The Daughters of Jerusalem have called the Bride, “O thou fairest among women” (Song of Solomon 5:9; 6:1); and now in verse 6:9:

“The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.”

There is no hint of jealousy here, but only admiration. The Bride has been so beautified by Christ, by Him living in her; that the Daughters of Jerusalem, the queens and the concubines and the virgins can only praise her. There is no denying the beauty of one who is indwelt by Christ. This beauty is described so aptly in Song of Solomon 6:10.

“Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?”

The Morning

Notice the first section: “Who is she that looketh forth as the morning…” How does the morning look? First, it marks the beginning of a new day, “…the evening and the morning were the first day” (Genesis 1:5). It is the beginning of the first day of the rest of your life. It is new hopes, new beginnings:

“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalms 30:5)

“And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.” (2 Samuel 23:4)

When the Bride is prepared for full fellowship with the Beloved, she “looketh forth as the morning.” That is, she is ready for a new beginning of communion with Christ.

Secondly, the morning is the time of greatest growth for the plant world. And so it is for the Bride.

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” (Lamentations 3:22)

“They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:23)

The mercies of God are new every morning. The Bride, when prepared for full fellowship with Christ, has the look of mercy upon her. She was not consumed in the night, in the darkness; but brought through her “School of the Desert,” brought through her “Valley of Baca.” Therefore, the Bride shows joy and happiness, which is evidenced through praise.

“Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.” (Psalms 148:3)

The Bride now has the face of Praise upon her, for “great is thy faithfulness” (speaking of God’s faithfulness).

This leads us to our third point about the morning; it is a time of praise:

“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” (Psalms 55:17)

“But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.” (Psalms 59:16)

“To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,” (Psalms 92:2)

And lastly, the morning is a time of prayer:

“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” (Psalms 55:17)

The Bride “looketh forth as the morning”; showing in her face the Glory of God; being in His Presence in prayer in the morning.

The Moon

The second section of the verse is, “fair as the moon.”

Psalms 136:9 says, “The moon and stars to rule by night...” Isaiah 13:10d says, “…and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.” And in 1 Corinthians 15, verse 41b says, “… and another glory of the moon...” (Read Isaiah 30:26a; Jeremiah 31:35-36.)

The moon is the lesser light (Genesis 1:14-19). God created the moon to rule the night and the sun to rule the day; “…and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years” (Genesis 1:14).

This devotion is not offered as a science class; however, the scientists of this world say that the moon has no light in itself, but only reflects the light of the sun. But the Scriptures say differently (according to Psalms 136:9; Isaiah 13:10d; 30:26a).

In relation to the Bride as “fair (or as beautiful) as the moon”; on a clear night, the presence of the moon, hung out in space on nothing, stands as a witness to all of the Sovereign Rule of God – He rules by day and by night. And so the Bride of Christ, as the Church, rules in the midst of wickedness, depicted by the night. The moon, as well as the Church, reveals God has a Witness and a Rule, day and night.

The Church is the Dwelling Place of God on earth (Ephesians 3:21). She is the Pillar and Ground of Truth (1 Timothy 3:15). She is the Speaker System of the Gospel to the entire world (Acts 1:8), through the called Men of God (the Publishers).

As the night presents the beauty of the moon; so the wickedness of this world presents the beauty of the Church.

Therefore, the Daughters of Jerusalem, the queens and concubines and virgins, speak of the Bride, or the Church, as the Beauty of Hope in the midst of the night; that God has a witness in the night.

The Sun

The third section in our verse says the Bride is, “clear as the sun.” Read Genesis 1:14-19 and Jeremiah 31:35 as to the sun, as well as the moon. God called the sun, “… the greater light to rule the day…” (Genesis 1:16). The sun types out the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ. (See Malachi 1:11; 4:2; Matthew 17:2.)

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Psalms 84:11)

Christ is not only the Ruler of the Universe, but even the Ruler of His Body, the Church. It is in His Light that we see light (Psalms 27:1; 119:105; 139:12; Isaiah 2:5).

What the queens, the concubines, the virgins, and the Daughters of Jerusalem see in the Bride, is “clear as the sun.” That is, they see Christ, her Beloved, in her. She sends forth “the light,” or Christ, in her words and deeds.

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:14)

“Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” (Matthew 5:15)

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

These see the Bride’s good works, which cause them to glorify the “Father which is in heaven” (verse 16b-c).

An Army

And now we see the fourth section from our verse, “and terrible as an army with banners.”

When an army presents its banners, it is ready for recognition and for battle. The banners, or colors, or flags, reveal to whom their loyalty is; whether it be to a king, or a nation, or a state. It is her authority which the army represents; and the army is ready to fight for her and even die for her, if necessary.

The word “terrible” does not mean wicked; but awesome, mighty, strong; greatness in numbers and in strength.

So is the Bride of Christ in the Armour and Power of God. (See Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Philippians 4:13, 19.) Her Flag is the Atonement of Christ (Romans 3:24-25; 5:1-2). Her Power is in the Resurrection of Christ (Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Romans 6:4-22; 8:9-16). Her Security is in the Love of God (Romans 8:29-39; Ephesians 1:3-14), according to His Eternal Purpose in Christ.

The Daughters of Jerusalem, the queens, concubines, and virgins, see the Bride in Battle Array; in the Power and Victory of her Beloved, the Lamb of God; who has all power in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18); who has already defeated the devil (Hebrews 2:14), proven in His Resurrection (Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:1-22).

Therefore, His Bride stands in the same Victory (1 John 5:4).