Solomon has written for us a love story (of the highest order) of the Kingdom of GOD. In this beautiful book he has used the love of a King for his fair bride, and subsequently her love for him, to illustrate the relationship of CHRIST to HIS Bride and vice versa. This is not a book for the faint of heart who might blush to read the vivid descriptions of the passionate love which is depicted in its pages. Nor is it one whose depths can be fathomed by any but those who are personally and intimately acquainted with a yearning after the SAVIOR and a taste of the sweetness of HIS presence when HE is pleased to bring them into HIS chambers.
During the time when the Old Testament was written most of those who were kings of nations were quite autocratic in their rule. They had the power to receive or reject their subjects, to include them in the benefits of the kingdom or to banish them from it according to their own desire. Essentially, they had the very power of life and death over their subjects. No man had the right even to approach the king let alone to enter into his private chambers.
Kings generally sat in royal state upon ornate thrones surrounded by the opulence of their kingdom. Servants came and went at the behest of the king and he ruled and judged the people according to the nature of his heart. Good kings ruled with righteous judgment and wicked kings were a plague upon a nation as they often ruled unrighteously and sought only their own benefit. “The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.” (Prov 29:4) “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Prov 14:34)
When a man made an appeal to enter the throne room, where the King sat in his regal surroundings, that request was relayed to the King by those who were his trusted confidants and then he either held out his scepter to allow the subject to approach or he withheld it in which case the subject had no audience with the king. To be heard by the king was a privilege bestowed upon relatively few.
Those in whom the king took the greatest delight would be invited into his private chambers (or living quarters) to dine with him, or in the case of his seeking a Bride, be brought into his bedroom, which is most specifically his “chambers”, where he might privately commune with her. None but those in whom he had the greatest delight might enter there. We see this very scenario depicted in the account of Esther as she became the wife of Ahasuerus, king of Persia. He loved Esther particularly and specifically and therefore chose her to be HIS wife. She was the object of his desire and became royalty because of him.
This is exactly what Peter describes as he wrote to the Sons of GOD, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1Pet 2:9-10) These objects of mercy are looked upon by the KING with great delight and HE beholds them as a Bride of great beauty. Because of this great (and I might add undeserved) love HE offered up HIS only begotten SON to purchase her from the slavery and degradation that she had willingly sold herself into. “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 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.” (Eph 5:25-27)
She did not seek HIM out but HE has sought her and brought her “into HIS chambers” because of HIS great love for her. Who can tell why HE should have any regard to her at all since she, from the moment of her natural birth, has spurned HIS wooing and loathed even the thought of entering into HIS presence. Much like Gomer, the harlot, who despised the very one (Hosea) who faithfully provided for her sustenance, she has had her fill of many lovers. She has perfumed her bed and gladly attired herself with the subtlety of an impudent woman and sought out solace in the arms of any but the “good man of the house.” (see Prov. 7:8-27)
But oh, let us view the kindness of this KING whose love transcends the wickedness of this one whom HE loves with an everlasting love. HE is faithful, though she is not. HE has clothed her in spotless and glorious royal robes, though she has been content and accustomed to wearing her own tattered garments and has even imagined herself as a thing of beauty when in reality she was but a pitiful, blind, beggar covered in infected sores, unfit to enter the outer courts of the KING’s palace, let alone find a place of admittance into HIS chambers. “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” (Song 2:4)
Such is the love and affection of the KING for HIS chosen Bride that HE has taken her into HIS courts, washed away her filth, healed her festering sores, and bathed her in the perfume of HIS HOLY SPIRIT. HE has taken one which was fit for nothing but destruction and by the operation of HIS grace transformed her into a true thing of beauty.
When she was first awakened and called by the KING, only then, did she begin to see herself for what she really was and her former imaginings of her own beauty (see Dan.10:8) were quickly overcome by the revelation of the holiness and glory of the KING, which did magnify to her conscience, her utter unfitness to approach the KING let alone to be brought into HIS chambers. This stark realization is so burned into her mind that, even now that she has abode many days in HIS chambers and has rejoiced in the manifestation of HIS mercy in cleansing her filth and healing her sores she often still sees herself as the blind beggar that she was when she walked according to the flesh and the course of this world. (see II Cor.10:2; Eph.2:2)
Sometimes in the wee hours of the morning when she is weak and weary from a lack of rest, (see II Cor.12:9,10 Joel 3:10b) she catches a glimpse of her image in the looking glass of the KING and she is overwhelmed and amazed at that beauty and righteousness with which she has now been clothed. She has great difficulty in actually grasping the great mercy which has been visited upon her. She finds it almost impossible to believe her good fortune as HE says, “Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.” (Song 4:7) Yet as she looks upon her BELOVED her rest comes upon her and she finds great comfort in laying her head upon HIS bosom. “His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.” (Song 2:6) She is satisfied to lie here forever.
But alas the morning has broken and her BELOVED has departed for a season and she is sick with a yearning and desire to dwell in HIS embrace. “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.” (Psa 63:1-3) She tells all who will listen, of her longing for HIM, and describes HIS glory to them in this manner, “His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.” (Song 5:16)
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