Day 132: Out of the Wilderness (SoS 3:6a)

 Who is this coming out of the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all the merchant’s fragrant powders? (Song of Songs 3:6)

The speaker of this verse is uncertain. Some say it's the bride, some say it's the daughter of Jerusalem. Our focus however is on the subject of the question and not on who asked it.

To accurately interpret, understand, and put this question in context, we'll jump to the answer the Bride gives in the next verse (verse 7):

Behold it is Solomon's couch...

So here is the Beloved King coming out of the wilderness. What significance does this have in relation to our Beloved King Jesus?

A wilderness is a large uninhabited expanse of land. It can be barren land or pasture. It is considered dangerous because it is the habitat of wild animals.

The wilderness is very significant in scripture. It was often a place of trial and testing but most importantly an encounter with God. Israel wandered forty years in the wilderness before they finally got to the promised land. Jesus was driven into the wilderness by the Spirit after His baptism. He remained there for forty days and nights. There He was tempted by the devil just like Israel went through many tests and trials in the wilderness.

The term wilderness experience is common. It is often used to denote someone going through a difficult season of life. It is a lonely time when faith and trust in God are tested. It's a time when God reveals Himself and His character. It's a time when God shows His preserving power.

The most significant meaning of Jesus our King coming out of the wilderness in splendor can be explained as His triumphant entry into the heavenly city after His work on earth. This can be supported by the practices God instructed concerning the day of atonement.

Leviticus 16 says, once a year on the day of atonement, Aaron the Chief Priest presented two goats before the Lord. He was to lay his hand on one goat and confess on it all the sins of the people. After that, the goat was driven into the wilderness. This goat is known as the scapegoat.

The second goat was the sin offering which was slaughtered to atone for the people's sin. Its blood was drained and sprinkled to cleanse the people of their sins. Then its carcass was taken outside the camp or city to be burned.

Jesus was both our scapegoat and sin offering.

1 Peter 2:24 (The Passion Translation) says:

He himself carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we would be dead to sin and live for righteousness...

Hebrews 13:11-12 says:

For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 

And Hebrews 9:12 says:

Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

The scapegoat however would never return to the camp or city. However, Jesus could return to the city because He paid the price for all sin and was justified. His justification came from ours, and He was exalted again. He died as a sacrificial lamb but rose as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah - the eternal King.

As the song progresses, there is a more profound revelation of Jesus in every section. The Beloved in return affirms the Bride's beauty, character, and growth in love. The Bride's revelation here describes Jesus' splendor as the triumphant king and we'll look at its descriptions in detail as we progress.

PRAY WITH ME:

Dear Lord Jesus, open my eyes to a deeper revelation of You as the triumphant king. Let me see Your glory and splendor and let my understanding open to the deeper truths of Your Kingdom. Amen.

REFLECT & ACT:

• Do you have a revelation of Christ as the Triumphant King?
• Do you clearly understand Christ's substitutionary sacrifice and what it means for you?
• Take time to read Hebrews and study it in the context of its Old Testament references.