Divine Affection!

Part 5 of 5

As we conclude this study of the progression of bridal passion, we will see the last method that Jesus apparently uses to win and woo the Shulamite woman to a place of deeper intimacy and devotion. As we behold what happens in her life, we can discern God's dealings with us as well.

We have previously seen how the Lord Jesus uses judgment, dealings, trials, and a glimpse of His glory in order to secure the responsive willingness of His emerging bride. He wants a conscious and willing "yes!", not a forced submission. And these are the means by which the heart of man is fully won: "We love him, because he first loved us" (1 Jn 4:19). These are the means by which God's people "shall be willing in the day of thy power" (Ps 110:3).

Finally, Jesus reveals His great affections for her. He more forcefully opens her eyes to the intense passion that He possesses and directs toward her. As we will see, such a revelation left the Shulamite utterly overwhelmed. In fact, most scholars agree that she actually interrupts the Lord's loving discourse and shouts, "I WILL get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense" (Song 4:6)! What a powerful effect of the revelation of God's affection! The praise of Jesus Christ, unlike that of the world, hurts not, but edifies; as His, not ours, is the glory (Jn 5:44; Rev 4:10-11). He is praising those attributes that are being worked into her life and character. She is changing via His comliness that He has put upon her: "And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD" (Ezek 16:14).

Do you know how He really feels about you? If we truly did possess this understanding, then I can assure you the corporate church would be in a far different place. But instead it can too often be said, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." (Hos 4:6).

Let's see these loving proclamations that are pronounced over the Shulamite:

"Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them. Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks. Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense" (Song 4:1-6).

What beautiful language, and what even more beautiful meaning that this language possesses!

- "thou hast dove's eyes within thy locks" (vs. 1): Here the Lord pronounces her faithfulness and her perpetual loving attachment. Doves mate for life; Once they've found a mate, there is no turning back! Also, despite the fact that a dove has 300 degree peripheral vision, they are only able to focus on one object at a time. Therefore, to say that she has doves' eyes is to recognize her devotion to God in spite of all other loves that may pull at her. No matter who or what demands her affection, Jesus has her heart (Ps 27:4)! How wonderful that God recognizes her progressing sold-out devotion.

- "thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead" (vs. 1): This references the Nazarite vow, whose hair marked his subjection and separation unto God (Num 6:1-5). For Samson, his hair was symbolic of his strength (Jdgs 16:17).

- "Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them" (vs. 2): In Scripture, teeth are representative of one's devouring power. Constantly, the "teeth" of the righteous are contrasted from the "teeth" of the wicked. Do we hungrily devour the Word of God, or do we cruelly devour our neighbor? For the righteous, faith is the tooth by which we eat the living bread (Jn 6:35; 54). However, for the wicked, their teeth are used solely to devour and destroy: "There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men" (Prov 30:14). In the end, however, these very teeth shall gnash (Matt 25:30)! How beautiful therefore, that the "teeth" of the Shulmite woman are likened to "a flock of sheep that are shorn, which came up from the washing... and none is barren". The comparison appears to be founded on the evenness, neatness, and whiteness of the newly shorn and newly washed sheep. What a contrast to the "teeth" of the wicked! The bride devotes herself to chewing on and practicing the Word of God, and is therefore never to be barren: "...Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Pet 1:5-8).

- "Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely" (vs. 3): It's interesting that the color of her lips is described. They are scarlet. Of course this represents the blood of Jesus, but it also acts as a contrast from the leper's white lips, which are typical of sin and uncleanness (Lev 13:45). Her lips represent her testimony (Ps 63:5; Exod 6:12; Ps 12:2-3; 51:15; Prov 10:21; etc). What a compliment therefore, that the Shulamite's testimony is one of the blood of Jesus cleansing from the leprous power of sin (Isa 6:5-9); only His blood can unseal the lips (Isa 57:19; Hos 14:2; Heb 13:15). Only He can form comely speech in the mouth of a sinner!

- "thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks" (vs. 3): The temples are the seat of shamefacedness. To be the color of pomegranate references her blushing. As we see in Ezra, to blush at sin is a sign of true godly penitence and contriteness: "And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens" (Ezra 9:6). What a humble and precious heart the Shulamite must have possessed! She is the direct polar opposite of those who refuse to be ashamed at sin: "Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed" (Jer 3:3).

- "Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men" (vs. 4): All throughout Scripture, the "neck" is symbolic of man's will; The neck carries the head, and turns it wherever it wants. The Shulamite's neck is described in beautiful relation to the blushing temples just mentioned (Song 4:3). It isn't "stiff" (Isa 48:4; Acts 7:51), as that of the unbroken nature; nor is it "stretched forth" blatantly (Isa 3:16). It isn't burdened with the legal yoke either (Lam 1:14; Acts 15:10); but is erect in gospel freedom (Isa 52:2). Her neck is graced with victories that have been won on her behalf: "when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils" (Lk 11:22).

- "Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies" (vs. 5): Symbolically speaking, her breasts refer to her love, affection and nourishing ability (Exod 29:26-27; Job 24:9; Isa 60:16; Jn 13:25; 21:20). Simply said, King Jesus is able to come to her and receive love and adoration! He is able to partake of her love and be satisfied! This, in my opinion, is the greatest compliment yet! She truly is His garden wherein He delights to feed (Song 4:12)! He is her portion, but she is also His! Such a revelation of divine affection surely must have stopped her in her tracks! "Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love" (Prov 5:18-19).

How obvious then, the reason why the Shulamite woman was so overwhelmed! The very God of the universe is absolutely infatuated with her! No wonder she is enabled now, by the grace of God, to go deeper, higher, and further with Jesus! Friend, the same is so with you and I.. these truths will enable us and propel us onward and upward toward the finish line (1 Cor 9:24)! These truths are so essential! The world is waiting; the church is waiting! May we all possess a similar reaction to the exposed heart of God.. May we too respond with such a sincere resounding yes! Reader, it is no coincidence that directly after this passionate proclamation by the Shulamite woman is the first time she is called "spouse" (Song 4:7)! No longer is she simply "fair" (Song 1:15), but now she is called "ALL fair" (Song 4:7). Surely, "His wife hath made herself ready" (Rev 19:7)!