THE BRIDES RESPONSE TO THE 2-FOLD TEST.
(5:9-6:3)


5:9; What is your Beloved more than another beloved, O fairest among women? What is your Beloved more than another beloved, that you so charge us?

Fairest: Beautiful.

* Matthew 15:16; Who do you say I am? Jesus is telling His disciples they need to know Him, and to know Him in His true righteous attributes. At the end of the day when its just you and God, when no one is watching or listening, who do you believe Jesus to be? This is the most important question, it will define who you are, and shape the way you grow.

* In this case the immature church is stirred up for the truth, if God is really longing for a deep relationship with us than we must have it. The church is asking her why should we worship Jesus more than any other, which the answer will develop itself over the course of this section. ( Philippians 3:7-11) picture counting all things rubbish in comparison to Christ Jesus as you read through this section.



THE TRANSCENDENT BEAUTY OF JESUS.
(5:10-16)

THE BRIDES ANSWER TO WHO JESUS IS ABOVE ALL OTHERS.


5:10; My Beloved is white and ruddy, chief among ten thousand.
White and ruddy: Fully man, fully God.

Chief among ten thousand: King of kings, Lord of lords. A scepter of righteousness. Superior to all people.

* Jesus is fully man and fully God. (Romans 5:5; 6:7-14); Jesus has conquered the grave, He has risen, defeating the sting of death into eternal life. He is both fully divine and righteous. Yet Jesus is also a man! He has been through what we have, He understands our emotions and trials. He has felt what we feel. Jesus knows what it is like to walk and suffer with humanity. Therefore He has the right to die for humanity. He alone walked blameless, Jesus alone has the right to conquer death and to take the keys from satan. Jesus alone is the only one worthy enough to open the seals at the end of the age ( Revelation chapter 5).

* (Romans 6:7; He who has died has been freed from sin). So therefore pick up the cross of Christ and die daily that He might heal and perfect that which concerns Him. Declare victory over shame and condemnation, declare that there is no separation between you and this Christ ( Romans 8:37-39). Because the Lord lives, do not obey the lust of the flesh. Do not let sin reign in your mortal body ( Romans 8:6). Let the Father of life lead you to paths of the everlasting.


5:11; His head is like the finest gold, His locks are wavy, and black as a raven.

Head: His sovereignty, His perfect leadership over all humanity at all times forever and ever. Amen.

Finest gold: Highest divine nature.

Locks: His dedication to God and the church.

Black as a raven: Youthful zeal.

* God’s leadership is absolutely perfect in every way. There in no flaw. He has perfect zeal and perfect jealousy over His people. He will never leave nor forsake us. The Shulamite see’s this and love’s Him deeply for this. The Lord is Lord. I don’t have an answer for whether Calvin is right, but who is to say that Finney is right with full free will. The issue at hand is again; Who do you think Jesus is at the end of the day? No matter the theological debate, is He, in your heart the only one good and perfect leader that is flawless? He will save you ( Psalm 138:8); The Lord will perfect you in His glory. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul. Woe to the wicked on the Lord’s wedding day!




5:12; His eye’s are like doves. By the rivers of waters washed with milk, and fitly set.

Eye’s: His knowledge and discernment.

Dove’s: Gentle; Picture of the Holy Spirit.

By the rivers of waters washed with milk: Pure; Cleansed from the filth of the earth.

And fitly set: Jesus is a strong tower set on firm foundations.

* His knowledge is past finding out. He is the supreme ruler. He perfectly governs in righteousness. He is an all consuming fire, yet as gentle and humble as a dove. He has conquered death, He will redeem and make perfect his bride ( Psalm 138:8; Philippians 1:6).



5:13; His cheeks are like a bed of spices, banks of scented herbs. His lips are lilies; Dripping liquid myrrh.

Cheeks: Emotions.

Lips: His word.

Lilies: Purity.

Dripping liquid myrrh: Crucifixion of Christ.

* God is an emotional God. He created us to feel and sense Him to the fullness of our capacity. He wants us to experience and to partake in the fullness of Christ.

* He has given to us His word that we might learn to walk in the fullness and the authority of Christ Jesus. His word is sharper than any double edged sword, it cuts to the heart and pierces our reality. I ask the Lord daily for more faith to believe fully His word to the core of my soul that I might pertain to the blessing of the resurrection of life. I pray earnestly that I might feel what God feels, I want to know the emotions of God so that I might walk in the light of His countenance fully alive and fully in love.

* My prayer even now is that we could overcome the disbelief that holds us all back. Jesus really is the messiah, He really did go to the cross, He really did rise from the dead and conquer death. And He really is coming back with the fullness of His kingdom.



5:14; His hands are rods of gold set with beryl. His body is carved ivory inlaid with sapphires.

Hands: His divine activity.

Ivory: His patience and compassion.

His body: His tender compassion.

* The Lord’s omnipotence ( His power) is mighty. He is mighty to save. The Lord really is in control of the earth, and in His great mercies He comes to us and has compassion on us. He is patient and understanding, with compassion He holds back the wrath of God that we all rightfully deserve. It may take some time, but we can all clearly see the work of the Lord in our individual lives. The activities of God on the men and women of this earth are kind, merciful, and are altogether righteous and true.



5:15; His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of fine gold, His countenance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

Legs: His walk, and the purpose of His administration are holy and righteous.

Pillars: His strength and power.

Gold: His divine character.

His countenance: His appearance ( Psalms 4:6).

Lebanon: Strong, beautiful, rich and mighty.

Cedars: Tree; Strong, beautiful. Would have been the best available wood during that time.

* Oh to live in the revelation of how perfect Jesus’ divine character and authority is! He is good, and everything that He does is rooted in righteousness so that more good can flow from the springs of life. Jesus is strong and beautiful, perfect in all attributes. His appearance is more beautiful than the brightest sun. He is the most excellent of all things. We must not question the sovereignty of God. Everything He does is righteous and true.



5:16; His mouth is sweet. Yes, He is all together lovely, this is my Beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!

His mouth: His intimacy with us.

* The Shulamite, after proclaiming the righteous attributes of the God-man has this revelation; Jesus is altogether lovely. Jesus is our beloved friend, and everyone must see the goodness of God. He is full of forgiveness and compassion. His mercies are new every morning. Before the return of the Lord at His second coming the bride of Christ (church) will see Him as lovely.



The daughters response to her discourse of Jesus.


6:1; Where has your Beloved gone, O fairest among women? Where has your Beloved turned aside, that we may seek Him.

* The maturity and tenacity of the Shulamite caused her to come in to this season fully ravished and yearning for more of the affections of God. This grips the immature believers around her to yearn also. Oh that we would be gripped with the burden of the Lord. (John 1:35-40;John 3:29-31); He must increase in our lives so that the bride of Christ can come forth. Jesus has to become the number one thing in our lives. I have a co-worker who asked me the other day if Jesus was my best friend. Through the hardness of her heart, through the disbelief, she sincerely wants to know the truth. Jesus must shine through us, others are watching, they want to know the truth. Philippians 3:7-8; This must become the attitude we live by.



The Shulamites response and final thought.

6:2; My Beloved has gone to His garden, to the beds of spices, to feed His flock in the gardens, and to gather lilies.

Garden: Singular; Speaks of the world wide church, all filled with individual people.

Gardens: Plural; Church. The body of Christ as one.

Beds: Ground; Soil.

Spices: Different manifestations on the people of God. They vary from church to church, and from person to person.

Lilies: Singular; Speaks of the purity of individual believers. Jesus will gather the innocent to Himself.

* (Romans 8:28); God longs to pour out revival. The Shulamite has poured herself out as a laborer to contend for revival, her cry for the church(Ephesians 1:17-19). She has embraced a Joel 2:12-32 lifestyle, which is a guideline for us into revival, as well the promise of His spirit. The victory of the cross has prevailed over the wicked. He is going to pour out His spirit on those who stood firm in the foundations that He has set before us.

* This also shows that she recognizes that even though He has removed His manifest presence from her, He has not left nor forsaken her. This is a powerful revelation, to know that you are never alone.


6:3; I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine. He feeds His flock among the lilies.

Lilies: Purity; Individual believers covered by the blood of the Lamb.

* Again, we need a revelation of the perfect love of God over our lives. There is one church, one body. We all need to work together for the glory of God to be made manifest in our area of the world. Unity is key, at the end of the age the church will be of one mind and one accord. As well we will know that we are the Lord’s, and the Lord is ours.

My Final Thoughts:

I absolutely love her response in verses 5:10-16. As well as her display of her own emotions toward God. She also invites the immature church to walk along side her, she does not condemn them in any manner. Instead, she leads them and guides them to a place of their own personal longing for Jesus. God is just. My opinion on theology based around predestination and free will at the moment is inclusive. I am not settled on either side of the debate. However, I do know this; no matter what I think or you think, the end result is that God is all together righteous and true. His sovereignty is perfect, and He leads in mercy and loving kindness toward us. Jesus is sweet, pure, gentle and yet powerful. His words are like myrrh, which speaks of self death to this age, they speak eternal life.

MT. 16:15;
WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS???????