Skip to main content

Day 147: Virtues of the Maturing Bride 4 (SoS 4:3a)

 Your lips are like a strand of scarlet, And your mouth is lovely. Your temples behind your veil Are like a piece of pomegranate. (Song of Songs 4:3)

In the last few lessons, we have looked at the first three virtues of the maturing Bride of Christ. Today we examine the fourth represented by the complement of the Bride's lips.

The word lips in this scripture does not only refer to a part of the body. It more specifically means a person's speech, language, talk, or words. So more appropriately the Bride's words are said to be like a strand of scarlet thread.

Scarlet is a reddish hue obtained from a dye derived from a certain worm. It is mentioned many times in the Bible. Its symbolism varies from time to time. Sometimes it is used to describe sin, symbolize wealth, or symbolize Jesus' blood. It is a very vibrant and attractive color mostly worn by the military and nobles in ancient times.

The most significant mention of scarlet is its use in the temple. Scholars say it represents Jesus' blood shed for us. It should be noted that our text refers specifically to the Bride's speech as not just scarlet in color but a scarlet thread.

The most significant mention of the scarlet thread in the Bible is in Joshua 2. Rahab after concealing the spies during their mission to Jericho, was told to scarlet thread on her window. This was so that she and her family could be spared when the Lord delivered Jericho to Israel. As promised, when the time came, Israel wiped out all of Jericho except Rahab and all who were in her house at the time of the invasion. This same Rahab who was not just a gentile but a prostitute was grafted not only into God's people but also into the lineage of Jesus the Messiah.

The scarlet thread, therefore, is a symbol of grace, redemption, and mercy. Its color represents the blood that redeemed us and granted us salvation by God's grace. The Beloved commented on the Bride's beautiful speech. Paul in Ephesians 4:29 says:

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

In Colossians 4:6 (TPT), he said:

Let every word you speak be drenched with grace and tempered with truth and clarity. For then you will be prepared to give a respectful answer to anyone who asks about your faith.

The Message Translation of this verse says:

Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.

And in Ephesians 5:4, he said:

Guard your speech. Forsake obscenities and worthless insults; these are nonsensical words that bring disgrace and are unnecessary. Instead, let worship fill your heart and spill out in your words.

When Isaiah met the Lord in Isaiah 6, the angel of the Lord touched his lips with coals of fire to purify them. Our lips as we mature are purified by the blood of Jesus so that our speech may offer the grace of God (His redemptive power) to all who listen to us.

James in James 1:26 (TPT) says:

If someone believes they have a relationship with God but fails to guard his words then his heart is drifting away and his religion is shallow and empty.

Speech is one of the most critical and glaring indicators of our maturity. The more we mature in intimacy with Jesus, the more control we have over our tongues and the more graceful our words are. We must learn to not speak condemning or degrading words.

Pastor Bill Johnson once said:

Many people speak to vent instead of speaking to redeem.

Times of emotional highs and times when we are hurt, are when we should exercise the most caution with our words. Those are the times we are most likely to lose control of our tongues. Jesus on the cross did not curse those who crucified Him. Rather, He asked the Father to forgive them. Men must be able to testify alongside our Beloved that our speech is beautiful, graceful, and full of life-giving words.

PRAY WITH ME:

Dear Lord, I ask that you purify my lips and fill my mouth with graceful words. I make a decision today to never speak degrading and condemning words to men created in the image of God just like me. I speak graceful and edifying words at all times. Help me dear Holy Spirit to stand by this decision. Amen.

REFLECT & ACT:

  • Evaluate your words. Do you always speak graceful and edifying words (especially in times of emotional highs)?
  • Throughout today, meditate on and confess James 1:19 (Amplified Version):

Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]; 

Comments

Post a Comment

What do you think about today's lesson? Please share something you learnt.

Popular posts from this blog

Day 153: To the Hill of Frankincense (SoS 4:6)

Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. (Song of Songs 4:6) Right after the Bride mentioned the mountain of myrrh she mentioned the hill of frankincense too. In SoS 2, Jesus bound over mountains and hills. In the same way, we will also not only go over mountains but also hills. Hills though smaller than mountains are equally significant.  Frankincense as previously spoken about in Lesson 133 represents worship. Its two most significant mentions in the Bible are as incense offered to God and as a gift given to Jesus at His birth. The hill of frankincense depicts a life lived as worship to God. It represents embracing every opportunity and difficulty with the intention of glorifying God no matter what. The hill of frankincense is evident in the day-to-day challenges and choices we face as believers.  After Saul disobeyed God's command in 1 Samuel 15, Samuel said to him in verse 22: ...“What is more ple
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 152: To the Mountain of Myrrh (SoS 4:6)

Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. (Song of Songs 4:6) In the previous lesson, we began to examine the Bride's response to the Beloved's seven-fold compliment. We discussed how she finally gave a positive reply to a request he had previously tendered in SoS 2:17. We examined a part of her response, and now let's explore the next part: ...I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. We have mentioned a couple of times in this series that myrrh is a burial spice. Its mention in the Bible often signifies death and sacrifice. It was one of the spices presented to Jesus at His birth and was also used to prepare Him for burial. In the same way that Jesus embraced death on the cross, the Bride goes to the mountain of myrrh embracing death to self. She knows resolute obedience will cost her that. Jesus said in Luke 14:27: ...whoever does not bear his cr
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 42: Beyond Appearance (SoS 1:5b)

" I am dark, but lovely, o daughters of Jerusalem , like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon." Song of Songs 1:5 There is a very important reason this statement in verse 5 was directed to the daughters of Jerusalem, not to the King, and not even to herself. Other believers are often observers and spectators of our growth in intimacy with Jesus. We must remember the statement I am dark but lovely is a product of an encounter not just a beautiful statement. It elevates how Jesus sees us above how we ourselves or the world sees us. Many times, the people around us only see that which is external. So she directs her speech to fellow maidens (believers), the daughters of Jerusalem, who perhaps do not see as the King sees. In our Christian journey, we probably will make decisions or take actions that will make our imperfections glaring to all. We may be ridiculed, insulted, looked down on, or misunderstood by even those of the household of faith, but we must remember
Post a Comment
Read more