You are so lovely!… These are the words spoken to you and about you!
“I know I am so unworthy – so in need …You are so lovely – like the fine linen tapestry hanging in the Holy Place.” (Song of Songs 1:5 TPT)
Verse 5 begins with the Shulamite woman that acknowledges her darkness and unworthiness before the King. As sinners we are sometimes black of sin, yet nevertheless amiable in the eyes of Christ, black in the account of men, but desired in God’s esteem. As believers, we are black in ourselves, but lovely in Christ, with the glory and beauty that He puts on us. Our lives, our circumstances, our thoughts may be black outwardly, but we remain glorious within. We are sinners, yet saints. Our own righteousness are as filthy rags, but we are clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness. No matter how dark and unworthy we feel or our circumstances appear, we are lovely in the eyes of Jesus.
Imagine Jesus sitting in front of you, holding you by the hands and speaking these words into your heart:
“My dearest one…
Let me tell you how I see you –
you are so thrilling to me.
To gaze upon you is like looking at one of Pharaoh’s finest horses –
A strong, regal steed pulling his royal chariot.” (Song of Songs 1:9 TPT)
You are adored and admired in His sight. You are from the finest royal bloodline in Jesus. The beauty you display in Jesus’ eyes is uncomparable. Once you have received these words, see the promise of radiance and holiness that the Holy Trinity – God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus promise to bestow upon you:
“We will enhance your beauty, encircling you with golden reins of love. You will be marked with our redeeming grace.” (Song of Songs 1:11 TPT). Your presence will speak of God’s holiness, you will be radiant and the footsteps you leave behind will speak of the redeeming grace of Jesus that flows through your life.
Just as Jesus is always the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow, so will the way He sees you never change.
“You are beauty itself to me. Your passionate eyes are like gentle doves”. (Song of Songs 1:15 TPT)
The new creations that we were made in Christ have brought us to a new beautiful life where we are the definition of beauty through the grace of Christ operating through us. The reference to doves is significant as it points us to the Holy Spirit. Jesus applauds us here as we see Him with spiritual revelation as we perceive the glory of the Cross in the perfect work He did for us.
I would like to leave you with these words of adoration from Song of Songs 2:2:
“Yes, you are my darling companion. You stand out from all the rest. For though the curse of sin surrounds you, still you remain as pure as a lily, even more than all the others.” (TPT).
Jesus walks hand in hand with you wherever you go. He never leaves your side. You are made to be extra-ordinary. You are made to be diferent and to rise above the ordinary. We may have been born into a sinful world where the curse of sin surrounds us, but Jesus wore a crown of thorns on the Cross, that speaks of the curse of sin and through His complete and perfect work on the He took the curse of sin away. And now we are pure as lilies. Lilies are symbols of purity and Jesus reminds us that in spite of the sinful world we were born into, our inner beings remain pure because of His redeeming love that cleansed us and transformed us to holy and radiant beings in His sight.
May these words today be a reminder to you of how precious you are in the sight of Jesus, the Lover of your soul.
Maretha Retief