THE WEDDING BANQUET
The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. Matt 22:2 CLICK TO EXPAND In the first Century, the Jews had debated removing the Song of Songs from the holy books, until Rabbi Akiva called it, “the holiest of the holy (books).” Rabbi Akiva believed it to be a prophecy of God’s love for His people. In the second Century, Christian writings called this a prophecy of Christ’s love for His Church. But this did not come from themselves. The Apostle John had already identified the Song of Songs as a prophecy of Christ’s love for His Church in Revelation Chpaters 12 and 18. There are two interpretations of the Wedding Banquet in the first Song. This is either “the Day of His Espousals (betrothal), or “the Day of His Wedding” as described in Song 3:11 – both translations of this verse have been made. Such is the paradox of the kingdom of heaven. It is the kingdom, or banquet, that lies ahead in the future, which we also enter today. Just as the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, described in Rev 19:9, precedes the appearance of the Rider on the White horse in Rev 19:11-21. The prophecy of this Book, like Isaiah Chapter 2, Ezekiel Chapter 1, Revelation Chapter 1, and 2 Thessalonians Chapter 1 – begins with the ending in view. The four periods of Christ’s engagement year are described below. THE LATTER RAIN In Song 2:11, we read that the rains have ended. This begins the story. In Israel there are two periods of rain. The October/November rains are called “former rains,” and the March/April rains are called the “latter rains.” The latter rain is in the first month on the Jewish calendar. It coincides with the Passover when Christ was crucified. This is the beginning of Christ’s relationship with His Bride, New Jerusalem. IN THE WILDERNESS In Song 3:6, Christ went into the Wilderness to be with His Chosen Bride. In 193 AD, “the place of His Sanctuary was cast to the ground,” (Dan 8:11). The spirit of God was taken from the Church. The Woman, New Jerusalem, fled into the wilderness to be “nourished for time, times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent” (Rev 12:15). She is described as “a garden enclosed…a spring shut up, a fountain sealed” (Song 4:5). In other words, New Jerusalem no longer had the visible evidence of the holy spirit. Those who were sanctified were known only to God. THE FORMER RAIN In Song 8:5, the Bride, New Jerusalem came out of the Wilderness. This is the appearance of the Rider on the White Horse in Rev 19, which began when the Angel (Christ) “took the censor; filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth” (Rev 8:5). This is the “former rain” of the holy spirit prophesied in Hos 6:2-3, “after two days He will revive us, on the third day, He will raise us up that we may live in His sight . . . He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain.” We know that “a day is as a thousand years” (2 Pet 3:8), and the holy spirit was poured out again after two thousand years. This “former rain,” is a rain of לִצְדָקָ֑ה righteousness (Joel 2:23). The spirit of truth is given to remove the lawlessness from the kingdom of heaven. SUMMER IS NEAR When “the vine has budded . . . then I will give you my love” (Song 6:11; Song 7:12). Jesus said, “when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is nigh” (Matt 24:32). When is this Day? Daniel told us that there would be 2,300 days (years) from the time of the abomination of desolation until the sanctuary is cleansed (Dan 8:14). After the sanctuary is cleansed, Satan will be released for “5 months,” 150 days/years (Rev 9:5; Rev 20:7). But of course, Peter reminded us that the Lord is not slack in His promises, and “a day with the Lord is as a thousand years.” RELATIONSHIP WITH PSALM 45 The sister passage to the Song of Songs is Psalm 45, which also describes Christ’s love for His Church as we can see below: ■ Psa 45:2, “You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips” – the introduction is just like the Song of Songs. ■ Psa 45:6, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” – This refers to Christ, as quoted in Heb 1:8-9. ■ Psa 45:10, ” Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father’s house; So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord (Adonai), worship Him;” – because He is you Lord (Adonai) worship Him, identifies Christ again. ■ Psa 45:13, “The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; Her clothing is woven with gold. She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You. With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; They shall enter the King’s palace.” – Here, we see the same idea that is related by the Song of Songs, that many “virgins” wish to be the King’s bride, but there is only “true” bride, the bride that is “faithful and true” (Rev 19:11), as described in the conclusion, Song 8:11-12.
1 The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s. Beloved 2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine.
Song 1:1 Song of songs – this is most commonly understood to mean, “the most excellent song.” However, it can also mean a collection of songs. In 1 Kings 4:32, we are told that Solomon wrote 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. The 3,000 and 1,000 are naturally understood as “estimates.” The extra “five” songs are the five songs in the Song of Songs. FOUR NATURAL BREAKS All of us can see three natural breaks that appear in this Book, (Song 2:7; Song 3:5 and Song 8:4) made by the words “I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem…do not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.” These words bring the preceding section to a climax, and a new scene follows, ie “my beloved behold He comes, leaping upon the mountains” (Song 2:8); “who is this coming out of the wilderness (Song 3:6); “who is this coming up from the wilderness” (Song 8:5). These three breaks, describe Christ’s relationship with New Jerusalem in three eras: The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Songs 1- 2:7); The Apostolic Church (Songs 3:8-3:5); New Jerusalem in the Wilderness (Songs 3:6-8:4); and the Revival of the Sanctified Church in the End Times (Songs 8:5-14). There is one more break cited by many at Song 5:1. It is also followed by an abrupt beginning, and sets a “new stage,” where the Shulamite is “struck” and “wounded” by the watchmen of the City. The Apostle John told us that New Jerusalem flew into the wilderness for 1,260 days. This brings us to Rev 11, 13 and 17, where we see that great battle between the saints and the beast, and the Bride is “struck” by the watchmen of the Great City. That is the break of Song 5:1. The division into these five sections is historic. These same divisions were used by Christian David Ginsburg, in 1857, from his extensive analysis of historic interpretations, that are explained in his introduction.
3 Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured out, therefore the virgins love you.
Song 1:3 your oils – the holy spirit that Christ poured out was referred to as oil, first by Hosea, “the oil, grain and the wine” your name is oil poured forth – the meaning is related in Acts 2:38, “be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall receive the gift of the holy spirit.” therefore the virgins love you – like the ten virgins who looked for oil in the lamps to be ready for the bridegroom’s return (Matt 25:1-13).
4 Take me away with you. Let’s hurry. The king has brought me into his rooms. Friends We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will praise your love more than wine! Beloved They are right to love you.
Song 1:4 take me away with you – as the Bride who wishes to be “resurrected” with Christ. the King has brought me into His chambers – into his rooms…the king at His table (Song 1:12), and His banqueting house (Song 2:4). Jesus said, “in My Father’s house are many dwelling places” (John 14:2). The relationship of Christ with the saints, is in spirit (Eph 2:22), and is described as a house, or temple.
5 I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar’s tents, like Solomon’s curtains. 6 Don’t stare at me because I am dark, because the sun has scorched me. My mother’s sons were angry with me. They made me keeper of the vineyards. I haven’t kept my own vineyard. 7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you graze your flock, where you rest them at noon; for why should I be as one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions?
Song 1:7 where do You graze Your flock – Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11).
Lover 8 If you don’t know, most beautiful among women, follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
Song 1:8 follow the tracks of the sheep – we follow the saints. The saints in Rev 14:4, the “virgins…who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.”
9 I have compared you, my love, to a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots. 10 Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels. Friends 11 We will make you earrings of gold, with studs of silver. Beloved 12 While the king sat at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance. 13 My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, that lies between my breasts. 14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms from the vineyards of En Gedi. Lover 15 Behold,* you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are like doves. Beloved 16 Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; and our couch is verdant. Lover 17 The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are firs.
Song 1:12 my perfume spread its fragrance – the prayers of the saints are like an incense, (Rev 8:4); the saints are as a “sweet fragrance” (2 Cor 2:15).
Beloved 1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Lover 2 As a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. Beloved 3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, his fruit was sweet to my taste. 4 He brought me to the banquet hall. His banner over me is love.
Song 2:4 the banquet hall – this the banquet hall of wedding or engagement, referred to again in Song 3:11 which some translate as “the day of His espousals” – engagement. Origen, in his Third century commentary called this the banquet of the kingdom of heaven., referring to Matt 8:11.
5 Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples; for I am faint with love. 6 His left hand is under my head. His right hand embraces me. 7 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.
Song 2:7 Do not stir up, nor awaken love, until it pleases – the phrase that signifies the end of this section. Next is the Apostolic Church and the abomination of desolation.

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