Troubled Dream… vs. 1-5

• 1^st – Before the wedding… vs. 1
  • Lying in bed…
    • The Shulamite: By night on my bed!
    • As we come to the FINAL chapter that deals with their DATING relationship…
    • The SHULAMITE is sleeping at night on [עַל] her BED [מִשְׁכָּב]
    • We assume this was shortly before their WEDDING [maybe even the night before]
    • And that what she records here is a DREAM that she had about SOLOMON…
    • FIRST of two DREAMS that she has in the book – Song of Songs 5:2
  • Seeking…
    • I sought [the one my soul loved]. I sought him but I did not find him!
    • In her dream – she was LOOKING intensely [piel] for the one she LOVED [אָהַב]
    • But NO matter how hard she LOOKED [piel] – she could NOT [לֹא] find him!
    • There is an old saying that goes something like this:
    • You do NOT know how good something is – until you NO longer have it!
    • We tend to take our spouses for granted – to our own detriment…
    • Rather than appreciate them for who they are – we focus on the negative…
    • Sadly this leads to a LOT of problems in marriages – even ENDS some marriages…
    • Only for the couple to find out too LATE – how GOOD they had it!
  • Her love…
    • I will rise now: I said. And go about the city. In the streets and in the squares!
    • I will seek [the one my soul loved]. I sought him but I did not find him!
    • Still DREAMING – the Shulamite REALLY [cohortative] wanted to go LOOKING for Solomon…
    • Her NEED to find him led [poel] her into the CITY – down dark STREETS – into the PLAZA…
    • But NO matter how hard she LOOKED [piel] – he was nowhere to be found…
    • I imagine this was more of a NIGHTMARE than a DREAM – but it did prove ONE thing… 
    • NOTE she did not just have a PHYSICAL or EMOTIONAL attraction to Solomon…
    • He was the one her SOUL [נֶפֶשׁ] loved [אָהַב] – we would say her SOUL mate!
  • No more doubts…
    • It is possible the Shulamite was having pre-wedding DOUBTS…
    • Choosing to make a PROMISE [vow] to spend the rest of your LIFE with a person…
    • Is a VERY big step to make – and it is only natural we might second guess our choice…
    • But the thought of NOT being with Solomon – proved to her he was the right one!
    • People often come at marriage with UNREALISTIC expectations…
    • They want the person they marry to be PERFECT – and forget we are ALL sinners…
    • We CHOOSE to make a PROMISE to spend our lives with another person…
    • NOT because it will be EASY – or because they will never make a MISTAKE…
    • We MARRY them because we realize we do NOT want to go through life WITHOUT them!
• 2^nd – Holding tight… vs. 3-4
  • Looking for love… vs. 3
    • The watchmen who go about the city found me. Have you seen [the one my soul loved]?
    • In her DREAM the Shulamite was FOUND by the city GUARDS…
    • After all she was a young woman wandering around the city at night…
    • She immediately asked them – had they SEEN the one her SOUL [נֶפֶשׁ] loved [אָהַב]
    • A reasonable assumption – as Solomon was the King – and therefore their BOSS…
    • But apparently their answer was NO – because she kept looking!
  • Finding love… vs. 4
    • Scarcely had I passed by them when I found [the one my soul loved].
    • I held him and would not let him go!
    • She had just LEFT the GUARDS when she finally found the one her SOUL [נֶפֶשׁ] loved [אָהַב]
    • The FOURTH time in this DREAM she calls Solomon her SOUL mate…
    • Having FOUND him – she grabbed a HOLD of him and would NOT [לֹא] let go!
    • When Mary Magdalene came to the GARDEN tomb early on Sunday it was EMPTY…
    • She ran to go and tell the other DISCIPLES what she had seen…
    • But then she came back to the TOMB – LOOKING for the one her soul LOVED…
    • She was told by TWO angels that Jesus was NOT there – John 20:2
    • Only to turn around – and there He was – but she did NOT recognize Him [glorified body]
    • Until He said to her MARY – and she KNEW His voice – John 10:4
    • And she immediately grabbed a hold of Jesus and did NOT want to let go!
    • John 20:7 – “Jesus said to her: Do not cling to Me for I have not yet ascended to My Father.”
    • People spend all of their LIVES searching in the DARK for answers [wandering aimlessly]
    • What is this life about – why are we here – what is it that they LOVE…
    • But we have the answer – we know that this life is just about FINDING Jesus…
    • And the very FIRST thing we will do when we get to heaven – is give Him a huge HUG…
    • The good news is – we will NEVER have to let go!
• 3^rd – Do not wake up… vs. 4-5
  • The Bedroom… vs. 4
    • Until I had brought him to the house of my mother.
    • And into the chamber of her who conceived me!
    • As the dream concluded – the Shulamite brought Solomon back to her house…
    • To the home she had grown up in – where she had been BORN…
    • There she took [hiphil] him into the bedroom [presumably this is where the dream ends]
    • Because the Shulamite was ready for the WEDDING night – she was excited…
    • But she was NOT ashamed – there was NOTHING to hide – because she had WAITED!
    • If we are NOT willing to take a someone home to show our family…
    • If we need to meet up at some secret rendezvous – that should tell us it is WRONG…
    • When a relationship is done the RIGHT way – there is NOTHING to hide!
  • Waiting for marriage…  vs. 5
    • I charge you O daughters of Jerusalem by the gazelles or by the does of the field.
    • Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases!
    • The Shulamite repeats her PROMISE [hiphil] to the daughters of Jerusalem [בְּנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם]
    • By the gazelles or the does – because they are sexually active in their SEASON…
    • They should NOT stir [hiphil] or wake up [poel] LOVE [אַהֲבָה] – before it was TIME…
    • The fact that she is giving this command CONFIRMS this was just a DREAM…
    • Because she had NOT yet brought Solomon into her BEDROOM…
    • Instead she CHOSE to WAIT until the wedding day [which was about to happen]
    • This marks the end of the dating section of the Song of Songs!
    • Where should we draw a line when it comes to physical intimacy BEFORE marriage…
    • The question should NOT be how CLOSE to sex – but how CLOSE we can draw to Jesus…
    • The basis for a lifelong marriage does NOT come from physical attraction…
    • Instead it comes from those who build their relationship on God!
  • Spiritual…
    • I Corinthians 6:13 – “The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord.”
    • Paul wrote to the church in Corinth to address this issue of intimacy…
    • The church there assumed that sex was just a natural function of the body…
    • No different than the need to EAT – like an ITCH that needed to be scratched…
    • But Paul warned them – NO – sex is NOT just physical it is also SPIRITUAL…
    • That is why God told Adam and Eve [the first couple]!
    • Genesis 2:24 – “A man shall… be joined to his wife and they shall become one flesh.”
    • There is something POWERFUL about INTIMACY in marriage…
    • It BINDS two people together not just PHYSICALLY – but also SPIRITUALLY…
    • That is why God RESTRICTED sex as something that is ONLY to take place in MARRIAGE…
    • God has a plan for intimacy – and we would be wise to follow it!

• 2^nd – The Wedding… vs. 6-11
  • 1^st – The Bride… vs. 6
    • The Ceremony…
      • This begins the SECOND section of the book – the WEDDING – Song of Songs 3:5-5:1
      • It presents to us a unique example in the Bible of a WEDDING ceremony…
      • According to Jewish custom – marriages were ARRANGED [parents]
      • But the story of Solomon and the Shulamite makes no mention of this…
      • Instead – it has a much more familiar tone of them falling in LOVE with each other…
      • It would seem that this marriage was the result of their CHOICE!
      • Why would the ONLY example of a MARRIAGE ceremony in the Bible…
      • Run contrary to the TRADITION and CUSTOM of the Jews…
      • The answer is because it points us to a DEEPER truth – Jesus and the Church!
      • Our relationship to the Lord is NOT arranged – it is a CHOICE…
      • Although EVERYONE can be saved – Romans 10:13 – John 3:16
      • God does NOT force ANYONE to go to heaven – we must CHOSE to put our faith in Him!
    • The Wilderness…
      • Who is this coming out of the wilderness!
      • As with ANY good wedding – it begins with the appearance of the BRIDE…
      • The question is asked – WHO [מִי] is SHE [feminine singular] that is COMING…
      • What is interesting is where the BRIDE comes from – the WILDERNESS [מִדְבָּר]
      • When the nation of Israel came out of Egypt – spent FORTY [trial] years in the wilderness…
      • It was a time where they learned to be DEPENDENT on the Lord [manna – rock]
      • Before they were led by Joshua [Jesus] into the PROMISED Land!
      • Our time here on earth – our WILDERNESS – is a time of TESTING…
      • It is where we learn to depend on Jesus – trust in Him to provide [Bread of life] – John 6:35
      • Until He finally leads us into the Promised Land – He brings us home to HEAVEN!
    • The Timing…
      • Like pillars of smoke perfumed with myrrh and frankincense.
      • With all the merchants fragrant powders?
      • We are given a DESCRIPTION of her FRAGRANCE when she comes…
      • We note TWO very interesting characteristic about her FRAGRANCE…
      • FIRST – it rises like [כְּ] PILLARS [תִימֲרוֹת] of smoke [עָשָׁן]
      • Perhaps a reference to how Israel was led by a PILLAR in the wilderness – Exodus 13:21
      • Meaning the Lord led the Shulamite to Solomon…
      • But the ONLY other place the word PILLARS [and phrase] are used is in the book of Joel!
      • Joel 2:30-31 – “I will shew wonders in the heavens… pillars of smoke before the great and the terrible day of the LORD.”
      • When will the WEDDING of the Jesus and His BRIDE take place…
      • BEFORE the great and AWESOME [ἐπιφανής] day of the Lord…
      • While the world is going through the SEVEN years of TRIBULATION…
      • The church will be in HEAVEN celebrating the MARRIAGE of the LAMB – Revelation 19:9
      • And when He comes out of heaven at the end of those SEVEN years!
      • Revelation 19:14 – “The armies in heaven [His bride] – clothed in fine linen white and clean – followed Him on white horses.”
    • The Fragrance…
      • SECOND – the smell of her perfume was FRANKINCENSE [לְבוֹנָה] and MYRRH [מֹר]
      • Along with ALL [כֹּל] the other aromatic powders the MERCHANTS sell..
      • These TWO expensive incenses are ONLY found together one other place in the Bible…
      • When the MAGGI came to find the new KING of Israel in a Bethlehem – Matthew 2:11
      • They presented to Him THREE gifts – GOLD – FRANKINCENSE – and MYRRH…
      • Meaning the BRIDE of Christ – smells just like He does!
      • Fragrances are powerful – we associate smells to people…
      • I have a cologne that I use on occasion – it is a smell that Jen LOVES…
      • Not because of the fragrance – but because she associates that smell with me!
      • II Corinthians 2:15 – “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ.”
      • We should have a SMELL – we should have the FRAGRANCE of Christ…
      • To those who are NOT saved – it is NOT a pleasant smell [aroma of death]
      • But to those who are SAVED – it is the aroma of LIFE – it reminds us of Jesus!
  • 2^nd – The Groom… vs. 7-10
    • The Bed… vs. 7
      • Behold it is Solomons couch!
      • LOOK [הִנֵּה] – Solomon is described as being on his BED [or couch]
      • The idea being is he was in CHARGE – he was NOT in any hurry!
      • When Jesus ascended up into heaven after His resurrection…
      • He sat down at the RIGHT hand of the FATHER – His work was DONE – Acts 2:33
      • And He is NOT in a hurry to get MARRIED – because He wants to give more TIME..
      • He has been waiting for TWO thousand years – so that MORE could be saved!
      • II Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise… but is longsuffering toward us not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
    • The groomsmen… vs. 7-8
      • With sixty valiant men around it of the valiant of Israel. All hold swords being expert in war.
      • Every man has his sword on his thigh because of fear in the night!
      • Solomon had a wedding party – SIXTY groomsmen…
      • They were all SOLDIERS – the MIGHTY [גִּבּוֹר] men of Israel…
      • EVERY [כֹּל] one of them was experienced in battle – with their SWORD on their side…
      • They were READY to defend their KING and his new BRIDE…
      • From the TERROR [singular] – that comes in the NIGHT [לַיִל]
      • Practically this was likely needed because of the WEALTH of King Solomon…
      • The couple needed constant protection because of their POSITION!
      • Prince Harry and Meagan are reported to pay HUNDRED million pesos a year for security…
      • Their STATUS – and WEALTH – make them a high value target!
      • The Lord also provides personal body guards for His Bride…
      • We have MIGHTY angels who watch over us day and night!
      • Psalm 91:11 – “He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways.”
    • The Chariot… vs. 9-10
      • Of the wood of Lebanon – Solomon the King made himself a [chariot].
      • He made its pillars of silver. Its support of gold. Its seat of purple.
      • Its interior paved with love by the daughters of Jerusalem!
      • Solomon made [masculine singular] an ornate CHARIOT for the occasion…
      • It was constructed from the HARD wood of cedars of Lebanon [longevity]
      • The columns of it were overlaid with SILVER – and the floor with GOLD [great wealth]
      • The seat was upholstered with PURPLE [royal color]
      • The inside was PAINTED with LOVE [hearts] by the daughters of Jerusalem!
      • It was a symbolic gift meant to represent their relationship…
      • It told the Shulamite – he saw their relationship as a LIFELONG commitment [hard wood]
      • That he was able to PROVIDE for all their needs [silver and gold]
      • They would be equal in their POSITION – both sitting on the ROYAL seat [purple]
      • And what would keep them together was their LOVE [painting]!
      • This is a great example for men who are looking to get married…
      • Before they pursue a woman – there are things they should do to be prepared…
      • They need to be READY to make a LIFELONG commitment to ONE woman [hard wood]
      • Be RESPONSIBLE and able to PROVIDE for the needs of their family [gold and silver]
      • Understand they are NOT getting a servant – they are gaining a FRIEND [purple]
      • And most importantly – they need to be ready to LOVE their WIFE – Ephesians 5:25
      • For the ladies – if a man is pursuing you and he does NOT do ALL of these…
      • Then you would be wise to close the door – or at least WAIT until he matures!
  • 3^rd – The Crown… vs. 11
    • Day of Joy…
      • Go forth O daughters of Zion and see King Solomon with the crown.
      • With which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding.
      • The day of the gladness of his heart!
      • With the arrival of both the BRIDE and the GROOM…
      • The guests – daughters of ZION [Jerusalem] were commanded [imperative] to GO and see…
      • King Solomon with his CROWN [עֲטָרָה] – the one his MOTHER [Bathsheba] gave to him…
      • In the DAY [בְּיוֹם] when the Shulamite became her Daughter in Law [חָתַן]
      • In the DAY [בְּיוֹם] when his heart was filled with JOY [שִׂמְחָה]
      • There is some question about what CROWN Solomon receiving on this day…
      • When Solomon became the King over Israel – there was NO crown mentioned…
      • Instead we read he was ANOINTED and the TRUMPET blew – I Kings 1:39
      • So perhaps he was NOT given his CROWN [עֲטָרָה] until the day of his WEDDING…
      • Or perhaps the CROWN that he was given was his WIFE!
      • Proverbs 12:4 – “An excellent wife is the crown [עֲטָרָה] of her husband!”
    • Contrast…
      • There is a POWERFUL contrast here – perhaps the reason why BATHSHEBA is mentioned…
      • When David married BATHSHEBA – she was PREGNANT – her husband MURDERED…
      • Their wedding was to say the least – NOT done the RIGHT way…
      • As a result – there was NO rejoicing – and the LORD was NOT pleased – II Samuel 11:27
      • But when a WEDDING is done the RIGHT way – when the couple WAITS…
      • When they chose to HONOR God – then it is a HUGE blessing – a CROWN…
      • The Lord is honored – and everyone comes to see – and rejoice with the happy couple!