We are called as: Pillars of smoke
Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the Merchant?”
Here the Lord’s bride is coming out of the wilderness….like pillars of smoke.
We know that the Bride of Christ is the church….and it should be like pillars…strong and steady.
Here the bride is seen as moving out of the wilderness experience (which was full of wanderings and trials)….and the church should be moving ever onward as Christ’s army of servants toward the appointed goal:
Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy Will be done in earth as it is in heaven.”
Here is the goal of the church….to be and manifest His kingdom here on earth….till He comes again and sets up His Everlasting Kingdom.
Joel 2:28-30 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit.
And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.”
(Jesus Christ was placed on the cross, between heaven and earth. The sky was darkened like night….in the middle of the day. His blood shed….and the fire of the Holy Spirit given after He ascended up to heaven [John 7:37-39]….led to the making of pillars of smoke! [the church of believers])
These verses were quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given to the church. (Acts 2:16-21)
He was stressing that the Holy Spirit was given to each person who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Before, in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would come on people for prophesy and ministry.
But now….wonder of wonders….anyone who believes on Jesus Christ, will be given His Holy Spirit. (sons, daughters, old men, servants, handmaids)
When we are born again we are filled with His fullness to our surrendered capacity. And by His Spirit, we will become “pillars of smoke”.
We have mentioned this before….but it is pillars of smoke….because God makes us strong, in HIm.
In ourselves we are weak as smoke…blown every which way by just a puff of air.
But in Christ, through the Holy Spirit we are made wise, righteous, sanctified, and redeemed…..strong in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 “But of Him (God the Father) are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
That according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
Our strength lies in our total dependence on the Lord…His Word…and His Spirit.
In these verses in Joel, the people are called to come between the porch and the altar to repent….to call upon the Lord.
Joel 2:15-17 “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children….
Let the priest, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say,
Spare Thy people, O Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: Wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?”
Joel 2: 18-19 “ Then will the Lord be jealous for His land, and pity His people.
Yea, the Lord will answer….”
“Then”…after we have humbled ourselves and sought to the Lord for His correction, deliverance, and help.
(It is interesting to note that not once in these verses is a time for these circumstances given.
Some say that Joel was written before the king of Assyria came to Jerusalem when Hezekiah was king.
Some say that it was written before the captivity under Nebuchadnezzar…and that it was just another call by the Lord to His people to repent.
Some say that it was written much later….after the people had returned and rebuilt the Temple….and the troubles that came then.
But there is no time given….it could be for any time that HIs people are in desperate need…when they have become slack concerning God’s Word….against an adversary that makes “the earth quake before them”.
The only “time” part of it, is when it references what we believe could be Armageddon Joel 3:11-13.)
My husband received these verses as part of our work….that we might bring to light the need of the church: which is to humble ourselves and repent…in the church (the porch and the altar)……and the great blessing that will come when we do: through the Holy Spirit’s power for life and circumstances, now.
1 Peter 4:17, 19 “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”
Let me repeat….our strength lies in our total dependence on our Lord Jesus….His Word, and His Spirit.
We are to be pillars of smoke…conscious of our weakness….conscious and leaning on His strength….receiving His Spirit’s help, continually.
Song of Solomon 3:6 “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the Merchant?”
At first the by-standers do not recognize this bride! She is so different than they knew her before! “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:” (1 Peter 4:4)
But then they see that she is a “pillar”….steady and strong in the Lord.
And she is sending forth the influence of “myrrh”….the fragrance of the sacrificial death of Christ Jesus…and her identifying with Him by denying herself, picking up her cross and being obedient to His call.
But there is also the influence of “frankincense” which is the spice of royalty….showing her authority as a servant and ambassador of the King of kings.
And finally, there is the influence of the “powders of the Merchant”….or the gifts of the Spirit and the graces of the Lord Jesus Christ on our lives.
The church should manifest the lovely fragrance of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…everywhere we go.
And that means that we must come out of the wilderness we have been wandering about….and humble ourselves under His call….and seek the Lord for His Word and blessing.
Joel calls “Hear this…” (Joel 1:2)
“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;” (Joel 2:1)
When trumpets were blown in Israel….then the people must gather together. Some trumpet sounds were for war….some for assemblies before the Lord….but those that belonged to the Lord, must come.
Have we heard the call to come and repent of something? Have we been called to assemble with the church….and seek the Lord, for the church.
Let us come out of the wilderness we are in…..and become pillars of smoke….totally relying on our Lord, and being continually filled with His Spirit to become strong in the Lord.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 