to constantly seek the Lord’s manifest presence, both individually and for his church. Without question, wherever men and women gather in his name to worship him, the Lord Jesus is present (Matthew 18:20). That gathered band of believers, if only two or three in number, is the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17), “an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22), and “the house of God—the church of the living God” (1 Timothy 3:15). I am thankful to say, it appears that our God is working among his people all over the country and around the world in our day. But if we are to see better and greater things in the days that lie ahead, we must ever seek the presence of Christ by the Holy Spirit. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.” I urge you, my brother, my sister in Christ, to make this determined resolution. Fix it in your heart, and do not be turned aside from it —“I will seek Him!” “I will seek him whom my soul loveth.” You have been chosen of God in eternal election, redeemed by the blood of Christ, and called to life and faith in Christ by God the Holy Spirit. If you are yet without Christ, without God, without hope, without life, I would press you into the Kingdom. I urge you, for your soul’s sake, to seek our Lord with all your heart. Seek him in his Word. Seek him by faith. Seek him now. If you seek him, you will find him.

He has promised that he will be found by all who seek him. —“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive” (Jeremiah 29:11-14). Those who seek Here are seven things revealed in the Book of God about those who seek the Lord. Those who seek Christ love Christ. In these five verses, the lovesick spouse speaks of Christ as “Him whom my soul loveth.” It may be that you do not now enjoy the manifestation of the Lord’s presence; but your heart clings to him. You may have been idle, slothful, neglectful, and sinful. You may have much to regret and much to weep over. But Christ is truly the One whom your soul loves. A loving wife may not always have her husband in her arms; but she always has him in her heart. Even so, the true believer does not always enjoy the presence of Christ, but he never ceases to love Christ. The words are very strong. —“Him whom my soul loveth.” It is as though she said, “Though there are many whom I love, he is the love of my soul. My deepest, fondest, purest, truest, most real love is reserved for him alone. Do you have such a heart for Christ? Is he the Love of your soul? Is he the Object of your heart’s affection? All true believers do sincerely love the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not possible for a person truly to know Christ and not love him. —“We love him because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Christ’s love for us precedes our love for him. His love for us causes our love for him. His love for us infinitely exceeds our love for him. But we do love him. We love the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, because of who he is. This One whom we love is himself the eternal God; and he is perfect man. He is the God-man our Mediator. We love him, because he has revealed himself in our hearts. We love Christ, because of all that he has done for us. His love for us is manifest by his deeds. His love is not dormant and idle. All that he has done and is doing and shall do is motivated by his love for us. Because he loved us, the Son of God assumed all responsibility for our souls as our covenant Surety before the world began (Hebrews 7:22; Ephesians 1:3-6; 2 Timothy 1:9). In the fullness of time, he assumed human flesh and came into the world in our nature to redeem and save us by his obedience to God as our Mediator, Representative, and Substitute (Matthew 1:21). Because he loved us, the Lord Jesus lived in perfect obedience to God’s holy law to bring in everlasting righteousness as our Representative (Romans 5:18-21). Because of his great love for us, the Darling of Heaven laid down his life as our Substitute that we might live forever through him (Romans 5:6-11). Our risen Savior rules the universe in love for his people, as the God-man our Mediator King, to give eternal life to the objects of his everlasting love (John 17:2). It is Christ himself that we love. Immanuel has won our hearts. We love Him. Many love his doctrine; but we love Him. Many love his throne; but we love Him. Many love his church; but we love Him. Many love his works; but we love Him. Those who seek Christ know their need of him. The spouse sensed that her beloved Bridegroom was gone; and she seems to be in desperate need of him. Do you know your need of Christ? If a person knows his need of Christ, he will seek him (Philippians 3:7-11). We need his righteousness to cover our shameful nakedness. We need his blood to cleanse us from our sins. We need his grace to save us and keep us.

We need his wisdom to direct us. We need his strength to uphold and protect us. We need him! Our Lord told us plainly, “Without me, ye can do nothing.” And we have found, by painful and blessed experience, that it is true. Without Him, we cannot sing his praise. Without Him, we cannot pray with understanding.

Without Him, we cannot worship in the Spirit. Without Him, we cannot live in peace. Without Him, we cannot know, do, or enjoy God’s will. Without Him, we cannot understand God’s Word. Those who seek Christ seek him diligently.Those who ardently love Christ and know their need of him do not cease to seek him, and seek him diligently. In this chapter we see the spouse seeking him upon her bed, seeking him in the streets, seeking him in the broadways, and finally seeking him at the lips of the watchman. She sought him in every place where he was likely to be found she left no stone unturned. If you are truly in earnest in knowing Christ, if you are really concerned for your soul, if you truly thirst and pant for fellowship with the Son of God, you will diligently seek him. You will seek him in the closet of your heart in earnest prayer. You will seek him in the Field of Holy Scripture. You will seek him in the assembly of his saints, in his house where he is most likely to be found. You will seek him through the preaching of the Gospel, the means by which he reveals himself to sinners.Those men who preach the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ are the watchmen of Zion (Isaiah 62:6; Ezekiel 33:7; Hebrews 13:7; Hebrews 13:17). They are the watchmen to whom the spouse went, seeking her Beloved (Son 3:3; Son 5:7).

Public worship and gospel preaching are not optional things in spiritual life. They are vital to it. God has given his church pastors and teachers specifically for the purpose of watching over, instructing, and teaching his people (Ephesians 4:11-16). Those who diligently seek Christ will find him. Neither the brethren, nor the church of God, nor those who preach the gospel can comfort the afflicted conscience, unless Christ himself is apprehended by faith. But as soon as she left the watchmen she found him whom she sought. —“It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: 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” (Son 3:4). If the Lord Jesus hides himself from his people for a season, he has a reason. If we are stirred to seek him, it is Christ himself who has created in our hearts a need and desire for him. And, where the Lord Jesus Christ has created a desire for himself, he will give satisfaction. He comes to all who seek him. Matthew Henry wrote, “Those that continue seeking the Lord shall find him at last, when perhaps they are almost ready to despair of finding him.” (See Psalms 34:1-6; Isaiah 54:7-10; Jeremiah 29:12-14.) Those who seek Christ, when they have found him, will hold him fast.They will take care to retain him. They will endeavor to maintain their fellowship and communion with him. Look at verse four again. —“I held him and would not let him go.” Yes, he will go away if we do not hold him; but he is willing to be held by us. More, he is the One who causes us to want to hold him and gives us grace to hold him. In other words, we hold him by faith (faith that he gives and maintains), because he holds us by grace. We hold him in the arms of love, because he holds us in the arms of his love. We hold him by earnest prayer, because he holds us by constant intercession. We hold him by willing submission and obedience, because he makes us willing, submissive servants. Those who seek Christ, when they have found him, will bring him into the house of God. When believers walk in fellowship with Christ, they bring him with them into the fellowship of the saints. Read verse four once more. —“It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: 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.” Blessed are those local churches into which men and women bring the Son of God as they come together! Those who seek Christ, when they have found him, will jealously guard his blessed presence. Our Lord is not indifferent about the conduct of his people. There are many things which will drive him from us and destroy our fellowship with him (Ephesians 4:30). Anger, wrath and malice, pride, slander and vengeance, Love of the world, envy and strife are all things that grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom we are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let us take care not to grieve him. Rather, let us walk in the Spirit, as followers of Christ, loving, forgiving, submitting to, and serving one another for the glory of God.

Song of Solomon 3:6-11

Christ and his church in their royal chariotSon_3:6-11“Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant? 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 made 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. 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.” Try to picture the scene before us in this passage. —A royal wedding has taken place. King Solomon has taken Pharaoh’s daughter to be his wife. She is arrayed in all the beauty and splendor of a royal bride. Solomon, with all his wealth, has spared no expense for this glorious occasion. The wedding ceremony is now over. The marriage supper is ended. The royal pair, the newly wed king and his queen prepare to leave for their honeymoon. The king nods his head and his nuptial chariot is brought forward. It is a chariot he has especially prepared for his beloved bride. The magnificent coach will carry the happy couple through the wilderness to the place where their marriage will be consummated. Standing in the front of the chariot are two men carrying torches to light their way through the wilderness. The torches burn with all the powders of the merchants, giving off in their smoke the fragrances of romantic perfume. In front of the chariot, on both sides, and in the rear there are sixty valiant men, selected by Solomon himself, to guard the royal pair as they make their way through the wilderness. Every man is expert in war and ready to die, if need be, in defense of the king and his bride. The chariot is made of the fine woods of Lebanon. Its four posts are of silver.

The bottom of it is covered with gold. Its curtains are made of fine purple. Secluded behind those curtains, safe and happy, is the king and his bride upon their bed, a bed made by his own hands. They recline together upon the soft cushions of love he has prepared. An allegory The picture, of course, is an allegory referring to Christ and his bride, the church, which he purchased with his own blood and conquered by his irresistible love. It pictures both the happiness and safety of the church of Christ as she is carried through the darkness and wilderness of this world in the arms of Christ. Resting in his love, secure in his arms, we can almost hear her speak. —“I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” As this passage opens, the daughters of Jerusalem speak with astonishment. They are overcome with awe by the beauty and majesty that has been given to the church of Christ. It is not at all uncommon for new converts to be astonished by that which Christ has made his church to be. She who was once black and despised is now adorned with beauty and admired. Looking upon the church, chosen by Christ to be his bride, adorned with his love, and protected by his power, the daughters of Jerusalem are astonished and cry, “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the powders of the merchant?” Two things This question tells us two things about the church of Christ in this world. First, so long as we are in this world the church of Christ is in a wilderness. The Lord’s people here are passing through a wilderness, as strangers and pilgrims in a foreign and hostile land. Here we must expect to meet with danger on every hand, trials, tribulations, and temptations. “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness?”—The church of God is passing through this wilderness. She is coming up out of it. She has no attachment to it. Believing men and women must take care never to live for this world. We simply must not entangle ourselves with the affairs of this world. To love this world is to be the enemy of God (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15; Matthew 6:31-33). Second, as the people of God make their way through this world their hearts are set upon another world. The church is said to be “like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense.” Her heart is inflamed with love for Christ. Her affections are set upon things above, not on the perishing things of the world (Colossians 3:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:18). The graces of the Spirit in the believer’s heart are like sweet spices and holy incense, arising from the altar of the renewed soul’s heart. Matthew Henry wrote, “The graces and comforts with which she is perfumed are called ‘the powders of the merchant,’ for they are far fetched and dearly bought by our Lord Jesus, that blessed Merchant, who took a long voyage and was at vast expense, no less than that of his own blood, to purchase them for us. They are not products of our own soil, nor the growth of our own country; no, they are imported from the heavenly Canaan, the better country.” Christ’s Presence The primary thing revealed in this passage is this. While the church is in this world she is with Christ and Christ is with her, and she is safe. All is well! Sometimes our doubting hearts become fearful about the welfare and safety of the Lord’s church. But our fears are ill-founded. The church belongs to Christ. He loved her, chose her, and redeemed her. She is in his hands. He will defend her, protect her, and perfect her. The church of Christ and the cause of Christ are safe.

“Zion stands by hills surrounded, Zion kept by power Divine; All her foes shall be confounded, Though the world in arms combine: Happy Zion, what a favored lot is thine!

Every human tie may perish; Friend to friend unfaithful prove; Mothers cease their own to cherish; Heaven and earth at last remove; But no changes can attend Jehovah’s love!

Zion’s Friend in nothing alters, Though all others may and do; His is love that never falters, Always to its object true. Happy Zion, crowned with mercies ever new!

If thy God should show displeasure, ‘Tis to save and not destroy; If He punish, ‘tis in measure, ‘Tis to rid thee of alloy. Be thou patient; soon thy grief shall turn to joy.

In the furnace God may prove thee, Thence to bring thee forth more bright; But can never cease to love thee; Thou art precious in His sight; God is with thee, God thine everlasting light.” Daughters of jerusalem “The daughters of Jerusalem” seem to be representative either of our younger brothers and sisters in Christ (Those who truly are converted, but still just babes in grace), or of those who only profess to be converted, but are yet lost, blind, and ignorant. Perhaps both. These daughters of Jerusalem stand admiring the bride, the church, and commending her; but she overlooks their praises and points them to her Beloved. She transfers all the glory to Christ. The church would have all to look away from her to Christ. We applaud and praise him. We recommend him to your esteem. Christ alone is worthy of praise. He alone is worthy of notice. She calls him Solomon; but the One spoken of is Christ. “Behold, greater than Solomon is here!” Solomon was a type of Christ. Both are the sons of David and the sons of God, kings of peace over the house of God. Solomon was a type of Christ, in his wealth and wisdom, in the greatness and peacefulness of his kingdom, in his marriage to the daughter of Pharaoh, and in building the temple. In these verses the church expresses her admiration and praise for Christ in three ways: —(1.) The Safety Of His Bed (Son 3:7-8) —(2.) The Splendor Of His Chariot (Son 3:9-10) —(3.) The Greatness Of His Person (Son 3:11). The safety of his bed Here the church admires and praises Christ because of the safety of his bed (Son 3:7-8). —“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.” She calls for the daughters of Jerusalem to, “Behold his bed,” look to him and trust him, because there is safety in him. The church is his bed. He said of it, “This is my rest for ever; here will I dwell.” The believer’s heart is his bed. He lies all night between our breasts, and reveals his love in our hearts (Ephesians 3:17). Heaven is his bed, the rest into which he entered when he had finished his work. But here “his bed” refers to that rest and satisfaction which believing hearts find in communion with Christ. When we are nestled in his arms in sweet communion and fellowship, we find rest and peace for our souls. Here is a bed long enough and broad enough for a man to stretch himself upon. The bed upon which we rest is Christ himself! The covers of this bed (Our Lord’s own righteousness!) are infinitely broad, broad enough for the biggest sinner in the world to wrap himself in! It is a green, fruitful bed (Son 1:16). It is my bed (Son 3:1). And it is his bed (Son 3:7). The bed he bought. The bed he owns. The bed he gives. The bed he is! In particular, the bride is safe and secure because the Lord has posted guards about his bed to protect her. Traveling through this wilderness in the darkness of night, the people of God are always subject to danger, being susceptible to attacks at all times. But we have no need to fear. The cause of Christ is safe in this world. The Lord himself protects his people. And he has set his angels to protect his saints. But we have something more tangible than this. C. H. Spurgeon said, “Our gracious God has been pleased to commit unto men the ministry of Christ. The Lord ordaineth that chosen men should be the protectors of his church; not that they have any power of themselves to do anything, but he girdeth the weak with strength and maketh the feeble mighty; so then, men, even the sons of men stand in array…to guard both the bridegroom and the bride.” It is the responsibility of those who preach the gospel to be watchmen, caring for and protecting the church of God. Faithful pastors are angels of the churches to guard them and watch over them (Hebrews 13:7; Hebrews 13:17; Revelation 1:20). Read Son 3:7-8 carefully, and you will notice that there are always enough swordsmen for the work. “Threescore valiant men” — There are always enough men chosen of God for the deliverance of his people and the protection of his church. “The Lord gave the Word, and great was the company of them that published it.” There shall always be just as many faithful pastors to carry on the battle, as the battle shall require (Genesis 19:16). The Lord knows who they are, where they are, where they are needed, and what he will use them to accomplish. These warriors were men of the right mettle, “the valiant of Israel.” The servants of God are men, bold and fearless men, men with a cause to inspire them and courage to carry them through. Valiant men are dependable men, courageous men, devoted men, and proved men. These men were all in the right place. “Threescore valiant men ABOUT IT.” There were some on the right, some on the left, some in the front, some in the rear. Each man was in the place where God had put him. Each man was in the place where he was needed and for which he was gifted. Each man kept his post. These sixty valiant men were all well armed. “They all hold swords.” Every valiant warrior in Christ’s Israel holds the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. The only weapon of our warfare is the Word of God. God’s servants carry no other, need no other, and use no other. Again, these valiant men, chosen of God for the safety of his church, are well trained. “They all hold swords, being expert in war.” They are all men of war. They had been tried and proved again and again. These men were not academy cadets. They were seasoned veterans. Those who are set apart for the work of the gospel ministry must not be novices. They must be well trained, well equipped men (1 Timothy 3:1-7).

The church of Christ does not need any “preacher boys” any more than the U. S. Marine Corps needs “soldier boys.” We need men to stand as watchmen over Zion—men who have endured trial—men who have proved their faithfulness—men who have an insight into the human heart—men who are burdened for the cause of Christ—men who have a sound knowledge of gospel doctrine (Jeremiah 3:13)—men who are gifted for the work—men who can preach and preach with persuasive power and understanding. These valiant men were always ready. Every man had his sword upon his thigh and his hand upon his sword. With Paul, every man called of God to the work will cry, “I am ready to preach the gospel!” The reason for the Lord’s appointment of his soldiers is to secure the welfare of his church. They stand at their post “because of fear in the night.” They are appointed to their posts to protect her from any real danger, to comfort her and silence her fears about supposed danger, and to light her path and guide her through the dark wilderness. The splendor of his chariot Next, the church here expresses her admiration and praise toward Christ, because of the splendor of his chariot (Son 3:9-10). —“King Solomon made 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.” As the bed speaks of the believer’s communion and fellowship with Christ in the blessed gospel rest of faith, the chariot speaks of the everlasting gospel of Christ. “The doctrines of the gospel are comparable, for their antiquity, for their sweet fragrance, for their incorruptibility, to the wood of Lebanon. The gospel of Christ never decays; Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Not one single truth bears any sign of rot. And to those souls who are enlightened from above, the gospel gives forth a fragrance far richer than the wood of Lebanon.” (C. H. Spurgeon) The gospel of the grace of God is that chariot in which Christ reveals himself in this world. The gospel is that chariot in which Christ our King rides forth conquering and to conquer. And the gospel of grace is the chariot in which the church of God is carried through this world. It is a chariot the Lord made by his own hands. He devised it and established it. He made it for himself. He made it for his church whom he determined to save. Look at the details of this blessed gospel chariot. Its splendor reflects the glory of our King, its Maker. The four silver pillars that hold up the canopy of this chariot are the attributes of God himself. The great atonement of Christ, beneath which we are sheltered from the terrible wrath of God, is supported and buttressed by the attributes of God. The divine attributes, God’s character, guarantee the efficacy of Christ’s atonement. There stands the silver pillar of God’s justice. God cannot and will not slay any soul that is sheltered beneath the blood of Christ. Justice will not allow it. If Christ paid the debt for us, justice cannot demand payment from us. There stands the solid, silver pillar of God’s power. We are kept in the hands of Omnipotence. There stands the silver pillar of God’s immutable, everlasting love. His love for us is strong and everlasting, unchanging, and eternal. It is as strong as his power and as sure as his justice. His love for us secures our souls. And there stands the silver pillar of God’s immutability. Oh, what a pillar this is. The Lord our God changes not. And since he changes not, our souls are safe and secure (Malachi 3:6; Ecclesiastes 3:14). The purple canopy, or covering of this chariot, is the atonement of Christ. It is dyed in the purple blood of our royal King, which he shed to redeem us at Calvary. That blood-red canopy of finished atonement shelters our souls from the burning heat of the day and the terror of the night. We are sheltered safe and secure under the efficacious, sin-atoning, saving blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Precious beyond imagination is that blood! The bottom of this blessed gospel chariot is made of gold, the solid, enduring gold of God’s eternal purpose and decree (Romans 8:28-30; Romans 9:16-18). Then there is the pavement of needlework. The soft cushions upon which we are made to rest our souls are most delightful. This blessed gospel chariot is paved with Christ’s special love for his own elect. —“The midst thereof being paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem.” That love was the basis of his eternal decree. That love is revealed in his atoning sacrifice. That love is manifest in his constant, unfailing, daily care. The greatness of his person Third, the church here admires and praises Christ, because of the greatness of his person (Son 3:11). —“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.” Let every sinner who trusts Christ as his Savior recognize that he is part of the Lord’s church, inside the gospel chariot. Yet, looking upon ourselves as one of the daughters of Jerusalem, “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 heart.” We see the dishonor put upon him by the religious world in his own day. They counted him the off-scouring of the earth and crucified him with glee! We see all around us the dishonor put upon him by the apostate church of this day. His deity is denied by multitudes who profess to be his disciples. His blood is counted a common, useless thing, incapable of saving power and efficacy without the aid of man! His grace is despised as something he merely offers to men, something that may be accepted or rejected by the whim of a fallen man’s will! Let us ever behold the crowns and honors God the Father has put upon our blessed Savior. He has given him dominion over all things. He has made our all-glorious Christ Lord over all, put all things under his feet, given all judgment to the Son, and made him pre-eminent over all things and the fulness of all things. Behold, too, the honors put upon the Lord Jesus by his church, by all true believers, in whose heart he is formed, and of whom he said, “These are my mother” (Matthew 12:50). When we come to Christ in faith, receiving him as our Lord and Savior, it is a great privilege of grace for us; but it is more. —Christ is honored by it. True faith is honoring to the Son of God. Faith crowns him whom the triune God has crowned. The day a sinner believes on the Son of God is his coronation day as King in our souls. True faith acknowledges and submits to Christ as Lord and King (Luke 14:25-33). It also is the day of his espousals. He joins us to him in faith and love, and he betroths all that he is and has to us (Hosea 3:3). The day his chosen is brought to him in faith is the day of the gladness of his heart. There is joy in heaven, in the presence of the angels when a sinner trusts Christ. He sees with satisfaction and delight of the travail of his soul (Luke 15:6-8; Luke 15:10). Let us ever go forth and behold the greatness of Christ’s grace toward sinners. This is his crown. This is his brightest diadem of glory!