The Song of Solomon 6:4, “Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.”
The search for Solomon by his beloved and the daughters of Jerusalem ends with him saying the words in our study verse. In my words, Solomon is saying, you are beautiful, diligent and willing to overcome any obstacle to be with me.
When studying the Word of God it is important to pay close attention to every word. I will confess that I miss many sweet gems and gold nuggets by simply reading too fast. The word Tirzah is one of those words.
If you will recall, there was a man in Israel named Zelophenhad. In Numbers 26:33 we read this man did not have any sons, but daughters. One of the daughter’s names was Tirzah. The daughters of this man displayed a tremendous amount of respect for authority when they approached Moses in Numbers 27 requesting an inheritance in Canaan. Their request was brought before the Lord by Moses and the Lord mercifully granted their request. In Numbers 36:10 we read an amazing scriptural commendation of the daughters of Zelophehad, “Even as the LORD commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad:…”
In Joshua 12:24 we read about a city named Tirzah in the Land of Canaan. During the times of the Kings of Israel, many of them dwelt in Tirzah because of its beauty (see 1 Kings 15:21, Benhadad King of Syria; 1 Kings 15:33 and 1 Kings 16:6, Baasha King of Israel; 1 Kings 16:9, Zimri King of Israel; 1 Kings 16:23, Omri King of Israel). The city, because of its beauty and pleasant surroundings, was one chosen by the kings to live and dwell in.
Solomon, when he speaks about his precious Shulamite, describes her as the beautiful city of Tirzah. The name means to be pleasant, of delight, and of good will. The very root of this name means to be beautiful, grateful and/or to be accepted. The Shulamite did not use these words to describe herself, but the King himself declared this of her.
These words remind me of the Lord’s people, by His love and grace, are declared to be beautiful and accepted in the Father’s sight (see Ephesians 1:6). Not that any are accepted by their own works, because those are evil and filthy, but by His love and grace.
The continuance of our study verse tells us that the Shulamite was “as terrible as an army of banners.” By her efforts to overcome any opposition and anything that would stand in her way to spend time and be close to Solomon, he declares the she is one that will battle as an army.
Herein we are able to see the militant Church. The Lord’s people are beautiful by His love and grace, and by their efforts are seen as a body who stands up to fight against the ways and opposition of the devil and the world. This fight, or spiritual warfare, does not change or have any consequence to God’s eternal love and grace, but will benefit those who exercise thereby in a temporal context. Those who will war and fight against the devil and the world will enjoy times of fellowship with the Lord in His garden. Paul, in his letters to the disciples, often encouraged the children of God by saying: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” Ephesians 6:10-12, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” 2 Timothy 2:1, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
Dear child of grace, do you love God? Do you want to do what’s right? Do you feel and see the evil direction of this world? Good news, you are a child of grace and this is evidence that you, by His love and grace, are beautiful in His sight. What can we do? Stand for what’s right; be numbered and identified with the Church who stands for what’s right, so that the devil and the world may see that you love God, Who first loved you (1 John 4:19).