2026.01.02 Hopewell @Home ▫ Song of Songs 3:6

Read Song of Songs 3:6

Questions from the Scripture text: What is the question in v6a? From where does she come? To what does v6b compare her? What does v6c–d add about her?  

What is the bride’s beauty? Song of Songs 3:6 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the bride’s beauty is the redemption, nearness, and likeness of the Bridegroom. 

When the church has been restored unto Christ through spiritual revival, as has just been described with a focus on His action (cf. 2:8–17) and then on her action (cf. 3:1–5), her true beauty shines forth. She is the object of v6, as made clear by the feminine singular of “this,” “coming,” and “perfumed.” As the crowd views the wedding processional, they exclaim about the bride and her beauty. There is no creature more beautiful than the church when spiritually healthy. How we should desire it!

Redeemed by Christ. The first part of the glory of the bride is that she is coming out of the wilderness (v6a). No more is she alone. No more is she beleaguered by dryness and death. No more does she wander. The Bridegroom has overcome those mountains of separation (cf. 2:8–9a, 17). His Word has stirred her to rise, and seek Him, and find Him (cf. 2:10, 2:13, 3:2–4). 

Drawn near to Christ. The second part of the bride’s glory is that she has drawn near to Christ. The pillars of smoke (v6b) have their reference to the rising smoke of the sacrifices, which were burned with fire (literally “smoke-ified”) so that they might ascend to God. The first great offering, called the “burnt offering” in our English versions, is literally “the ascension” in the original. There may also be reference here to the smoke of the incense altar, which would fill the tabernacle, and the Holy of Holies, specifically. But the reference to “columns” especially indicates the worshiper’s drawing near to God through the provided substitute. Here is a congregation’s great beauty, the church’s great beauty: she has drawn near to God in Him.

Conformed to Christ. The final part of the bride’s glory is that she is conformed to Christ. The myrrh and frankincense, with which she is perfumed (v6c) are a reference to the holy anointing oil and the holy incense. All of the powders of the merchants (v6d) cannot compare. In fact, Israel were not permitted to replicate the holy formulae. Now, it is not the tabernacle that is smelling of these, but the bride herself. She smells like her Bridegroom. She has been made like Him.

What makes the church beautiful? How are you pursuing that? How are you responding to it? What is your hope for it?

Sample prayer:  Lord, how beautiful is Your bride, when You revive and sanctify her! Grant our congregation renewed spiritual life and intimacy with Christ, so that His redemption, nearness, and likeness would richly beautify her. And, do this more widely, we pray, in all of Your churches. Beautify her, and give us an admiration for her beauty, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP87 “The LORD's Foundation” or TPH425 “How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place”