“His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.” (Song of Solomon 5:16)
This psalm was written by Solomon. It’s very poetic and lyrical in commending the love between a husband and a wife. Symbolically it represents the marriage of the church and Jesus.
In our verse of study, the mouth refers to the organ of speech, taste and kissing. There is no adulterous relationship that comes between the husband and wife. It is His mouth, her beloved’s, her friend’s and no other, that is sweet. His words are delightful to the bride. The bride has tasted of her husband, meaning she relished being with him, enjoying and taking pleasure in his presence. His kisses confirming their mutual love.
The Lord is our beloved. We belong to Him alone. His words are most sweet to His bride the church. He makes her holy and pure by the washing of His Word. “That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:26-27) Psalm 2:12 exhorts us to “kiss the Son.” Choose Him and fasten oneself to Him giving Him homage, adulation, worship and devotion. His presence is desired and pleasant. The church altogether says with Paul, “For to me to live is Christ...” (Philippians 1:21)
The bride sums up the description of her beloved to those with her by saying this is my beloved, my one and only love. And for us the church, Jesus is our beloved. The One we live for. (Philippians 1:21) There is only One Lord for us. “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)
To the bride, Her beloved is her friend, the one faithful to her. To the church Jesus is our friend Who has laid down His life for us. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you.” (John 15:13-15)
When Jesus spoke those words, He had not gone to the cross yet. After the resurrection Jesus no longer calls is disciples friends, but brethren. (Matthew 28:10, John 27:27) The adoption has become final. We are now family. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:15-17)
The bride introduced her beloved to the company of virgins with her. We introduce Jesus to the world. “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
It’s the bride, who sings the praises of her husband. So also the church, the bride of Christ, sings the praises of Jesus.
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