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Day 135: The Love Couch (SoS 3:7a)

 Behold, it is Solomon’s couch, With sixty valiant men around it, Of the valiant of Israel. (Song of Songs 3:7)

Solomon's approach must have gathered the city's attention. The smoke and fragrance that preceded him must have attracted a crowd. As the people looked expectantly, something finally came into view and the Bride recognized the procession. First, she pointed out his couch.

Some translations say bed so we must clarify here that the word translated here is not the same as the one translated as bed in SoS 1:7 when the Bride said: Our bed is green. The significance of both is very similar.

The couch sighted here refers to a part of Solomon's palanquin. It was specially made to provide comfort and be easily carried through the wilderness. In the same way the rich of our time ride in the most luxurious cars and own private jets, nobles and royals in ancient times traveled in magnificent couches that showed their wealth and status.

What is the significance of this elegant couch designed for comfort and rest during travel? Let's see.

When Jesus began His ministry, He said in Like 4:18-19:

 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 

And in Matthew 11:28, He said:

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

In Lesson 52 when we examined the Bride's statement from SoS 1:7: also, our bed is green, we said the green bed refers to the green pasture of the word where we find satisfaction and rest. This rest is in two parts. First is the rest of the Salvation that Christ gives when we accept Him as Lord and Savior. The second is the continual rest from the troubles of the world that we enjoy as we abide in and learn from Him.

The couch here specifically refers to the rest we receive through the gospel. It is through the gospel preached that we come to the Lord Jesus to find rest as we journey through the harsh, dangerous wilderness of this world.

When we accept Christ, we become one with Him. Because we are one with Him, we are joint heirs of all His inheritance. We have access to all that is His. Christ's couch is made available by His sacrifice for sin and our redemption is ours to enjoy.

Hebrews 3 & 4 describe Israel's wilderness journey. It says in chapter 3 that many died in the wilderness because of unbelief. They lacked faith in God's saving power and couldn't enter into God's rest.

Hebrews 4:1-3 tells us believers:

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 

Over and over again the good news about God's character and provision was preached to Israel but they continued to disobey God. They heard the gospel as we do today, but they did not believe. If they had they would've enjoyed the rest God provided for them.

All God requires of us is faith in the gospel. Faith in the good news of who He is and what He can do. Faith in His provision for us. All He wants is that we come boldly to Him and rest on His couch: the gospel couch. 

The gospel is foundational to our faith. We must consciously believe it each day. Don't forget that the same love that saved us has not changed. Believe the Lord that gave His back to stripes, His head to the crown of thorns, and His hands to six-inch nails is still the same.

Many challenges will arise to ruffle us and disturb our rest as we trust Christ and His provision. Satan the god of this world continually moves about as a roaring lion. However, the Bride describes how secure this couch is and how sturdy the palanquin materials are. We'll study that in subsequent lessons.

I invite you to rest on the gospel couch. Put your faith in Christ and the provisions He shed His blood to purchase for you. Refuse to be battered by sickness, lack, confusion, fear, anxiety, and any negative element that comes your way. Choose instead to recline on the couch. To rest on the word, promises, and most importantly God's character and love.

PRAY WITH ME: 

My Beloved Jesus, today I cast my cares upon You and lay my burdens at Your feet. I choose to rest in Your word and promises, to believe in Your love for me as made manifest by the gospel: Your suffering, death, burial, and resurrection. Amen.

REFLECT AND ACT:

  • Do you believe that Christ came, suffered, died, and was resurrected to redeem you? It is with the same faith that we obtain all that the gospel has made available.
  • Refuse worry, discouragement, and anxiety. Choose instead to believe and rejoice in Christ's finished works.
  • Read Hebrews 3 & 4. Note from it how you can enjoy the rest the gospel provides.

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