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A central feature of a Jewish Wedding ceremony was a joyful procession to the Bride’s home led by the Groom, who then escorted her back to their new residence. This section talks of the part where the Bride and Groom are together heading towards their new home - the Bride has finally given her life to the Groom and left her old comfort zones (‘Mother’s Chambers’).(King Solomon would have had a resplendant procession with warriors and a golden carriage to carry them both in).
See 2 Cor 2:14 - This wedding procession reminds us of the Triumphal Procession where the Captain of the Hosts who had won would lead a victorious procession of his soldiers (v 7-8), seated on a chariot or carriage (v9), the streets full of pillars of smoke from incense burnt (v6).
Jesus has won the victory for us and we must join Him by faith as He has made a public spectacle of his enemies ( Col 2:15)- then the fragrance of our lives will touch many for Christ ( 2 Cor 2:15).
‘Joining in the
Triumphal Procession’ means having a victory perspective in our Christian
walk. This will enable us to walk through pain and suffering for Christ’s
sake with deep inner joy of the Lord. We will still be involved in Spiritual
warfare and may even lose a
few battles! (But
our eyes should always be on His ultimate victory.)
Gloriously Changed
Verse 6: “Who is this coming out of the wilderness..?”(NKJV). - this is probably a question the Daughters of Jerusalem ask. They know her, and yet she is different! (Like we sometimes cannot recognize the Bride on the Wedding day.)
When we decide to
follow Jesus and join in His victory no matter what the cost, others will
ask ‘Who is this?’ - We change from glory to glory.
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‘Like pillars of smoke’ (NKJV) - Pillars of Smoke (cloud) denotes the MANIFEST PRESENCE OF GOD (see Ex 13:21,22) to lead in His Way according to His Will (We are changed when He manifests His presence).
‘Perfumed with Myrrh and Frankincence..with all.. Merchant's fragrant powders..’ - Based on what we’ve previously learnt about perfumes and spices, how would you interpret this ? (See the SPICES CHART and the word definitions.)
The End-Time Company of Believers (Army)
Verses
7-8:
Solomon’s
Chariot
(actually a portable eating and sleeping mode of transport) is surrounded
by a company of VALIANT men - we must be such people - their characteristics
are......
| (i) ‘Sixty..'
- 6(Man) X 10 (Law) = Company of people fulfilling the Laws of God. or
3(God) X 20(Maturity) = Company of people with nature of God in them.
(ii) ‘Valiant men..’ - Powerful, mighty (in the Spirit). (iii) ‘Around it (the chariot)..’ - Jesus’ presence is central in the company. (iv) ‘ All hold Swords..’ - The Sword of the Spirit ( Eph 6:17-18) - The Word of God - (we use the ‘sword’ by praying always in the Spirit). (v) ‘Being experts in War..’ - Well prepared and trained in Spiritual warfare (prepared due to intimacy with the Lord). (vi) ‘.. sword on his thigh..’ - Ready for action. The Word on our lips! |
Meditate on each aspect of the valiant men. Ask the Lord to make you like them ! Pray for each of the characteristics to be found in your own Chrsitian walk.
‘Because of fear in the night.’(NKJV) - in the End Time the powers of darkness increase (as will the anointing). Because of this we must rise up to be God's end-time army as described here.
A Carriage for The King
The Carriage ( chariot) may be seen as His Will and purposes going to His destiny. Just as the Bride is ‘trapped in’ with Solomon in the Carriage, so we should be ‘trapped into’ His Will and purposes.
The Bride would have been well protected in the dangerous ‘ wilderness’ (where many bandits and robbers were), in the Carriage with her lover-warrior, surrounded by His valiant men. The Will of God is the SAFEST PLACE we can ever be !
Verses 9-10: The King made Himself a Carriage (See Eph 2:10 - We may see ourself like the Carriage...being created by God for His Will and pleasure).
It was Made of the Wood of Lebanon. Wood = ‘Humanity’, Lebanon = ‘Pure Heart’. God uses us in our humanity when we come to Him with a pure heart.
This wood was covered over with Silver and Gold. Silver = ‘Redemption’ (silver redemption money) and Gold = ‘Divine Nature’(purity). It is significant than the pillars were made of silver (redemption keeps His purposes strong, just as pillars would keep the carriage strong) and the foundations were made of Gold (only if we found all we do upon the Divine nature manifest in us (Christ’s image) will we move in His purposes).
The seat of the carriage is purple which speaks of ROYALTY. We’re training up to be Kings and Priests (Rev 5:10) (Seat = Place of Ruling).
‘It’s interior paved with Love’(NKJV) - Love must be revealed in us as we follow His Will (that is His Will!) - Jesus must be seen in our life. This love is ‘For the Daughters (lit.’apples of His eye’) of Jerusalem’(from Hebrew text) - We are to live lives of Love for the sake of those who are called - the apple of His eye!
Crown Him!
Verse
11:
In the procession the Groom wore a ‘
crown’. This was not a royal crown denoting
his authority and power (although for Solomon this could also have been
the case), but his Wedding crown or wreath (
Isa 61:10) which Bathseba (‘daughter
of an oath’) his Mother gave him - this crown speaks of happiness and joy
- He is exceedingly joyful when we step more fully into covenant relationship
with Him (as in the marriage covenant) for LIFE.
(
Crown = an emblem of glory).
Notice that the daughters of Zion (not Jerusalem) are told to go forth and see the King with His crown. Look at the meaning of ' Zion' and comment on why you think it is used here.
See Prov 12:4 - “An excellent wife (‘woman of valour’) is the crown of her husband.” - we are like a crown to Jesus if we follow Him and do His will out of love for Him. Then He says to us, like Paul said to his disciples, 'you are my joy and crown'.