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Day 144: Virtues of the Maturing Bride (SoS 4:1)

Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove’s eyes behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats, Going down from Mount Gilead. (Song of Songs 4:1)

After the bride describes the wedding procession and invites the daughters of Zion to behold Solomon in his crown and witness the wedding procession, this chapter begins with the Beloved praising her beauty. Just like he did in SoS 1:15, he uses the word behold twice and emphasizes her fairness twice too. In his eyes, she was perfect and free from blemishes.

Each believer in Christ is perfect and blame-free before Jesus, regardless of what they are or do. No matter our imperfections and struggles, Christ never ceases to see the beauty and purity He purchased by His blood in us.

The Beloved did not hold back on opportunities to affirm the Bride's beauty. From verses 1-5 of this chapter, he describes seven features of the bride that represent the seven budding virtues of a maturing believer.

The appearance and improvement of these virtues reveal progress in intimacy with Jesus day in and day out.

Let's examine the first compliment given by the Beloved:

  1. She had doves' eyes behind her veil.

In Lessons 73 and 74, we explained that doves' eyes refer to single-eyed, undistracted devotion to Christ our Beloved. It is derived from doves' eyes, which can only focus on one object at a time. They have no peripheral vision and because of their love and dedication to their mates, they only focus on them. This is so much so, that they move and do all things in sync.

The Beloved adds to his compliment in SoS 1:15 this time by saying that these beautiful doves' eyes are behind a veil. This alludes to two things.

a. It represents our private/hidden life only seen by our Beloved.

In Lesson 19 we explained that every believer is like a Jewish betrothed woman in ancient times. She had to be veiled in public as a sign of her commitment to her husband-to-be. She was only unveiled in the presence of her groom and close family members. So, while many could not see her eyes, the Beloved could see beyond what was visible to them. He knew her without barriers.

Our single-eyed undistracted devotion should not be just for show, it should be about who we are when no one is looking. Our hearts should be as dedicated to and focused on Jesus as our visible actions portray.

Jesus must be our only focus whether in our closets or in the presence of multitudes, before kings or beggars, friends or adversaries. He must be our only source of comfort and strength in both good and bad times and in both pleasant and difficult seasons.

b. It alludes to the Bride's humility.

God said about Moses in Numbers 12:6-8:

...If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord...

Yet God's Spirit inspired Moses to write about himself in Numbers 12:3:

Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.

Exodus 34 tells us that Moses veiled his face when he realized that Aaron and all of Israel were afraid. This is because his face shone with God's glory. Every time he went into God's presence, however, he removed the veil so his Beloved could see his doves' eyes behind the veil.

Moses' veiled face allowed him to interact with God's people as he carried out his God-given assignment. It was an action solely for the people. He was not pleased that God's people were afraid of their God instead of reverencing him.

The veil did not diminish his vital experience and the results and benefits of his chamber experiences with God. In humility, he chose not just to boast but rather show them the God he knew by the mighty acts God did through Him.

To us, the veil represents spiritual insight behind a covering. Taking care not to divulge everything that has been revealed. Our intimacy with Christ and the revelation knowledge we experience as a result are not for bragging rights. They help us be more like Christ and carry out our God-ordained purposes.

We see an example of this with Paul in 2 Corinthians 11 and 12. He concealed many of his ministerial achievements and revelations received due to his intimacy with Jesus. This was because his goal was not to boast or be seen as important and exalted before men. Instead, he wanted to bring others into a vital relationship with God.

As we mature in intimacy with Jesus, our private lives must match our public lives and we must guard against pride and vain glory. The knowledge of God is not for bragging rights. As we grow in grace, we must grow in humility.

PRAY WITH ME:

My Beloved Jesus, I believe I am perfect and without blemish in Your sight. As I mature in faith and intimacy with You, grant me the grace to remain disciplined and committed in my devotion to You and to never be puffed up by the knowledge of You. Amen.

REFLECT & ACT:

  • Read 2 Corinthians 10-12 and meditate on 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 in different Bible translations.

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