Vineyard Days – The King’s Chair, Part 2

King Solomon made himself
a litter bed
of the trees of Lebanon.
He made its poles of silver;
its back of gold;
its seat of purple;
its middle was paved with love
by the daughters of Jerusalem.
Song of Songs 3:9-10 LITV

***

Solomon had something that the majority of us do not have: unlimited wealth and the title of Chief Wisdom Bearer.

Like the children’s fairy tale, it seems that everything Solomon put his hand to turned to gold. And silver, and purple, and decked out with the handiwork of the daughters of Jerusalem who no doubt fawned over him. After all, who was like King Solomon?! One handsome dude with the world at his fingertips, troops at his command, and a harem of wives and lovers within beckoning. Rich, powerful, generous …

Surely the Daughters of Jerusalem were hopeful that they too might find a seat in the royal harem.

Even the Queen of Sheba with her regal retinue came to hear for herself what Solomon would answer to her hard questions. She spoke to him about all that was on her heart and he answered all of which she inquired. No wisdom was veiled or concealed from him to relate to her. ^[1]

Criminy. How come she was so lucky? But of course. She was rich too so it goes to show that if you have enough money, you can buy your way to that well of wisdom and depart with the king’s gifts.

I’m being facetious, but frankly – have you ever found yourself thinking that way? Who wouldn’t be tempted to when they view how life seems to go for some and not go for others, including themselves? Male or female, it matters not: has your heart ever cried out, “where’s MY Solomon?!”

Your Solomon and mine is not far from each one of us – in our mouth and in our heart.
(Acts 17:27 in context of 24-31; Deuteronomy 30:14; Romans 10:8)

***

Our Solomon is He who ‘…comes up out of the wilderness like columns of smoke, sacrificing as incense myrrh and frankincense, from all powders of the merchant. (Songs 3:6)  He who is the Lover of our soul.

The One born as a babe to whom was presented by earthly kings the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The One who before he came in the flesh of a child protected His children in the wilderness by a cloud of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night. The One who establishes in the desert that which will be revealed when the fruitage comes to bear in Him, our Promised Land.

David’s son Solomon made his carriage from the cedars of Lebanon. Again, his portrayal of detail pointed to the beautiful finished work of Our Solomon, Christ Jesus. Let’s gaze into the Word:

The Hebrew word for timber (as in ‘trees of Lebanon’) means not only tree but added to it, carpenter and gallows. Lebanon means the white mountain (from its snow) and comes from the Chaldee of l^ebab which means heart or the most interior organ (our ‘wellspring of life’).

Ultimately, the primitive root of lâbab means to be enclosed (as if with fat) and by implication to unheart, that is (in a good sense) transport with love. Or (in a bad sense) stultify (deaden, dampen, cloud, blur, blunt, reduce, muffle, assuage) one’s heart.

I love the detailed significance in the Word. When I related our friend’s dream in the post Winter House, it was evident that the beauty of ‘white as snow’ holds special meaning for us. How utterly wonderful to discover in my word study of this portion of the Song the detail with which our Solomon loves hearts into becoming white as snow.

Previously in Like Stately Pillars, part 1 and part 2 we established that the carriage or palanquin is the king’s chair or conveyance and serves as both a bridal bed and a bier. When we are baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire, His winnowing fork is in His hand and He is thoroughly clearing His threshing floor – gathering the wheat and burning up the chaff. (Matthew 3:11-12; Greek baptized with, in or by) What remains is gold tried by fire.^[2]

Our Solomon, Christ Jesus was a carpenter in Nazareth. Though I think it’s unlikely he built the cross upon which he was crucified, the tree on which he hung became the King’s Chair.

Gold in scripture speaks of Christ’s divine nature and silver of His righteousness. The rich purple of His blood covered the Mercy Seat once and for all, eternally securing the New Covenant^[3] by which we live.

He made himself a litter bed of the trees of Lebanon.
He made its poles of silver;
its back of gold;
its seat of purple;
its middle was paved with love
by the daughters of Jerusalem.

Though the Song of Solomon relates the Shulamite’s progressive journey into the heart of Love itself, her passage is not complete without the surrounding Daughters of Jerusalem. She was among them; it is from them that she has been wooed and is answering the Beloved’s call to come away and follow Him. Only then does Love begin to awaken her ^[4]– when she inclines, is pleased to have favor, will and would.

Will and would what, you ask?

Become the bride made ready.

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
Revelation 19:7 (NIV84)

~  Gracefully Free

^[1] you can read the full story in II Chronicles 9
^[2] Revelation 3:18
^[3] Luke 22:20; II Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:13 & 9:15
^[4] Song of Songs 3:5

Photo credit: Under the Shadow of the Cedars of Lebanon via photopin (license)

You may also enjoy Under His Shadow, part 1 and part 2