Song of Solomon 4 THE BEAUTY OF THE BRIDE What a joy it is to have this description made by the bridegroom of the lover he has set his heart upon. To think that our Heavenly Bridegroom, our Lord Jesus Christ, looks upon the church, His bride, in such an intimate and descriptive way, takes our minds off the many failures we see in the church. The true church of God is made real and beautiful to us when we see it through our Lord’s eyes.
At our first reading, we may find ourselves looking at a scene that is too private and personal to speak of. Then when we take time to consider that fact that the Holy Spirit has arranged for this to be in this Holy Book at this place at the end of the poetic books and at the beginning of the prophecies of the future, we stop to wonder and worship. In spite of all the coming events that will be tragic and troubling, our Lord sees the beauty of His bride in the middle of all the turmoil – and rejoices! To Him, the bride He has purchased with His own blood, has every attribute He desires. He does not hesitate to tell her of His admiration of her unique features of personhood and perfection that fills His heart with love as he looks upon her with delight.
The dove is a clean bird that was able to be used as a sacrifice on the altar of God. The perfect proportions, the beauty and fullness of its outward appearance, the quiet tones of its peaceful coos, and the brightness of the full open eyes, set it apart among other feathered creatures. So, the Beloved begins with a general statement as to how His heart is moved by the beauty of His bride. Then with seven specific descriptions, beginning at the head, He extolls her beauty. He is not afraid or embarrassed to say what He means in most descriptive words and illustrations.
Looking at Him with love in her heart, He sees two beautiful dark eyes that fill her body with light. Expressive eyes can reveal a lot about a person. A smile on the lips doesn’t necessarily show in the eyes if the reality of joy isn’t there. A lie on the lips cannot be hidden by the eyes. Those who are responsible for upholding the law of the land are taught how to look at the eyes of people and form an opinion as to truth or falsehood. The chaste, quiet and harmless beauty, looking at her Beloved, has the ability to see through the windows to the soul that which is most important to her. She is looking at the Person she loves. When a dove is high in the sky, it can see its way to its home with an uncanny vision of the place to which it belongs. The true bride of Christ is not haughty, but is humble. It has a quietness and calmness that is not moved by the pressures and temptations of the world. She keeps her eyes on the Person to whom she is devoted in love and the place she can call home.
All the noise and fanfare, the drama and confusion of religious activities that accompany the counterfeit church does not attract those who are part of the true church. The focus of attention is on “Him who my soul loves,” not on all that is attractive to the worldly mindset of those who have left their first love and find themselves lukewarm toward the Savior. When our mind is “stayed on Thee,” our hearts affections are there also. In our Beloved is where we find our contentment, joy and meaning in life.
Enhancing the beauty of the face and eyes of the loved one, is the long, dark, glossy hair covering her head and surrounding her face like a frame enclosing the modesty of her person. Her hair is a glory to her. Not in the sense of personal pride, but in giving honor and dignity to her who is one committed to be obedient to the One she loves. Every long strand of beautiful hair, testifies to a blessing that has come to her because of her submission to the One whose affection for her is reflected in her glowing testimony of being separated unto Him alone. The fellowship and power of separation is the secret of holy communion between the church and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The perfection of her beautiful white teeth is a reminder of her maturity and purity in which she partakes of heavenly food that feeds her inward soul and strengthens her outward testimony of faith. There is an awareness, a consistency in the true bride that faith nourishes as it feeds on the word of God. There are no missing or broken teeth because of trying to partake of that which is not spiritual food. There are no stains cause by eating “sour grapes” that are often seen in a local church that is not truly representing the dispensational bride as it should. The evenness, balance and fruitfulness of the church as the Lord sees it, should give courage to press on in spite of the attractiveness of worldly fare.
The lips of red, and words that are “comely” and lovely, testify to the appreciation of the true church for the cross-work of our Lord Jesus Christ. The open public testimony to the redemption the church gives because “He made peace through the blood of His cross,” contrasts with the counterfeit other “gospels” that do not speak of the “precious blood of Christ” that “cleanseth us from all sin.” The language that comes from the lips of the true church is not the speech of the world. Words that comes from the Holy Spirit of God, are words of grace seasoned with salt.
Her forehead is framed by the glory of her modesty, and it indicates that her intelligence within is that of a meek and quiet spirit. An intelligent mind can color the outward appearance of a forehead when honored or embarrassed. One would need to be as close as the Beloved One to see the evidence of quiet grace when words of love are expressed and a look of affection focuses upon her and colors her forehead. She responds without a word, but with the tilt of her head and the color of her skin revealed her unspoken love and appreciation for her Beloved One. That is the inward adorning that is associated with modesty in the hidden heart of the true believer in the true church.
At first, we might wonder at the neck being describes as being like the “tower of David,” until we consider that to be a testimony to victory in Jesus. Trophies of battles won, hung on the tower of David for all to see. There in the open for all to see in the bride of Christ, are the trophies and weapons of His battle fought and victories won. Our Beloved has defeated sin, death and hell. He has triumphed in His life over all obstacles that have been raised against Him. In His death, He slew death by dying in His sinlessness and innocence. Death had no power over Him. In His resurrection, the grave and all that it claims, has only a short time to carry out its dark task. Put on display for all to see is the resurrected Lord Jesus. The church declares the Gospel and souls are saved who confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in their heart God raised Him from among the dead.
Those saved declare in baptism that when Christ died, I died. When He was buried, I was buried. When He rose from the dead, I rose to walk in newness of life. In the Lord’s Supper another shield of victory is hung for angels and people to see, that our Beloved Victor, is the Person to whom we gather. The victories of our Lord and Savior are extolled by His people every time they meet in local assemblies. All over the world, people in the true church honor our Beloved Lord Jesus Christ as the Mighty Conqueror.
The undivided affection of the true church is represented in the two perfect breasts of the lover. The moral beauty of the church is seen in His people as they grow and mature in affection for the Lord. The grace that demonstrates His mind toward those He loves, and their faith in His unfailing commitment, and unity of purpose, are evident in the true church. The bride and Bridegroom both find their joy in the same place where nourishment needed for love to grow together, joins in holy satisfaction to them both.
It is still night in this world, but the true church composed of children of the day, wait for the dawning of the new day when we will share fully the mountains of myrrh where He suffered to bring us to God, and the hill of frankincense that is full of sweetest blessings that comes to us as the result. The public occupation of the true church will always be the place where our Beloved suffered that He might give us the greatest of all possible blessings – eternal life as a gift, “through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The cost of purchasing His bride was high. The blessings as a result are beyond measure.
The descriptions of her beauty as the Beloved expresses how she appears to Him, now unfolds to her His love for her. To Him, she is “holy and without blame.” There is no spot or wrinkle. He takes her to the high places where she can see all that she will share with Him as “heirs of God and joints heirs” with Jesus. This is not the heights of Sinai where there is fear and condemnation, but to Amana where the grace of God and the purposes of God will be fulfilled. From the heights of Amana, the panorama of the promised land is open to her view, as together they look at the future they will eternally share. There are present dangers in the world, but He will keep her safe through them all.
His heart belongs to the one He has demonstrated His love for, “in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Such love for one who has cost Him so much will not fade away. A look of appreciation from her eye shows her love for Him. She wears with dignity and honor, all the evidences of His grace toward her. The words of her love for Him and the highest honors she can give Him are open for all to hear and see. What she has to give is all for Him. Her thoughts toward Him are as sweet to Him as honey as are His words and thoughts toward her. They are nourishing and sweet to the spirit. She is able to give to Him that which He first gave to her. That made it of highest value to her, and now of highest value to Him from her. The smell of the world is not on her, but rather the scent of His creative designs.
A garden is not a field, but is a place set apart for a specific person and specific purpose for the personal desire of the Beloved. The garden is a protected place. The spring of water like a fountain is for use in that chosen place to provide the grace that He shows, and produce what He wants. Even more, is an orchard of fruitful trees that produces holy satisfaction and blesses all who partake of its fruit. In that orchard here are also a wide variety of spices that enhances the flavor, texture and scent of all that is produced in that orchard. The true church has a strong but unrecognized influence on the whole world. Wherever a child of God is found, there is an influence for good and for God in that place. The lover is a springing fountain that brings joy and blessing to the Beloved One.
The north wind is often necessary to bring out the strength of character needed to fulfill the purpose of God. Without the cold and biting wind from difficulties the sweetness potentially contained in a fruit cannot be tasted. A frost-bitten apple has the sweetest flavor of them all. The most lasting scent of an herb comes from those that have been hard pressed. The warm south wind brings comfort. When the spirits of God’s people are calm, there is quiet rest. In the garden of the Lord providing, the Holy Spirit is able to provide the right amount of the cold of difficulties, and the quiet contentment that will produces the best results for the glory of God and the blessing of His people. How privileged we are to be in the true church that continues to grow, mature and bring lasting fruitfulness and satisfaction to our Lord and to His people.