The safety of King Jesus

Song of Songs 3:6-10
I'm taking a step back to chapter 3 to look at King Jesus in His beauty and authority. 

Greg and I love the desert~ the heat, dry air, wilderness plants and flowers. To us, this is a glorious display of creation.  Arizona is one of our favorite places to visit!  The budding flowering plants and trees stand out when they are in full bloom~ displayed in all their beauty. This is the point we are at in this love story of the ages.

We are introduced to the narrator in Chapter 3: Holy Spirit. He is standing outside the story and asks a question, “Who is this coming up from the desert like a column of smoke…” (Song of Songs 3:6).

Can you picture the scene?  Jesus, one who understands humanity, who has endured the wilderness season of the cross is emerging from the desert.  His beauty, His victory, His authority, His goodness and Kingly-ness is like a column of smoke. 

In the language of the tabernacle, smoke referred to the manifestation of God’s presence. As the smoke of the sacrifices ascended upward as a sweet savor to God, so Jesus’ sacrifice in God’s fire ascended upwards like a pillar of smoke.

The risen Christ is described as being perfumed with myrrh and frankincense and all the merchant’s fragrant powders (Song of Songs 3:6). Myrrh speaks of Jesus’ death. In the ancient world, it was a costly fragrant burial spice. Jesus was perfumed with myrrh as He died on the cross.  Frankincense speaks of Jesus’ fragrant intercession (Heb.7:25).

Jesus suffered for us; how much more will He care for and protect us?

His incarnation and death (Song 3:6) prove that He has our good in mind. During our journey in this wilderness of earth, He protects us from our sin and all that assaults us by His death (myrrh) and His intercession (frankincense). We can risk leaving our comfort zone because He is so committed to us.  “What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Song, but gave Him up for us all~ how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”  Romans 8:31-32.

Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, provides to us an answer to His question of "who is this coming up from the wilderness?"  

He uses military language & a royal procession to reveal how safe we are under Jesus’ leadership. Song 3:7-9, "Look! It is Solomon's carriage, escorted by 60 warriors, the noblest of Israel, all of them wearing the sword, all experienced in battle....King Solomon made for himself a carriage..."

King Solomon is a type of King Jesus in the Song. Solomon’s carriage was a chariot used in his royal wedding processions. It was carried on the shoulders of the royal guard. Solomon’s carriage is the place his bride sat near him in security through the wilderness journey.  

This is the safest place for Solomon's bride to be.  She is surrounded by the warriors, all skilled in battle and she is next to her King.  What a picture for us!!!

This carriage of Jesus take us  through the wilderness of this life.  And this chariot is escorted by the armies of the King! To be loved by King Jesus is to have the protection of His Kingdom.  There is no safer place to be!!!

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