Visage

Song of Solomon 5:13-16

His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.

Here we see that there is a space between what you knew and what you are. This is why he is the God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow in Hebrews 13:8. These change as do we with them. Not so with him. Now, here is all the sweet sexual energy most of you have craved. Some of you might be reading "dropping sweet smelling myrrh" and saying to yourself, 'that does not sound very hot.' Others who know what Solomon is going through may be saying' 'it doesn't feel very hot;' then those of you who are a spouse like the Song know it is. Oooh, he just does something to her that makes her mad for him. How many of you know people who find themselves so in love that they would commit all sorts of crimes for it. Such is not the case here. The Song does not take her love out on the daughters of Zion, nor does she do so to her absent beloved. I know, some of you are saying, 'but he is not here now.' Oh dear, whatever shall she do. That is exactly why your spouse should be as close to you as your own self. Even when they are gone, you can still feel them as if they were still with you. Long ago in Luke 24:30-32, the disciples on the road to Emmaus found their hearts burning within them. A strange man came to tell them all things as they walked along that day. See, God is working all things out. Just give him some time and patience to grow as you should. The point Jesus tried to make here, that so many have missed, is that death was never meant as a goodbye. Herein is the truth of the ages, the point of the gospels. Such is the hidden spice of the Spirit; these are also as the Spirit ties which the Song and her Solomon now share. Here she says, even as dead as the common image of the skull with flowers growing from it, she would still be attracted to his spirit. His cheeks and lips to her are almost sacred. Now I am sure I will not get to Heaven kissing my husband. But you cannot find it without Jesus. How many of you know that he is the best guide in all the world.

His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.

Now I have seen some strange sights in this world. I have seen some men wear many rings without the women to accompany them. I have also seen rings worn as though to bring back what was lost again. Others have promised marriage with these same earrings, nose rings, and finger rings. To those untrained by the Word of the prior text, this sounds like an ideal man indeed with gold rings and six-pack abs. The Song does not seem to agree, even though such things are nice. See, when Solomon wrote Proverbs 31, he praised what the Song did as a mother and wife. In these texts he praises her appearance and her inner qualities. Now, she has a praise of her own for what God has done. You see, it is almost as if she is praising him for the good that came from the trial; she praises him for this good that she has not even seen yet. Not to be irreverent, but with all the running, riding, and fighting for his life, Solomon was physically fit. In all the trials and things meant for evil, the Song saw God turn them around as Genesis 50:20 promised. She saw this through the eyes of faith in Hebrews 11:1; so also, she knew the vision would come for her. As surely as Solomon's rings would give him glory, so she knew the promises of God to her were true. She saw the before, the now, and what would be. It is important not to criticize someone before you know where they are in Christ. Like the little Song here, some have learned the secret to abiding in him. When God tests and tries our faith, such things produce some rare and precious gifts.

This we will see in Solomon even amid the gold, the beryl, the ivory, and the sapphires. Anyone that has read The Story of the Fourth Wiseman by Henry Van Dyke would understand. It is a story told of the richest wiseman much delayed in his travels to see the great king. The story follows his journey through perils untold. Each place he comes to he is met with great danger and sacrifice as he parts with one of his treasures in exchange for a life. Yet he arrives at the scene of the cross a little too late. As he lies dying, he tells the Lord how he failed in his mission to see the great king. But the Lord spoke, a voice in his heart, that each life he saved was his from the start. It is this that should help you understand what each of these things mean. The gold speaks of the treasures of the rich and the wisest cultures even from ancient Babylon. The beryl speaks of the goods and the ancient culture of Egypt. The ivory speaks even of the wealth of nature from the African culture. Finally, the sapphires speak of the treasure of even the civilized world. I am not suggesting that Solomon is the eternal. Rather, each of these tell even who he is unto the Song that the daughters of Jerusalem should seek him thus.

His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

This is where what you were meets where you are. Now when Jesus says "I am the resurrection and the life" in John 11:25 he means it. Quit standing around like some desiccated mummy covered in beetles and moss. God has called you forth from your tomb, out of your sepulcher, and even from under your pyramid. When Jesus says in John 11:43, "Lazarus come forth," he means for you to come forth. It does not matter if you are Jewish, Egyptian, African, or ancient Abyssinian. Sorry friends, I meant to say citizen of Heaven on that last one. But I digress having been carried away for a moment there. Here we are supposed to be discussing the legs of Solomon now. Some of you may know what the problem with the little Song is without having been told. Some of you have only guessed that there is one by her speech. When someone is loved as deep as your soul, it feels like many waters passing over to have them gone. It can be for some a very disorienting and upsetting experience. Here the little Song is clinging to her faith. She is trying not to be carried away with her tongue. But how many of you know that even here, God can keep you.

This is why some of you must submit your responses to the Lord. He will make the pillars of marble move again in his time. Even if you are like a statue in the house of the Lord, God can change this thing. I could do as some and interpret each little thing. But you should see that the Song is speaking in pictures here; that is what the daughters of Jerusalem understand. When you speak to or deal with certain people, it is important to use their language. The Song's speech is of things they understood but with the Spirit of the Lord guiding it. It is quite like the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14:26-27. One speaks and one interprets. But the giver of both is God. These daughters knew not her Solomon having lost him themselves. So also, they knew it not. That is why the little Song is seen carrying on with her beloved's work. You might be wondering where his feet are. That is because he has set them upon her as he has his love and his care. Thus, she continues his work he began as his feet. At the same time, he is as her roots of a tall tree of the forest planted by God's river.

His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

So finally, she settles on his face. The daughters of Jerusalem had some old ears that could not hear; Isaiah 6:9-10 describes some old eyes also which could not see all the Father had in store for them. Rather, they did not want the eyes and ears to be made new at this time nor at any other. So, then there is a renewal to be seen here. It is as one calling, 'make new, make new.' How many of you know that with Jesus, he makes even this new. See, Isaiah 52:13-15 said his visage was "marred more than any man." Solomon here has a face to match the daughters' lack. But see, God will change this thing into something lovely altogether. You might be saying to yourself, 'you mean to tell me I have to wait for Sunday to come and for God also to bring in the daughters of Zion?!' Not so fast, little bird. As I have said before, it takes him some time to change things. To become a beloved, the Song had to start with her friend Solomon. Now the children must start from the daughters of Jerusalem if they wish to walk with them both. For this cause is his mouth sweet. The scroll of Ezekiel 3:3 has been eaten and it has digested. Now there is sweetness to be found after the sorrow. Only God could bring about this shift. Indeed, he turns all things around for the people's good and his glory. That is what is wrong with some of you spiritually. You went to the therapist's office, but you could not tell him who you were. Now the therapist cannot tell you who you are; nor can he yet tell you whom you will become with his help. So, it is with God. He takes what was and turns it into what will be for this is his house.