This evening now, Psalms, Solomon
chapter three, Psalms, Solomon chapter three. I'm taking the
title for the message from verse 11. Go forth, go forth, come
and see. Oh, you daughters of the king. Zion is God's kingdom. God's
people go forth and see and behold Behold King Solomon, the King
of Kings, the greater Solomon, the Lord Jesus Christ, wherewith
the crown, wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his
wedding feast, in the day of the gladness of his heart. Behold King Solomon, crowned
with all glory and honor, What a privilege to have eyes of faith
to behold our Lord Jesus Christ. As we read in Matthew 12, behold,
a greater than Solomon is here. Solomon was a great king, but
the Lord Jesus Christ, he's king of kings, isn't he? Solomon had,
talking about Solomon the king, son of David, Solomon had great
wisdom, riches, power, but they all pale in comparison to the
King of Kings, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all wisdom dwells,
in whom all spiritual blessings are found, and who possesses
eternal and sovereign power over all things. Solomon had riches
and power, but where'd he get those? Solomon had wisdom. The Lord gave him those things,
but our Lord Jesus Christ possesses all power. all sovereign power
over all things. David said in Psalm 103, the
Lord prepared his throne in the heavens and his kingdom ruleth
over all. There's no place where the king
of kings does not rule. There's no place where he does
not have dominion over all things of him and through him and to
him. all things to whom be glory, both now and forever. Again,
in these verses, verse six down through verse 11, we have a beautiful
wedding picture between Christ and his chosen bride, his elect,
his church. He bought her, he chose her,
he bought her, he called her, he said, you're mine, you're
mine. The Lord loved the church, and
bought the church with his own blood that we should be holy
without blame before him in love. He chose us not because we were
holy, we were everything but that. He chose us that in Christ
we should be holy in him. Now at the royal wedding feast,
the creed arranged by the eternal grace and purpose of God, The
Lord bought the church with his own blood, called us out of darkness
into his marvelous light. By his irresistible grace, we're
protected by his power. She is carried through the wilderness
of sin by the everlasting arms of his love. We are gathered
unto him and we're safe in his arms. None can pluck them out
of his hand. or send him, Lord God, what doest
thou? We're safe in his hand. Remember,
turn one page back. Chapter two, verse four and following. You see that verse four? He brought
me into the bank winning house and his banner over me was love.
Stay me with flag and comfort me with apples for I'm sick with
love. His left hand is under my head. His right hand doth embrace me.
We're safe in his hand. Safe in his hand. No one can
pluck him out of his hand. He's the great and good shepherd
who saves his sheep with his own blood. We read Sunday, Isaiah
40, he shall feed his flock like a shepherd. He shall gather the
lambs with his arms and carry them in his bosom and shall gently
lead those that are with young. He'll gather his lambs unto himself
and he carries them in his heart. in his bosom. Now, verse six,
who is this the question is asked? Who is this that cometh out of
the wilderness? That's where God finds us, in
a waste, howling wilderness, isn't it? Who is this that cometh
out of the wilderness? Like pillars of smoke, perfumed
with myrrh, frankincense, with all the powders of the merchant,
the good merchant. Who is this that comes out of
the wilderness smelling so sweet? His bride, his church, the church
of the firstborn, whose names are written in glory. Remember,
we studied through the revelation their names were written in the
Lamb's Book of Life from the foundation of the world. Blessed
are those that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
We studied that in Revelation 20. She shall be arrayed in those
beautiful garments that are pure and white, spotless, the Lord's
righteousness. So long as we're in this world
as believers, we live in this wilderness, don't we? This is
the wilderness we live in. It's a wilderness of sin. But
the believer is like Abraham, We're pilgrims and strangers
here. We're just passing through, looking for a city which has
foundations who build her and make her as God. We're just passing
through. This is not our home. We're here for a while, and then
we're gone. All flesh is grass. Our life
is like a vapor. It appears for a little time,
and where is it now? It's gone. Like the children of Israel,
That is, those who believed and trusted the Lord in those 40
years were safely kept in the wilderness. Remember that pillar
of fire by night and the cloud by day? And the Lord victoriously
brought them into the land of Canaan. Typical of our heavenly
rest, it was a land described that overflowed with milk and
honey. It's a pleasant land. By his
grace, he brings us out of the wilderness of sin. He calls us
out of darkness into his marvelous light. And what we do? We show
forth the praises of him who did that. He called us. We didn't
call upon him. He first called us. We only love
him because he first loved us. When I was studying and reading
that, I kept thinking about a scripture and I couldn't find it. It took
me a while to find it, but I finally did. In Deuteronomy 32, let me just read it to you. For the
Lord's portion is his people. Jacob is a lot of his inheritance. Remember Jacob have I loved?
He shall have I hated? He found him in a desert land
in a waste howling wilderness. He led him about and instructed
him and kept him as the apple of his eye. And that's what he
does for us. He loved us with an everlasting
love. He found us down in the desert
land in the waste howling wilderness. He led us about and he instructs
us with the way of salvation in Christ. And then look what it says. Who
is this that cometh? High in the wilderness, sinners saved
by his grace, like pillars of smoke perfumed. Now, many of
you, most of you have been around a campfire, and if that smoke
blows your way, it doesn't smell like perfume, does it? Kind of
obnoxious, isn't it? But this smoke here is perfumed.
It's a sweet-smelling savor. Someone said, where there's smoke,
there's fire. The believer's heart is inflamed
with love for Christ. Her affections are set on things
above, not on the perishing things of this world. Surely, we read
in scripture, the fashion of this world is passing away. Notice something strange and
wonderful about this smoke is perfume, which is sweet-smelling
powders of the merchant. That merchant there is Christ.
He's purchased us and given us the sweet grace of God the Holy
Spirit. He perfumes us with that sweet
smelling savor of his sacrifice. He gives us the fruit of the
Holy Spirit within us, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness,
meekness, temperance. These powders of his grace are
not native to the soil of our depraved heart, are they? All
of our righteousness is in God's rag, God's sights are nothing,
God's sight is nothing but filthy rags, they stink. But with his
garments on. The powders are not products
and native to the soul of our depraved guilty heart. They are
imported from a heavenly country, from the throne of God, and applied
by his sovereign grace and sovereign purpose. Who made you to differ
from another? What do you have that you didn't
receive? If you received it, now what would you glory? As
if you didn't receive it by his grace alone. We all can say,
every believer can say, I am what I am. What? By his grace. By his grace. Now, who is this that cometh
out of the wilderness? All these people called to himself. And they're perfumed with all
the fragrance of God the Holy Spirit. And this merchant has
bought all these powders and perfumed us with his grace. Now,
look at verse 7. Verse 7 and 8. Behold his bed. Talking about Solomon's bed.
It's the bed of his salvation. which is Solomon's. Salvation's of the Lord, isn't
it? Three score, 60 valiant men are about it. Someone said it's
a definite number for an indefinite. Men are about it. The valiant,
the valiant men, the soldiers, the fighters of Israel, they
all hold swords. Being expert, they're not rookies. They're expert in war. Every
man hath his sword upon his side because of the fear of the night. We see the rest and safety of
those that are one with Christ, with that union with Christ.
Believers are safe in his house, in his bed, on his couch. We are one with him. Solomon
here is typing picture of the greater Solomon, the Lord Jesus
Christ. Behold his bed. Consider and
meditate upon the bed rest where we enjoy, wherewith we enjoy
the Lord Jesus Christ resting in him. We cease from our own
labors and we enter into his rest, don't we? We rest in him. Christ is our Sabbath rest. We
recline in the comfort of his grace. We lay down in the sweet
promises of his word. And what do we find? We find
peace to our soul, don't we? He said, come unto me all your
labor and heavy laden. I'll give you rest. Take my yoke
upon you and learn of me. I'm meek and lowly in heart and
you shall find rest to your soul. All the promises of God in him
are yes and amen. They are the exceeding great
and precious promises of God's gospel to us. This bed of salvation
he bought for us with his own blood. This bed of salvation
he owns and maintains. This bed of salvation he guards
with his presence and power. This bed of salvation is big
enough for the greatest sinner to find and to wrap himself up
in, in the covers of his righteousness and rest in him. He came to save
sinners, the chief of sinners. In chapter 1, it talks about
that bed in Song of Solomon, chapter 1, verse 16. He said,
our bed is green. full of life, full of sap, full
of life. Notice verse 8, this bed of salvation
is all protected by these valiant men, these three score valiant
men. They all hold swords, being expert
in war. Every man hath his sword upon
his thigh. Because of the fear of the night,
he stands ready to fight. He stands ready to draw the sword
and to defend the king, defend the bed and those in union with
Christ. The valiant, strong, courageous
men of Israel are about this bed. They surround the bed. They're
ready to fight the good fight of faith with the sword of the
spirit, which is the word of God. The word of God is quick
and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. That's what
that sword's a picture of. The sword of the word of the
Lord is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. These
valiant men are the same as the watchmen, typical of God's servants,
ready to defend the gospel, ready to draw the sword of the gospel,
ready, able, and willing to preach Christ, to preach Christ. As Paul said, for as much as
in me is, I'm ready to preach the gospel of God to you, for
I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It's the power of
God unto salvation to everyone that believes. For in that gospel
is the very righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith. These servants of the Lord are
not rookies. They're valiant men. They're
experts. They're expert in warfare. They
know the enemies. They know who the enemy is. The
enemies of the Lord and his gospel are ready to confront them and
to contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints. These
servants are not cowards. They're bold men by his grace.
They're wise men able to know how to fight. They're motivated
men. by one single cause, the glory
of the Lord Jesus Christ. The cause of God and his truth.
These servants of the Lord stand their post. They continue their
watch even in the fear of night, even in the face of danger. They
cannot and will not compromise and give aid and comfort to the
enemies of the gospel. We say with Paul, if any man
preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached,
it'll be okay. Letting me down. That's what
the word says. Now look at verse 9 and 10. The
Lord Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of salvation. He's
the Alpha and the Omega of salvation. Verse 9 and 10. King Solomon
made himself a chariot or a bed. This is a chariot, marriage chariot
of the wood of Lebanon. He made the pillars thereof.
describing this bed, this wedding feast bed, this chariot, it's
called. He made the pillars thereof of
silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it purple,
and the midst thereof, in the middle of that, it paved with
love for somebody, for the daughters of Jerusalem. for his covenant
people. Go forth ye daughters of Zion.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega of salvation.
The bed speaks of our rest and communion and union with the
Lord Jesus Christ, that blessed gospel rest of faith we have
in him. The chariot speaks of the everlasting
covenant of grace in Christ, made of the finest cedar wood
of Lebanon. Whenever you read through birth
of second kings, when it talks about the construction of the
temple and all those things that were made, Solomon went to Lebanon
and found the best cedar wood. Something very special about
that cedar wood. Its fragrance is, you ever open
up one of those old cedar chests? Why do they make them out of
cedar? Well, that wood won't rot. It's enduring wood, and
that's typical of a gospel. It has a sweet aroma unto it. The chariot speaks of the everlasting
gospel of Christ made of the finest cedar wood, wood that
typically will not rot, will not decay, but ever remains the
same. Isn't that the gospel? Never
needs to be changed, does it? We have all these computer things,
all these apps and all these programs constantly need updated,
don't they? To me, it's right aggravating.
I just get used to using something and say, okay, we're going to
update it. It drives me nuts. I'm too old to keep up. The gospel
of the Lord Jesus Christ never changes. Never needs improvement,
never needs update. What was true ten billions of
years ago in the everlasting covenant of grace is still true
today. The gospel is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The gospel chariot of the Lord Jesus Christ is that chariot
in which the Lord reveals himself unto us. He said these things
in the wise and prudent, and revealed them unto babes. To
many, the gospel of Christ is foolishness, but unto us which
are saved, the power of God and the salvation. It is the gospel
chariot of salvation in which the King rides through this world. You remember our study in Revelation? Chapter 6, verse 2, I told you
that was one of the key verses. Remember? I saw, behold, a white
horse, and he that sat on him had a bow and a crown and was
given unto him. And he went forth conquering and to conquer. It's
the gospel of God's salvation concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. And notice three or four things
about this special chariot made of this special wood designed
and constructed King Solomon made himself, for himself, this
chariot to carry his people in. He made the pillars thereof of
silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it as purple, The midst thereof being paid
with love for everybody in the world. No, for specific people, for
the daughters of Jerusalem, for his people. Now let's look at
these symbolic details. Pillars made of silver. All the
attributes of God are magnified in this charity of salvation.
It's the silver of his love. Here in his love, not that we
love God, but he loved us, sent his son to be the sacrifice for
our sin. It's the silver of his, and the
pillar and silver of his mercy, not by works of righteousness,
which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us. It's
a pillars made of silver, the silver of his justice, he's a
just God and Savior, and the pillars of his holiness. God
saves sinners in a way that's honoring to his own character,
God is holy. The bottom of it's made of gold,
typical of the precious promises and purpose and decrees of his
word, good as gold. You ever heard that saying? It's
as good as gold. It's pure gold. The gold of His
Word. It's enduring, solid, valuable,
unchanging. You can take it to the bank.
You can believe His Word. You can trust His Word. The covering
of it, purple. You see that? Believers are covered in the
blood of Christ. That purple is symbolic of the
blood atonement of Christ. Blood red canopy of Christ's
blood covers most of our sin. It covers the big sin anyway,
doesn't it? And the little ones we have to take care of. That's
not so. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's
son, cleanses us from all our sin. There is no such thing as
little sin. Because every sin is against
God. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all
our sins. We're covered in the blood. He
said, when I see the blood, I'll pass over you. It's heart sharing,
it's saving to the uttermost, the uttermost glory. No wonder
Peter called this blood precious blood. It's the blood of the lamb slain
from the foundation of the world. It's always been salvation through
the blood, always, always. And I like this part. In the
midst thereof, now all about this bed we have pillars of silver
and we have bottom of gold and the covering is purple, but in
the middle of that chariot, it paved with love. He's in love with us, and we're
in love with him. It's paid with love. The gospel
of Christ, this chariot gospel, this charity of salvation is
paid with love. It's lined within with the unchanging,
sovereign, never failing love. Nothing can separate us from
the love of God, the love of God which is in the Lord Jesus
Christ. It's unfailing love. He loved his church with an everlasting
love. Therefore, with love and kindness,
does he draw us to himself. The exterior is silver and gold,
cedar and purple, and the guards are about it. But when the bride
enters within, she rests on the pavement, the foundation of his
sovereign love, and she finds sweet delight within his everlasting
arms. Isn't that delightful? Our Lord
said this in John 13, on the eve of the cross, when the Lord
knew His hour was come, that He should depart out of this
world unto the Father, having loved His own which are in the
world, He loved them to the end. Now, verse 11 in closing. Go forth. Go forth in the power of His
love. Go forth, you daughters of Zion. These daughters of Zion
and the daughters of Jerusalem are all sinners, redeemed by
His blood and called and saved by His grace. Go forth, you daughters,
sinners saved by the grace of God, who dwell in Zion, the church
of a living God, and behold your King. Behold the King of kings. Behold King Solomon. with the
crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of this wedding
feast, in the day of this marriage, in the day of the gladness of
his heart. Now behold him, behold the king
of king and Lord of Lord. The daughters of Zion own and
love their king, their Lord. They gladly submit to his reign
over them as their God and savior. For Christ has been enthroned. He's enthroned in glory, right?
But anywhere else he's enthroned, he's enthroned in our heart.
Christ in you is a hope of glory. The daughters of Zion and true
believers who bow and submit to his lordship, true believers,
crown him with many crowns. He says of his family as we read,
In Matthew chapter 12, verse 49, who is my mother and who are
my brethren? He stretched forth his hand toward
his disciple and said, behold my mother, behold my brethren,
for whosoever shall do the will of my father, which is in heaven,
the same is my brother and my sister and my mother. True saving
faith, the faith of God's elect, crowns him by believing him,
for true faith honors him, true faith crowns him, who God has
crowned as Lord and Christ. God has made that same Jesus
whom you crucify, he made him Lord and Christ. Let us go forth
and behold his greatness of his crowning grace to sinners, and
we do crown him. as Lord, don't we? John Gill
said this, and I'll quit with this statement, for in every
act of faith in Christ and on Christ is putting a crown on
his head. Every submission to the ordinances
of the Lord is acknowledging him king of the saints. Every
inscription of salvation to him and by his grace by any is casting
their crown that him and setting one on his head, we crown him
as Lord and King of all our salvation.