Beginning in Song of Solomon 6:4, going through 7:9, the Beloved gives a beautiful physical description of his Bride. He begins his description by saying “Thou art beautiful, O my love.” Then he proceeds to describe her body parts (eyes, teeth, temples, feet, thighs, navel, belly, breasts, neck, head, hair, stature, mouth). Second, he describes her select position (dove, undefiled, but one); which places her above all others to him (6:8-9). Third he notes the praise of the Daughters of Jerusalem (6:9c-10; 5:9b). And fourth, he speaks of how her fairness and her pleasantness brought him great “delights” (verse 7:6b).

All of this points in a spiritual sense to Christ describing His Beauty living in His Bride. Paul makes known in many Scriptures (Romans 8; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27; Ephesians 2:20-22; 3:21; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; etc.), that His Temple, or Dwelling Place on earth, is in His Church, which is His Body, which is His Bride.

Therefore, what the Beloved (Christ) is describing are His own Attributes of Holiness and Righteousness living in His Bride, the Church. This highly figurative language, as describing the physical attributes of the Bride, also has a spiritual application. Study Song of Solomon 6:4 – 7:9, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal this spiritual application to you. I am going to forgo for now writing any devotional material on these verses dealing with the description of His Bride’s beauty using her body parts.

However, I will speak on the second part of his description, her select position; the third part, the praise of the Daughters of Jerusalem; the fourth part, her fairness and her pleasantness, which bring Him great delight; and also the response of the Bride upon learning of her Beloved’s description of His Beauty in her.

The Selection of Preeminence

First, note the description of the classes (or groups) of the saved in verse 8:

“There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.” (Song of Solomon 6:8)

The thing to note here is the different groups, or classes, as seen by the different positions. A queen is above a concubine. (Both are wives, but they have different positions.) “Virgins” denote those not married, but selected for marriage.

When an expositor begins a true exegesis of any Scripture, he must use the Bible as his commentary to define the words within the verse of Scripture. He must not use some private interpretation.

Therefore, queens and concubines are easily defined in Scripture as being married to the king, or at least in a married position. (See Solomon’s wives, “And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines…” (1 Kings 11:3).) Virgins can be defined, as found in the Book of Esther, as those chosen to be presented to a king for selection and marriage, if he approves.

However, in the spiritual, it is more difficult to relate this to Christ. These three positions are all within His Marriage, they are all in the Body of Christ. But evidently these different levels, or positions, are answered in the thirty-folders, sixty-folders, and hundred-folders of the “good ground” (Matthew 13:8).

So it was within the Apostles of Christ. There were twelve Apostles, and yet there were definite and distinct levels among them. Some of them, God used to write the Four Gospels (Matthew and John). Some wrote Epistles that are included in the Scriptures (Peter, James, Jude, and John). But others are barely mentioned in the Scriptures.

Also, in many instances, Christ made a distinction with Peter, James, and John (the Inner Three), separating them from the other Apostles. Even in the Old Testament, God made a distinction between Abel and Cain; the Inhabitants and Noah; Lot and Abraham; Ishmael and Isaac; Esau and Jacob; Jacob’s sons and Joseph; Egypt and Israel; the Wilderness Dwellers and the Canaan Possessors; even Israel and the Church.

The difference is not the unsaved and the saved; but is instead the unprofitable and the profitable servants of God. Christ said the servants that do all they are commanded are still “unprofitable” (Luke 17:10). God divorced Israel (saved, but unprofitable); and married the Church, “…a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matthew 21:43).

The difference is also seen in the Birthright of the Old Testament, wherein the firstborn was in the position to: have the rank of priority; be the priest of the family; and receive a double portion of the father’s inheritance. But in each example given above of the firstborn, such as Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob, Israel and the Church – the firstborn lost their position to the next in line. The Covenant of God was confirmed to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. The Church is the Church of the Firstborn (Christ). The first Adam failed (1 Corinthians 15:21-22). But the Second Adam (Christ) succeeded. Christ stands as the Firstborn; and we that are in His Body are the Church of The Firstborn (Colossians 1:18-22).

In Song of Solomon 6:9, this is brought to light by revealing the top position in the Bride’s posture:

“My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her.”

In Song of Solomon 5:2, Christ calls His Bride, “my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled.” In Song of Solomon 4:9-10, Christ calls her “my sister, my spouse.”

This evidently is expressive of the profitable servants of Christ; those ordained to be the Peter, James, and John; the Inner Three to Christ. (See Matthew 17:1-6; John 12:1-; etc.) In the confines of the Church, this top position is held, not by the popular ones, maybe not even by the leaders; but by those who have completely sold out their entire beings (body, soul, and spirit) to Christ. “Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8). No questions asked; not where, when, how, etc. No excuses put forth, no limitation on the commitment. Only “God, I am yours to do whatever you please in me and with me. I totally surrender my all to You.”

The writer of the Song of Solomon expressed this position as one of supreme beauty:

“Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.” (Song of Solomon 6:4)

“…The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.” (Song of Solomon 6:9b)

“Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?” (Song of Solomon 6:10)

Therefore, in conclusion to “The Selection of Preeminence,” this action of the Beloved (Christ) is totally a Sovereign Selection within a Selection, according to God’s Eternal Purpose in Christ.

It is not for us to try to figure God out, as to the who, what, and why of His Choice. That is God’s business.

But what is our business is to note that this position does exist. Those in this position will be admired by Christ and by the other classes, or levels, within the Church. No one can judge another as to their position to Christ, because of the process of Sanctification.

The fact is, all of God’s Church is in a process of growth, from one level to another, day by day. Some have just begun the race; while others have come to the middle or the end of Maturity and Perfection.

Therefore you may see a beginner and say, he or she will never make it. But 20 years down the road, he or she may be a completely different Child of God in their Attitude, Actions, and Attire. So be careful in your judgment of others as to who they are.

The key here is the word, “Faithfulness.” I am not to be concerned with God’s Sovereignty, but with who I am in Christ. My responsibility is to surrender to God; submit to His Word; obey His Word; and endure in His Calling according to His Instructions. That is, to be all I can be in Christ and to be found faithful.

Don’t be worried or upset about another man in Christ; God is and will develop him as He has planned. He is continuing to do so in him; and even now in you.

Be encouraged Pilgrim.

(Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 9:24-27; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 10:3-5; Ephesians 4:1-32; 5:1-33; 6:1-18; Colossians 3:1-25; etc.; as well as the verses printed below.)

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1)

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

“For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Hebrews 12:3)

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” (Philippians 3:7)

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” (Philippians 3:8)

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” (Philippians 3:9)

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” (Philippians 3:10)

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” (Philippians 3:11)

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12)

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” (Philippians 3:13)

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

“And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,” (Romans 9:23)

“Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” (Romans 9:24)

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,” (Ephesians 4:17)

“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:” (Ephesians 4:18)

“Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” (Ephesians 4:19)

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:21)

“And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:” (John 17:22)

“I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:23)

“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24)

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4)