Our devotional study of the Song of Solomon has not been a normal exegesis, in that it is not a phrase by phrase, word by word study. But, rather it is a devotional style study. In this type of study, only selected verses are used. In studying chapter four of Song of Solomon, the key thoughts are the Beloved’s description of the beauty of his Love, his Bride, both physically and spiritually. He describes her outer appearance and the condition of her inner man.

The premise statement by the Beloved of his Love is, “Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes” (1:15; 2:10, 13; 4:1). Now, the Beloved adds to this premise statement by giving detailed statements concerning his Love’s physical characteristics, such as her eyes, her hair, her teeth, her lips, her speech, her temples, her neck, and her breasts.

The Beloved’s Reflection

In verse 7, he repeats his premise statement again:

“Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.” (Song of Solomon 4:7)

However, we see that he now adds two thoughts. First, he says, “all fair,” suggesting all of her, without exception; all of her outer physical attributes are fair.

He also adds “there is no spot in thee.” Now he is looking to her inner man, her inner person. He is looking at her soul and her spirit; at her personality traits; etc. The inner person and its condition is the most important part of an individual.

In a spiritual sense, Christ is very plain in describing His Bride’s inner condition. He first describes her inner condition as His Dwelling Place. He is in her spirit as a result of regeneration. (See Romans 8:1-16; Galatians 4:1-7; 1 Corinthians 3:16, etc.) Because of this, she is perfect (1 John 3:2-3, 6, 7, 9, 24). In other words, His Bride has become Christ’s Dwelling Place; and since Christ dwells in her spirit, she is viewed as perfect. He sees His own Reflection; His Love, Grace, Mercy, Righteousness, and Holiness.

The second view of His Bride is seen in the process of sanctification. His Bride is “in Christ”; and “There is therefore now no condemnation (or spot) to them which are in Christ Jesus...” (Romans 8:1), to those who are born from above. For they are a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17); they have been raised from the dead to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4). Their “old man” has been crucified (Romans 6:7-11); which means the law of sin and death does not rule that person any longer (Romans 8:2; 6:11-14).

However, as long as a person is in this life, there is still a war between his flesh (his soul) and his spirit (Galatians 5:17). The reason is because in His Born-from-Above Children (even though the “old man” has been crucified; even though the saved man is no longer ruled by the flesh, or the “old man”), the “old man” continues to try to deceive the “new man” as long as the saved man is in this life (Romans 7:15-25).

All the Apostles’ writings, even after Pentecost (Acts 2:1-), are filled with exhortations to put off the “old man” and put on the “new man” (Ephesians 4:17-25; Colossians 3:1-25); and not to yield to the ways of the “old man” (Romans 6:6-22). The command is to walk in love (even as Christ walked); and His Love will be perfected in the Believer (1 John 2:4-6; 3:11-24; 4:7-21; John 13:34-35).

Notice some of the Apostles’ exhortations to holiness for the body and spirit: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 9:24-27; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 1:14-16 (which is a call to holiness); 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23 (printed below); 1 Peter 4:1-4; 2 Peter 3:14, 17-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 5:1-33; Colossians 3:1-25; Jude 19-25.

“Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22-23)

Therefore, the Beloved in Song of Solomon 4:7 (a type of Christ, our Beloved) can say of his Bride (a type of Christ’s Bride, the Church):

“Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.”

Yes, in Christ, there is no spot. But in the flesh, there is a progressive perfection taking place daily. This process is carried out through chastisements (Hebrews 12:5-11) and confession (1 John 1:9); through the Spirit teaching God’s Way of Holiness and Peace, and giving Revelation of the same, and giving the Power to Perform the Truth (Philippians 4:13, 19; 1 John 2:20, 27; John 16:13-15); through a washing of the Word (Ephesians 5:27); and a daily dying of self.

So, as the Bride reads and studies God’s Word; surrenders to God; submits to His Word; followed by obedience to His revealed will; and endures in the same – then the regenerated person is daily conformed to the Image of Christ (Romans 8:29-30); as he is brought into His Unity to behold the Glory of God (John 17:21-24). Then he learns to live his life in Christ’s Life, that lives in him (Romans 5:10, 17; Galatians 2:20).