Song of Solomon 3

The details of the third chapter must represent a dream of the Bride seeking for the Bridegroom. we have an example in the Psalmist, "O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not: and in the night season, and am not silent." Also in Isaiah 26.9 we read: "With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early."

These verses seem to suggest a time when men were seeking for the Messiah, at night, a time of darkness, on their beds, in the streets of the city and in the broadways, but they could not find him, not even the watchmen about the city could help. (In Song of Solomon 5.7, the watchmen wounded and persecuted the Bride.) After much seeking and enquiring, she finds her Beloved. She holds him and would not let him go. (Matthew 28.9). She takes him into her mother’s house (Galatians 4.26) where she was conceived. Faithful Israelites who were waiting for their Messiah to appear (Luke 2.25) did seek for him, and when they found him would not let him go. (John 1.47). Peter could say, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee." (John 21.17).

Verse 5 is a repetition of Song of Solomon 2.7, and therefore it suggests the end of another section, and, like the previous one, it is followed by a vision of the joy set before the faithful. In the first vision (chapter 2.8-13) the Bridegroom comes alone and invites the Bride to come to Hnn, "for the winter is past". In this second vision, the Bride (sixty valiant of Israel) is with Him. This vision "out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke" seems to be one of Divine manifestation. This company, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense and all the powders of the merchant, suggests (as in other places) the characteristics of those manifested. The King, as an Eastern monarch, is being borne upon a bed (palanquin) surrounded by his Mighty Ones. His chariot is of cedar, gold, silver and purple, representing immortality. He is going to the daughters of Jerusalem, His city, to manifest himself as their King. This, we suggest, points to the fulfilment of Psalm 24.7-10: "Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. ... Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory." This will be the perfect day, the day without clouds. We suggest the daughters of Jerusalem may be the natural seed of Israel receiving their King, and the daughters of Zion, the spiritual seed — the Bride in the day of gladness of heart.