What materials were used in Solomon's carriage, and what do they signify spiritually? Text Under Consideration “King Solomon has made his carriage from the wood of Lebanon.” (Songs 3:9) “He made its posts of silver, its base of gold, its seat of purple; its interior was inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.” (Songs 3:10) Identifying the Materials • Wood of Lebanon (cedar) • Silver posts • Gold base (or bottom) • Purple seat (fabric or tapestry) • Interior inlaid with love Symbolic Significance of Each Material • Cedar of Lebanon – Durable, fragrant, and resistant to decay (1 Kings 5:6; Psalm 92:12). – Spiritually portrays the incorruptible, sinless humanity of Christ—strong, unfading, and perfectly suited to bear His people (Isaiah 53:2). – Also points to the believer’s new nature that endures (1 Peter 1:23). • Silver Posts – In Scripture silver often speaks of redemption and atonement (Exodus 30:11-16; Numbers 3:47-51). – The carriage is held up by redemption: we stand because we are ransomed “with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19). • Gold Base – Gold signifies divine glory, purity, and kingship (Exodus 25:10-11; Revelation 1:13-15). – The whole structure rests on God’s own nature—His unchanging glory in the person of Christ (Colossians 2:9). • Purple Seat – Purple throughout the Bible denotes royalty and majesty (Judges 8:26; John 19:2). – The seating area—where the bride rests—proclaims that she is welcomed into Christ’s royal dignity (Revelation 1:6). • Interior Inlaid with Love – Love itself is named as the final “material,” showing that every detail is motivated by covenant affection (Jeremiah 31:3; Ephesians 5:25). – The workmanship is personal: “by the daughters of Jerusalem,” hinting that fellow believers contribute to one another’s spiritual adornment (Hebrews 10:24). Seeing Christ Foreshadowed • The carriage pictures Christ carrying His Church to the wedding feast (Revelation 19:7-9). • The cedar body speaks of His spotless humanity; the gold base, His deity; the silver posts, His redeeming work; the purple seat, His royal throne; and the inlay of love, His sacrificial heart (John 15:13). Application to the Believer Today • Rest in Christ’s finished redemption—your “seat” is purple, secure in royal favor (Hebrews 4:16). • Build your life on what is incorruptible: the Word and the indwelling Christ, the true Cedar (1 Peter 1:23-25). • Remember that you are carried, not self-propelled; the journey is upheld by silver redemption and gold divinity (Jude 24). • Let love be the interior of all you do—allow the Spirit to “inlay” every motive with genuine affection (1 Corinthians 16:14). A Closing Reflection Solomon’s ornate carriage sets before us a portable portrait of the gospel: a structure of enduring humanity, radiant deity, blood-bought redemption, royal privilege, and unending love—carrying the bride ever closer to the royal wedding day. |
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