The Bible: Song of Solomon Chapter 3: with Audio and Commentary.

Version: World English Bible.

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Song of Solomon Chapter 3

1 By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn't find him.

2 I will get up 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 I didn't find him.

3 The watchmen who go about the city found me; "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?"

4 I had scarcely passed from 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, into the room of her who conceived me.

5 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that you not stir up nor awaken love, until it so desires.

6 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all spices of the merchant?

7 Behold, it is Solomon's carriage! Sixty mighty men are around it, of the mighty men of Israel.

8 They all handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh, because of fear in the night.

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

10 He made its pillars of silver, its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, the middle of it being paved with love, from the daughters of Jerusalem.

11 Go out, you daughters of Zion, and see king Solomon, with the crown with which his mother has crowned him, in the day of his weddings, in the day of the gladness of his heart.

Footnotes

Version: World English Bible

Audio

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Headings to Indicate Sections (Main Divisions Only)

  1. The Marriage (1:2-2:7)
    1. The Shulamite and the Virgins ready for the Wedding (1:2-6)
    2. The Bride and the Bridegroom (1:7-2:6)
    3. The Voice of the Singer - Wisdom (2:7)
  2. The Betrothal (2:8-7:9)
    1. Memories of the Wooing (2:8-3:5)
    2. The Voice of the Singer: Wisdom (3:5)
    3. The Actual Betrothal (3:6-4:15)
    4. Experiences Following Betrothal (5:2-7:9)
  3. The United Life (7:10-8:14)
    1. The Bride (7:10-8:3)
    2. The Voice of the Singer - Wisdom (8:4)
    3. The Bride and Bridegroom (8:5-8:14)

Song of Solomon Chapter 3 Commentary

Chapter Outline

  1. The trials of the church by the withdrawing of Christ. -- (Song 3:1-5)
  2. The excellences of the church, The care of Christ for her. -- (Song 3:6-11)

Song 3:1-5

It was hard to the Old Testament church to find Christ in the ceremonial law; the watchmen of that church gave little assistance to those who sought after him. The night is a time of coldness, darkness, and drowsiness, and of dim apprehensions concerning spiritual things. At first, when uneasy, some feeble efforts are made to obtain the comfort of communion with Christ. This proves in vain; the believer is then roused to increased diligence. The streets and broad-ways seem to imply the means of grace in which the Lord is to be sought. Application is made to those who watch for men's souls. Immediate satisfaction is not found. We must not rest in any means, but by faith apply directly to Christ. The holding of Christ, and not letting him go, denotes earnest cleaving to him. What prevails is a humble, ardent suing by prayer, with a lively exercise of faith on his promises. So long as the faith of believers keeps hold of Christ, he will not be offended at their earnest asking, yea, he is well pleased with it. The believer desires to make others acquainted with his Saviour. Wherever we find Christ, we must take him home with us to our houses, especially to our hearts; and we should call upon ourselves and each other, to beware of grieving our holy Comforter, and provoking the departure of the Beloved.

Song 3:6-11

A wilderness is an emblem of the world; the believer comes out of it when he is delivered from the love of its sinful pleasures and pursuits, and refuses to comply with its customs and fashions, to seek happiness in communion with the Saviour. A poor soul shall come up, at last, under the conduct of the Comforter; like a cloud of incense ascending from the altar, or the smoke of the burnt-offerings. This signifies pious and devout affections, and the mounting of the soul heaven-ward. The believer is filled with the graces of God's Spirit; his devotions now are very lively. These graces and comforts are from the heavenly Canaan. He, who is the Peace of his people, the King of the heavenly Zion, has provided for the safe conveyance of his redeemed through the wilderness of this world. The bed, or palanquin, was contrived for rest and easy conveyance, but its beauty and magnificence showed the quality of its owner. The church is well guarded; more are with her than are against her: believers, when they repose in Christ, and with him, though they have their fears in the night, are yet safe. The chariot here denotes the covenant of redemption, the way of our salvation. This is that work of Christ, which makes him loved and admired in the eyes of believers. It is framed and contrived, both for the glory of Christ, and for the comfort of believers; it is well ordered in all things and sure. The blood of the covenant, that rich purple, is the cover of this chariot, by which believers are sheltered from the wind and storms of Divine wrath, and the troubles of this world; but the midst of it is that love of Christ which passes knowledge, this is for believers to repose upon. Christ, in his gospel, manifests himself. Take special notice of his crown. Applying this to Christ, it speaks the honour put upon him, and his power and dominion.

From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.