Pastor's Pen
November / December 2001

The Song of Solomon is an allegory of Christ and His Church. It is poetic but nonetheless inspired. The Song of Songs gives us a picture of the deeper relationship that Christ desires from His people and the beauty that that relationship has produced

In chapter 3:6 we read: "Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?" Actually, the little phrase: who is this, is used in several other places in this song to describe the woman. The woman not only represents the church, but the company that has been led of the Spirit into the wilderness to accomplish the transformation necessary to reign!

In the typology of the Old Testament, we see a whole generation that dies in the wilderness and never enters their rest. But the tragedy is that many generations throughout church history have died in the wilderness, never entering the promises of their day. In fact, Paul urges the church to learn from the mistakes of natural Israel and not to fail after the same manner of unbelief! [See Heb. 3:8-4:11]

The Woman
Let us consider this woman that does emerge: Firstly, the very fact that she comes out says that she has triumphed… she is victorious. That is one of the rules of the wilderness; one either comes out an overcomer or they do not come out at all! It says of Christ: "And Jesus returned [from the wilderness] in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about." (Luke 4:14)

Like pillars of smoke
The pillars of smoke speak of the power and the glory that she is now endued with. Remember the cloud over the ark? When that ark moved everything moved! Again, here is a picture of the glorious church… the work has been done in her, she has the power and nothing can stand before her!

The virtues that have been wrought
Perfumed with myrrh… Myrrh speaks of meekness; meekness is developed by accepting the Fathers will. Some things that we have to submit to are not pleasant but they are necessary in order to form the nature and character of Christ in us. We live in a generation that tries to escape all of the unpleasant things in life, including the things brought about by our own doing! E.g., Accepting a bad marriage… submitting to a tyrannical boss etc. Myrrh is a costly spice because it speaks of death to self!

Frankincense
Frankincense speaks of "faith tried in the fire." Another purpose of the wilderness was to teach the church that they must live by every word spoken by God. [See Matt. 4:4] The wilderness place is a place that denies what God has said… everything seems to contradict what God says! We are tempted on provision, perhaps in the area of health, or in conditions that seem quite irreparable. Will we yet be faithful? Will we yet choose to rejoice and give thanks through the temptations?

All the Spices [NIV]
The spices speak of the nine fruits of the Spirit. [Compare Song 5:13-14 with Gal. 5:22-23] The woman now emerges with evidence of all the Holy Spirit fruit. Fruits that have been developed through the walk in the Spirit, by the chastening rod, the pruning hook and, yes the pleasant experiences as well. But she has passed the test, and thus the Glorious Church comes forth! She comes forth in a clear reflection of her Lord, and she will pull down the strongholds of the enemy.

An allegory for our day
Though some may apply this lovely song to some other era, this song certainly agrees with the description that Paul gives of the last day church: (Eph. 5:27) "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." There must be such a church at the length. They must do the greater works that Christ spoke of. Make no mistake about this; the church of the second coming shall be all-triumphant! This church must come forth before the end, that they may wage a war that shall bring a release of the mighty harvest! Amen!

Closing remarks
After we are baptized in the Spirit, the wilderness experience becomes a reality. Moses describes the nature and purpose of this experience in Deuteronomy chapter eight. "To do thee good at thy latter end…." Let us be faithful during the trying times because we want to enter the promises of our day. There is great revival just ahead, let us be participators of it and not just spectators!