Read Song of Songs 7:1–9a
Questions from the Scripture text: What does the Bridegroom praise (Song of Songs 7:1a)? What does He call her (verse 1b)? What does He praise in verse 1c–d? In what way? What two things does He praise in Song of Songs 7:2? In what manner? And what, in Song of Songs 7:3? In what manner? What does He praise in Song of Songs 7:4a? How? And in verse 4b–c? How? And in verse 4d–e? How? What does He praise in Song of Songs 7:5? In what manner? How does He summarize His praise in Song of Songs 7:6-7? And how does He describe His desire to delight in her (Song of Songs 7:8-9)?
How much does Jesus adore and enjoy the church? Song of Songs 7:1–9a prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord Jesus is captivated with delight in His bride.
Not only have His expressions praise of her, and desire for her, not diminished, but now we see that they have even greatly increased. She had praised Him from head to toe in Song of Songs 5:10–15, and now He literally mirrors it, praising her from feet to head in Song of Songs 7:1–5.
It is this composite that is the main force of the passage, but without becoming creative, we are to learn from some of the details of His adoration and affection.
Living by grace, Song of Songs 7:1. The feet and thighs are an obvious place to start, because He has just described her as dancing “the dance of the two camps.” Indeed, the word in Song of Songs 7:1a is more literally “steps,” and the curving in verse 1c may well refer to motion rather than shape (the word for “jewels” only appears in the singular elsewhere, and the plural here may also imply motion). The bride is lovely not only in herself, but especially in her actions. And we see two more beauties in these actions: her status (prince’s daughter, verse 1b) and their source (the work of the hands of a skillful workman, verse 1d). Her beauty is not her own; it comes by her royal (re!)birth, and it comes as the skillful work of Another. How beautiful is the work of the Spirit in those who are God’s children.
Means of grace, Song of Songs 7:2-3. Song of Songs 7:3 reprises Song of Songs 4:5, lacking that the twins feed among the lilies. But, taken with Song of Songs 7:3, the bride’s beauty in provision is much richer than nourishment. There is the wine for refreshment and celebration, and the wheat for energy and strength. And not just wine, but mixed/spiced wine (Song of Songs 7:2a–b). And not just wheat, but heaps of it, and adorned with lilies (verse 2c–d). She is equipped for all that the saints need, and she is beautiful in her provision of it. Of course, as with the wine and bread of the Lord’s Supper, the point is not the means of grace, but the Lord of grace Himself.
Guarded by grace, Song of Songs 7:4. He praises her preciousness and purity (white) by the ornamental tower of ivory in Song of Songs 7:4a. The purity and peace of her eyes has been communicated by the figure of a dove before, and the pools by the gate in verse 4b–c convey the same idea. The nose is another tower, keeping vigilant watch in the direction of Damascus (verse 4d–e). The implication is diligence against enemies, especially the greatest enemy of sin. Taken altogether, the images of verse 4 focus upon her purity and peace, maintained by watchfulness.
Adorned by grace, Song of Songs 7:5. Finally, the description arrives at her head and her hair. This part of her adornment has been compared twice to a flock of goats, must recently in Song of Songs 6:5. And on those occasions, we have noted that the true adornment represented here is modesty and good works (cf. 1 Timothy 2:9–10), and a gentle and quiet spirit (cf. 1 Peter 3:3–4). In this case, there is greatness and glory of this adornment, as indicated by the mountain and the purple.
Delighted in by the Groom, Song of Songs 7:6-9. The last thing He says about her tresses is that a king is held captive by them (Song of Songs 7:5c), and now the section concludes by His demonstrating that she has indeed captured His heart. He summarizes her as “fair and pleasant,” bringing together words that He has already used to describe her, but the image of the palm tree is brand new. He zooms out to take her in as a whole. The palm is tall, straight, and slender. Exalted dignity. And there is a focus here on the breasts, that by which she would nourish their children. The image is not meant to be physical or sensual, as he switches from twin gazelle babies to clusters of dates and clusters of grapes. The abundance of her provision for the saints is sweet to Him like dessert. He puts forth great effort (“taking hold of its branches” (Song of Songs 7:8b) means a climb to the top of the tree) to take delight in her ministry of teaching and praise—her breath (verse 8d) and her palate (Song of Songs 7:9a).
As the Bride, and members of her, it should be our delight to be delightful to Christ. God give us to live godly, attend upon His means in the church, be spiritually watchful, and adorned with modesty, gentleness, and good works.
What acts of obedience and service do you do, unto the delight of Jesus? What use do you make of the means of His grace? How do you maintain watchfulness for purity and peace? How is your life adorned by humility and gentleness?
Sample prayer: Lord, come and delight in Your bride. Delight in her feet, her movements that are the result of Your own skillful work. Delight in the nourishment that she provides—the pure milk of the Word, and the bread and wine of fellowship with Christ. Delight in her purity, like ivory, and her peacefulness like pools. Delight in her nourishing her offspring, and enjoy the sweets of her mouth. We are amazed that You, the all-glorious King would take such delight in us. Come, by Your Spirit, and make us to take delight in delighting You, we ask in Your Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP45B “Daughter, Incline Your Ear” or TPH403 “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”
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