Paved with love

Song of Solomon 3:10

He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.

There can be no doubt that Song of Solomon is one of the most beautiful books in the Bible. It is the pinnacle of beauty. It is the epitome of imagery. It is the zenith of picturesque literature! There are no significant rivals. And it is all symbolic. It is all an allegory. For you see, its meaning has a dual purpose. The book describes the love between Solomon and his Shulamite bride. But it is also a clear picture of the love of Christ for His church, and the love of His church for Christ. This is why we cannot pass over this book. We have committed the crime already of ignoring a masterpiece of God’s inspired and revealed Scripture. Let us end the crime now! For we cannot skip such a book, we cannot stand aloof to the meaning contained therein. For it is for all of us! Whether a person has been, is, or ever will be married, this book can bring great comfort, joy, and enlightenment.

Look now at the image portrayed. A chariot made with silver pillars and a gold bottom! This chariot would be used to come get his bride from Jerusalem, and take her to himself. But, you see, this speaks of the glorious day when Christ on His kingly chariot will come to catch away His bride. He will say “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away!” Yes, we know that He will be on a great white horse at His second coming. But we also know that this is a picture of His return. Pictures of Christ’s return can be found through the book. He comes on the mountains of Bether! It is all an allegory. But see how this chariot armed with gold and fabricated of silver has a covering of purple. It is royal! It is regal! It is resplendent! Christ is our King! And one day He will rule as KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS! He is our King, and when He is clothed with His kingly garments, so will we! See Revelation 19:11-16. Was there not a purple robe used at the crucifixion of Christ to signify His kingship? It was used for a mockery, but His persecutors did not know that in so doing they were fulfilling prophecy and testifying to the truth.

Not only is the chariot made of silver, gold, and purple, but it is paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem. This magnificent chariot is paved with love! How is this so? Gold and silver are tangible elements. Love is not! It is intangible. You cannot see the element itself, but can see the effects of it. And, my friend, this morning, it will do you and me good to look at the way in which all of our lives have been “paved with love.” For you see! God’s love was always present. It was always the key ingredient in all the wanderings and happenings of our lives, all the twists and turns that the road took. But we didn’t see it! We missed it! For it is not a visible element. Therefore, without a discerning eye, we could only see the visible road. But this road was marked with evidences, and punctuated with signs of God’s unending love! It was dotted with “handfuls of purpose.” The roadway was littered with a little here and a little there that reminds us of His continual presence. He was always not far away. He was always nearby, guiding and protecting our lives from all dangers, visible and invisible. He was paving it with love! What love He has for us! What care and tenderness! What watch care over our lives! What a road He has paved!

Beloved, do not think that you have paved your own road. Yes, you may have made many choices along the way, and some have been good and some have been bad. You may have sought to take the road you wanted to take, and may have strayed at times. But, dear one, the Lord was always ahead of you in the lane, laying down the pavement for you. And that pavement was a pavement of love. Oh, that we would let Him always guide our steps! Oh, that we would always and only follow His leading! For He knows the way through the wilderness. Do not try to pave your own way! It will be rocky and intolerable. It will be turbid and perilous. Take His way! Follow His road, His beaten path! For that path, my dear friend, is always paved with love!

“Dear Father, we want to thank you that even in times when we were not following as closely as we should have been, you stayed ahead, laying down the pavement with love and kindness. Oh Lord, may we always follow the path you have trod and take the loving pavement you are laying for us. Thank you that your love is unconditional. But how we pray that we would stay in your love, abiding in your will, and dwelling in your presence. Because, Lord, we know that you are paving all of our lives with your love. We thank and praise Thee for these things. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”