1. By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

This is clearly a reference to prayer. All night she sought him in prayer but could not find him. Since she does not find him there, she goes out into the streets of the city to seek him.

2. 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.

She goes about the streets of the city to find him and is not successful until the watchmen find her.

3. The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?

The watchmen that go about in the city found her and helped her to know how to find him. A little time passed and she finds him. This shows the benefit of residing in a city where there are watchmen. 

4. 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.

Here she declares she will not let him go since she found him and is purposed to bring him clear to her roots. Our mother's house is the church and our religion which has conceived us. The woman sat in meetings and heard the message and was conceived, but now she has found her lover as her personal friend and she will bring him in and make him the reality of her religion and her conception.

Herein is the mystery of our present time. We have learned the lessons of God's character. We enjoy considering the provision of God in all of its ramifications. But so unlike this woman, so many professed Christians do not go after Him, hunt him down and find Him. They may have their moments of meditation and a reading from the writings of some spiritual sage, but she does not pant after the heavenly gift day and night. Many of the daughters don't go searching and finding him.

The Lord has searched us out while we were ignorant of His character. Now we are required to search Him out and find Him day or night. He may walk past, and the daughters say hello, or how are you today, but they do not seek him out and ask Him to share with her His heart's desire. They are so much wrapped up in themselves to do that. They are too self sufficient and thereby shall be left desolate.

These days the daughters search out the local Laundromat or the best place to buy produce. Her interest may be in getting this needed item for the family or that. She knows how to seek for money and find it, but so few search for Him as if for hidden treasure. 

When we found this land in which we now live it was as: "The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field." Matt 13:44. A few of the daughters thought it beneath them to give all for the field, but there will be no heavenly gift without that kind of sacrifice.

5. 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.

Again she is careful to warn: do not take his love for granted. This process does not occur without the devoted attention of the woman.

6. Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

The daughters exclaim, who is this that comes from the wilderness. This is the peaceful soul.

7. Behold his bed [liter], which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.

This is the bed of peace guarded by all of the kings valiant men of the valiant overcomers.

8. They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.

These guardians have the word in their sides of strength. They guard against the fears of the night which would break the peace of the woman.

9. King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.

10. 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.

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.

Here describes the king with descriptions that are clearly referenced to the temple. The powders of the merchant note the incense ascending up in its service. The cedars of Lebanon were used for the construction of it. The king is carried on a bed (liter) as was the ark of the covenant. Those in attendance had the sword of the word. The woman's lover is mighty. He is the very place of her most sacred experience. 

"For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." (Isaiah 62:5, KJV).

— Submitted by "Faithful"

To Song of Solomon - Chapter Four

Posted on 7-16-00