Today's Quick Word
Today’s Quick Word
Song of Songs 6:10 Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession? Just working from the inspired […]
Song of Songs 6:10 Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession?
Just working from the inspired text of the Hebrew Scriptures, it is not easy for us to be sure of the flow of the dialogue in Song of Songs. The NIV attempts to help us by inserting ‘uninspired’ headings throughout, suggesting which of the three participants (the ‘Groom’, the ‘Bride, and the ‘friends of the Bride’) is speaking which part of the text.
We understand the Groom as pointing prophetically to the Lord Jesus Christ; the Bride as referring to his Chosen People, his Church; and the Narrator in the dialogue as referring to the watching world. The NIV headings label these as ‘He’, ‘She’ and ‘Friends’ respectively, and suggests that today’s verse is spoken by the ‘Friends’ (the watching world).
On this understanding, the watching world is attracted to, and singularly impressed by, the Church’s Saviour. This makes it a real challenge to us today!
I need to ask myself, “When people in the watching world see that I have made a public profession to be a follower of Jesus, when I have nailed my colours to his mast, does this lead them to ask conerning my Saviour, ‘Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession?’, and are they also drawn to him as their Saviour and Lord?”
“May the mind of Christ, my Saviour, live in me from day to day, by his love and power controlling all I do and say. May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, so that all may see I triumph only through his power. May the peace of God, my Father, rule my life in everything, that I may be calm to comfort sick and sorrowing. May the love of Jesus fill me as the waters fill the sea; him exalting, self abasing, this is victory. May I run the race before me, strong and brave to face the foe, looking only unto Jesus as I onward go. May his beauty rest upon me, as I seek the lost to win, and may they forget the channel, seeing only him” (Katie B. Wilkinson).
– Bruce Christian
