Today I am sharing 8 virtues that God affirmed in His Bride, as set forth in Song of Solomon 4:1-8. I am still meditating and receiving my own revelation on these passages of scripture. So for this week, I am pulling almost entirely from Mike Bickle’s notes. His copyright is the right to copy. I would encourage you to visit his website for further study resources.
The Maiden is Affirmed.
Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove’s eyes behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats, Going down from Mount Gilead. 2 Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep Which have come up from the washing, Every one of which bears twins, And none is barren among them. 3 Your lips are like a strand of scarlet, And your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil Are like a piece of pomegranate. 4 Your neck is like the tower of David, Built for an armory, On which hang a thousand bucklers, All shields of mighty men. 5 Your two breasts are like two fawns, Twins of a gazelle, Which feed among the lilies.
Jesus prophetically affirms 8 “budding virtues” in the young Bride’s life. He equips us in our weakness by affirming these same virtues in us. The symbolism referenced here is developed throughout the Scripture.
Dove’s eyes: Eyes of single-minded devotion and revelation.
The eyes speak of spiritual insight. The apostle Paul speaks of having the “eyes of understanding”.
the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18)
Dove’s eyes speak of purity and loyalty. The Holy Spirit is pictured as a dove. A dove never mates again once its partner dies. They are known for their loyalty. Dove’s eyes can not focus on two things and has no peripheral vision. Thus, the Bride has a “single-minded focus” and seeks to see God with the eyes of understanding.
Hair like goats: Dedication to God.
The hair of a Nazirite was an outward sign of their consecration to God. Anyone who took a Nazirite vow was not permitted to cut their hair. Hair also speaks of the beauty of submission to God. Paul spoke of a woman’s hair as showing forth her glory and dedication to God’s authority.
But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. (1 Corinthians 1:15)
Her hair, or dedication, is the result of being well fed (on Scripture). The goats on Mount Gilead were abundantly fed. The Bride is well fed on the love of God and the Word of God.
Teeth like shorn sheep: Chewing the meat of the Word.
Teeth speak of the ability to chew on meat and receive nourishment. Infants have no teeth with which to chew meat. Thus, an immature believer in Christ cannot receive the meat of the Word. This virtue refers to the Bride’s ability to receive the meat of God’s Word. From an agricultural perspective, her teeth are strong, abundant and effective.
“To come up from the washing” speaks of being cleansed from dirt. As we eat the Word of God, our teeth are like sheep that came up from the washing. The Word washes us.
that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26)
“her teeth were like a flock of shorn sheep in which every one bore twins and none is barren.” Her ministry impact is fruitful without spiritual barrenness. By meditating on the Word of God, we keep our lives as clean as sheep who just emerged from the washing.
Lips like scarlet: Speech that is redemptive.
The scarlet strand pictures God’s redemption by the blood of Jesus. When the spies came to Jericho, Rahab placed the scarlet ribbon in her window to receive redemption.
“I accept your terms,” she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window. (Joshua 2:21-NLT)
Moses took the blood of calves with scarlet wool to sprinkle the people.
For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats,along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. (Hebrews 9:19 – NLT)
The Bride’s words are as scarlet, bringing redemption to others.
Kisses of the mouth: Intimacy with God.
In Song 1:2, the mouth was referred to in the context of His mouth which refers to intimacy with God.
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—For your love is better than wine. (Song 1:2)
Our communion with Jesus is lovely to Him. In the Song of Solomon, the lips speak of speech as the mouth speaks of intimacy. When we give our love to Jesus, it often seems weak. But God declares that even in our immaturity, it is lovely to Him. The Lord delights in our communion with Him.
Veiled temples: Emotions impacted by the grace of God.
The temples (cheeks/countenance) reveal a person’s emotions. Our emotions are expressed by our countenance or cheeks. We can see anger, joy, gladness and sadness on the checks or countenance. They are windows into our emotions.
The Maiden’s godly emotions were like a piece of sweet pomegranate. They were sweet to God. The pomegranate was a common fruit in Israel. They were also represented on the gown of the high priest or on the ephod. When pomogranate’s are broken, they are red. Red speaks of modesty, or her inclination for blushing in the presence of shameful things. A red countenance speaks of one’s sensitivity to shameful things (red from blushing). Behind her veil speaks of her hidden life in God as being modest. It is genuine and not just a show. There is a hidden life of modesty and tenderness.
Neck like David’s tower: Setting our will to obey God.
In Scripture, the neck often refers to the will that can be stiff necked (resistant) or submissive. When one put his foot on the neck of a conquered enemy, it symbolized their submission. The Bride’s will is like the heart of David who set his heart steadfastly before God. David’s towers were strong and high to make them effective in defending the city of Jerusalem. Her choices were strong like the tower of David.
Breasts like fawns: The power to edify and nurture others.
Breasts speak of nurturing others as mothers nourish their babies. Fawns are youthful animals. “Her breasts are like two fawns which are twins” — this speaks of a double portion, or the double ability to nurture others in giving them the milk of the Word. “Breasts like fawns” speak of the milk of a young mother that does not run dry.
The Maiden’s ministry is likened to fawns which feed among the lilies which speak of purity. He promised to make her an ornament of silver or to equip her in ministry.
How lovely are your cheeks; your earrings set them afire! How lovely is your neck, enhanced by a string of jewels. (Song 1:10)
Next week we will finish Chapter 4 as we look at the Bride’s commitment to spiritual maturity and her call to spiritual warfare.
I would love for you to link up a post and share your thoughts on this passage of scripture. You can link up any time between now and Saturday. If you don’t have a post, feel free to leave your comments below.
