Altogether lovely

Sunday 16th July 2023

How is your beloved better than others,
most beautiful of women?
How is your beloved better than others…?
Song of Songs 5:9 (NIV)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

At this point in the Song of Songs, the woman fears she has lost the intimacy she had with her beloved and she goes searching for him, enlisting the help of the ‘Friends’ to find him.  They reply with this brilliant question, “How is your beloved better than others?”, encouraging her to recall why she found him so special in the first place.

We have seen how the relationship of this man and this woman helps us to understand the relationship of Christ an his church.  And so we can imagine being asked, or even asking ourselves, “How is your beloved Lord Jesus better than others?”  It is a brilliant question because, as we start to list his exceptional qualities, we realise again just how special he is and how privileged we are to have him as our Lord and Saviour.

Here is one person’s attempt to answer that question, and you may find it helpful to pray through it slowly, dwelling on any qualities that particularly grab your attention:

“He is the woman’s seed crushing Satan.  The Passover Lamb.  The high priest entering heaven for his people.  The pillar of fire.  The prophet greater than Moses.  The captain of our salvation.  The judge.  The kinsman-redeemer.  The anointed one.  The perfect king.  The faithful scribe.  The one who rebuilds broken walls.  The Saviour.  The defender.  The Lord and shepherd.  The lover and bridegroom.  The everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God.  The righteous branch.  The weeping prophet.  The wheel that turns in all directions.  The Son of Man who is with us in the fire.  The long-suffering husband.  The one who pours out his Spirit.  The one who bears our burdens.  The great resurrected missionary.  The messenger with beautiful feet.  The avenger of God’s elect.  The great evangelist who cries for revival.  The restorer of God’s lost heritage.  The cleansing fountain.  The king who brings peace and humbly rides on a colt.  The sun of righteousness risen with healing in his wings.  He is the Messiah, the wonder-working servant.  The perfect man.  The Son of God.  The ascended Lord.  The one who justifies sinners.  Our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.  The one who sets people free.  Our riches.  Our peace.  Our God who meets every need.  The fulness of the Godhead.  The soon-coming King.  The one Mediator between God and man.  The faithful pastor.  The friend who sticks closer than a brother.  The one greater than all, whose blood washes away sin.  The great saviour and bishop of our souls.  Everlasting love.  The keeper of our souls.  The Lamb slain.  The lion of Judah.  The King of Kings and Lord of lords.”  (Gary Brady, Song of Solomon: Heavenly Love).

Lord, I praise you that you are all these things all the time; you are truly “outstanding among ten thousand” and “altogether lovely.”  Amen.

Yours warmly, in Christ,
Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister)