Song Of Songs 3 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Song of Solomon 3

The Bride’s Dream

3:1   On my bed by night
  I sought him whom my soul loves;
    I sought him, but found him not.
2   I will rise now and go about the city,
    in the streets and in the squares;
  I will seek him whom my soul loves.
    I sought him, but found him not.
3   The watchmen found me
    as they went about in the city.
  “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?”
4   Scarcely had I passed them
    when 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 who conceived me.
5   I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
    by the gazelles or the does of the field,
  that you not stir up or awaken love
    until it pleases.

Solomon Arrives for the Wedding

6   What is that coming up from the wilderness
    like columns of smoke,
  perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,
    with all the fragrant powders of a merchant?
7   Behold, it is the litter¹ of Solomon!
  Around it are sixty mighty men,
    some of the mighty men of Israel,
8   all of them wearing swords
    and expert in war,
  each with his sword at his thigh,
    against terror by night.
9   King Solomon made himself a carriage²
    from the wood of Lebanon.
10   He made its posts of silver,
    its back of gold, its seat of purple;
  its interior was inlaid with love
    by the daughters of Jerusalem.
11   Go out, O daughters of Zion,
    and look upon King Solomon,
  with the crown with which his mother crowned him
    on the day of his wedding,
    on the day of the gladness of his heart.

Footnotes

[1] 3:7 That is, the couch on which servants carry a king
[2] 3:9 Or sedan chair

Commentary

Chapters 1 and 2 reflect a less mature faith, although clearly a growing faith;

the need for repentance for a previous lack of fruitfulness (1.6);
the small task given to the less mature believer (1.8);
the barriers to fellowship; wall, windows, lattice (2.9);
and vulnerable fruit (2.15).

Chapter 3 begins with a time of separation, followed by a growing closeness.

v1: "All night long on my bed;"too late and too lazy, the wrong place to find him. The verse may even refer to a dream; we are no surprised that she should dream of the one she loves. The bride could not find her Beloved in bed, even though there was a real desire; such desire must be disciplined, and directly wisely. Zeal must be with knowledge, Rom 10.2.

v2: A decision, to make a greater effort and commitment, to get up and look for him. Communion with the Lord Jesus demands our commitment, but is greatly rewarded.

v3: The watchmen on patrol; they should be alert to people around, but seemed not to be. Surely, she thinks, they should know where he is; doesn't everyone know him and admire him!

v4: Her effort is rewarded, Jer 29.13. No sooner had she left the watchmen than she found her Beloved; such is a sign of God's mercy in dealing with us, for He is not far from any of us.

Like Jacob, she would not let him go; like Ruth, she clung. Here is passion and conviction in our love for Christ.

v5: Again, with growing maturity comes a proper restraint. That restraint is honoured by her growing appreciation of her Beloved, in the verses that follow.

v6-11: The King's riches; in Christ we have all the spiritual blessings of God, Eph 1.3; 2.1,6.

60 soldiers, equipped, ready, courageous; they love the Beloved, and are close to him. We should note those who are close to God, to see their lives as examples to us.

Solomon's carriage reflects his riches; a picture of Christ's glory and sovereignty.

The invitation; let us admire the king together.

The scene is a Middle Eastern wedding procession; the groom and his companions come with the bride in her carriage, here made by Solomon himself and therefore bejewelled. On that day, the couple are described as king and queen; it is their day.