Scripture Reading: S. S. 3:6, 9-10; 4:1-5
Ⅰ
In the third stage of her experience the lover of Christ is called to live in ascension as the new creation in resurrection—S. S. 3:6—5:1:
A
To live in ascension is to live continually in our spirit; when we live in our spirit, we are joined to the ascended Christ in the heavens—Eph. 2:22; Gen. 28:12-17; John 1:51; Rev. 4:1-2; Heb. 4:12.
B
We must learn to hide ourselves in the secret place of the Most High, to hide ourselves in the ascended Christ, taking Him as our dwelling place—Psa. 91:1, 14-16; cf. S. S. 2:14:
１
To take God as our eternal dwelling place is the highest and fullest experience of God—Psa. 90:1-2.
２
If we take God as our dwelling place, we will realize that the span of our life on earth is brief and is full of sins and afflictions—vv. 3-12.
３
We need to dwell in God, living in Him every minute, for outside of Him there are sins and afflictions—v. 8; John 16:33.
４
"In everything and in all things I have learned the secret…I am able to do all things in Him who empowers me" (Phil. 4:12-13; cf. 5-7); the secret is to be in Him, and the secret of the secret is to be in our spirit (Eph. 2:22).
５
The way to fight the battle is to "retreat" into our spirit and live in the Body—John 14:30; 2 Tim. 4:22; 1 John 5:4, 18; Eph. 1:22-23; 6:10.
６
We dwell in God by dwelling in our spirit, the dwelling place of God; in our spirit and in the church, we can behold His beauty and be infused with His beauty to become the beautified new creation—2:22; Rom. 8:6; Psa. 27:4; Isa. 60:7b, 19b; 62:3; S. S. 3:11; Prov. 12:4a.
Ⅱ
"Who is she who comes up from the wilderness / Like pillars of smoke, / Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, / With all the fragrant powders of the merchant?"—S. S. 3:6:
A
The pillar of smoke corresponds to the pillar of cloud that led the children of Israel in the wilderness (Exo. 13:21-22) and is a type of the Spirit; for the seeker to be a pillar of smoke means that she is absolutely in the spirit and stable, flexible, and strong in the unshakable power of the Spirit (Rev. 3:12).
B
In experience she has become the same as God, who is Spirit, and the same as Christ, who is a ladder, bringing heaven to earth and joining earth to heaven— 1 Cor. 2:15; Rom. 1:9; Phil. 3:3; John 1:51.
C
She is fully open to be perfumed, permeated with the sweet death and fragrant resurrection of Christ (myrrh and frankincense), and she pays the price to gain all the fragrant riches of Christ as a merchant—S. S. 3:6; Rev. 3:18.
Ⅲ
"King Solomon made himself a palanquin / Of the wood of Lebanon. / Its posts he made of silver, / Its bottom, of gold; / Its seat, of purple; / Its midst was inlaid with love / From the daughters of Jerusalem"—S. S. 3:9-10:
A
By the Spirit's transforming work in us, we become the moving vessel of Christ, the carriage of Christ, the "car" of Christ, for the move of Christ in and for the Body of Christ—cf. 2 Cor. 2:12-17.
B
We are rebuilt with the Divine Trinity so that our external structure is the resurrected and ascended humanity of Jesus and our interior decoration is our love for the Lord—S. S. 3:9-10:
１
It is Christ as our King Solomon who makes us a palanquin for Himself; our responsibility is simply to offer our love to Him and offer ourselves willingly to Him—John 21:15-17; Psa. 110:3.
２
Our inner being should be "inlaid with love" (S. S. 3:10); loving the Lord will keep us in the realm of having Christ as our humanity, safeguarding our humanity in the constraint of His affection—2 Cor. 5:14.
C
Through our loving the Lord in a personal, affectionate, private, and spiritual way, our natural being is torn down, and we are remodeled with Christ's redeeming death (posts made of silver), God's divine nature (base), and Christ's kingship as the life-giving Spirit ruling within us (seat of purple)—S. S. 3:10; cf. Rom. 8:28-29; 2 Cor. 4:16-18.
Ⅳ
Song of Songs 4:1-5 reveals the beauty of the lover, the bride, as the new creation for the Lord's delight—2 Cor. 5:17:
A
The beauty of Christ's lover is seen in her spiritual insight, discernment, and realization from the singleness of her heart (eyes like doves), which are not divulged to the world (behind your veil)—S. S. 4:1a; Luke 11:34-36.
B
The beauty of Christ's lover is seen in her submission and obedience through God's feeding (hair like a flock of goats)—S. S. 4:1b:
１
The Nazarite was to let his hair grow long, which signifies that he was to remain in subjection to the headship of Christ—Num. 6:5; cf. 1 Cor. 11:3, 6.
２
A Nazarite is a person who is full of submission; with him there is a submissive standing, atmosphere, and intention; if you are such a person, there will be a great blessing for you and your future.
３
"I thank the Lord that from the day I came into the recovery, the Lord put me under someone, some thing, or some environment" (Life-study of Numbers, p. 70).
４
Our consecration before God and our submission to God determine our power before men—Judg. 16:17.
C
The beauty of Christ's lover is seen in her receiving the divine food by her power that has been dealt with by the cross (teeth like a flock of shorn ewes); her power of reception is no longer motivated by her natural strength—S. S. 4:2; cf. Ezek. 44:17; John 6:57.
D
The beauty of Christ's lover is seen in her speaking with Christ's redemption and with His authority (lips like a scarlet thread)—S. S. 4:3a; Josh. 2:21; Matt. 27:28-29; Isa. 6:6-7; 2 Cor. 4:5.
E
The beauty of Christ's lover is seen in her expression (cheeks), which is full of life (pomegranate) and hidden (behind your veil)—S. S. 4:3b; Phil. 1:20.
F
The beauty of Christ's lover is seen in her having a will that is submissive to Christ (neck like the tower of David) and that is rich in the defending power (bucklers and shields of the mighty men)—S. S. 4:4; Phil. 2:13.
G
The beauty of Christ's lover is seen in her tender faith and love that are strengthened twofold (two breasts—Gal. 5:6; 1 Tim. 1:14) and nourished (feed) in the environment of a pure and trusting life (among the lilies—Matt. 6:28)— S. S. 4:5.