The Song of Solomon 6:10, “Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?”
The Song of Solomon 6:10 is a verse that has been debated for generations. Who is speaking, Solomon or the daughters of Jerusalem? Solomon has already declared how beautiful the Shulamite is to him, and these words are very similar to the words he has previously spoken about her beauty. But in my humble estimation, these are the words of the daughters of Jerusalem, the queens and the concubines of verse nine. All of these sisters have known the Shulamite for some time, but now after they see the way Solomon looks at her and the radiance of her face when she stands with her eyes fixed on him they say, “Who is this girl that looks so grown up?” For the first time in the inspired Song, the sisters see her as Solomon’s love and espoused bride.
As many of you know, I have an older sister. She is the only daughter of my dad and mom. Three boys and a girl, and all the boys knew that Donna and daddy had a relationship that the boys did not. The Lord has blessed us to have a little girl, Sarah Beth, and now I know by experience that there is just something about a daddy and his little girl. I can remember the day that Donna married my brother in law, James Richard Sosebee (who I feel blessed to have as a brother in law and feel as close to him as my flesh brothers). On the wedding day, my sister looked very different to my family. For the first time, we saw her not just as our daughter and sister, but as the bride of this man. I overheard someone say, ‘Who is this little girl that looks so pretty?” I’m sure I have one of those experiences in my future with Sarah Beth, and I honestly find no excitement in the anticipation that some boy will be taking my little girl away from Sis Jennifer and I.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, do you remember the time in your life when you began to see the Church differently? She is not this building that sets on the side of the road for people to walk into on Sunday and talk to each other, but she is the bride of the greatest King of all. Matthew 22:2, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,…” She is beautiful. She “looketh forth as morning” to the Sun of righteousness” Who has come and died on the Cross, arose from the dead and ascended back to heaven promising to return and take His people home to glory. She is fair (bright and beautiful) in her wedding garments as she shows forth the righteousness that He has imputed to her (2 Corinthians 5:21). She is “clear as the sun” as she lets her light so shine before men, not allowing the darkness of this wicked world to hinder her from telling everyone how much she loves her Lord and King (Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 5:8; and Philippians 2:15). She is “terrible as an army of banners…” She has the highest authority on the earth (Micah 4:2, “…for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem…”). The banners of God’s love and goodness are easily viewed flying over her head, The Song of Solomon 2:4, “He brought me to his banqueting house, and his banner over me was love” and Psalm 60:4, “Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be dis-played because of the truth.” And I will confess that many years have passed since I went before the congregation and asked for a home in the Primitive Baptist Church, but on this day I have a greater love and respect for her than I did. Who is this? She is the Lord’s bride; the representative people of God on earth; one of the most precious blessings of my pilgrimage on this earth where I have felt the presence of my Savior and King. I love her and ask God to give me a greater love and stronger devotion for her and her well being. Until the day I see my God face to face, let me be found serving Him in His Church. Amen!