A PORTRAIT OF THE BRIDE (vs. 10-15)

 WORDS OF INSTRUCTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT

Listen to me, O royal daughter, take to heart what I say.
Forget your people and your homeland far away.
For your royal husband delights in your beauty.
Honor him, for he is your lord.
The princes of Tyre will shower you with gifts.
People of great wealth will entreat your favor.
(vs. 10-12)

For the bride in this picture …

It Is Now Time To Move On (vs. 10)

The bride is about to begin a new phase of her life. She is to leave her people and former home. For God’s people life is meant to be a pilgrimage. There is always a next step to be taken, a time when it is time to move on. Sometimes with regards to the place of service, but always with regard to spiritual growth. Just as it was for the people of Israel. While waiting to cross the River Jordan to take possession of the land God was giving them, Moses encouraged the people by reminding them of the time they were camped at the base of Mount Sinai. It was again time for the people to move on. 

   So Moses addressed the people of Israel while they were in the land of Moab east of the Jordan River. He began to explain the law as follows. “When we were at Mount Sinai, the LORD our God said to us, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough. It is time to break camp and move on. Go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the neighboring regions—the Jordan Valley, the hill country, the western foothills, the Negev, and the coastal plain. Go to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, and all the way to the great Euphrates River. I am giving all this land to you! Go in and occupy it, for it is the land the LORD swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to all their descendants.’ ” (Deuteronomy 1:5-8) 

Moving on when the Lord so guides means leaving the familiar and traveling into the unknown. But it is always with the assurance that he has gone on before us. Joshua and his deputies reminded the people of this as they prepared to cross the Jordan into Canaan. 

   Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing. Three days later, the Israelite leaders went through the camp giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, follow them. Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about a half mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”

   Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do great wonders among you.”

   In the morning Joshua said to the priests, “Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river.” And so they started out. (Joshua 3:1-6) 

Paul was always ready to move on. When a call for help came from Macedonia he was ready and willing to go. Luke tells us how he joined Paul and Silas as they responded straight away to the call. 

   Next, Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had told them not to go into the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed for the province of Bythynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not let them go. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the city of Troas.

   That night Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia in northern Greece, pleading with him, “Come over here and help us.” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, for we could only conclude that God was calling us to preach the Good News there. (Acts 16:6-10) 

But more than anything else he wanted always to be moving on in his spiritual pilgrimage. This is why he wrote … 

   I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear friends, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. (Philippians 3:12-14) 

She Is Greatly Loved (vs. 11a) 

The poet reminds the bride of the great love the royal groom has for her—‘your royal husband delights in your beauty,’ he writes. Paul writes of what he has experienced of the love the heavenly bridegroom has for his church. 

   I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) 

Jesus invites his followers to remain in the security of his love for them. 

   I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow. I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. (John 15:9-13) 

John greets the seven churches in Asia with this description of him. 

   This letter is from John to the seven churches in the Province of Asia. Grace and peace from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the commander of all the rulers of the world.

   All praise to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. (Revelation 1:4-5) 

The bride is greatly loved … 

And Will Want To Honor Her Husband (vs. 11b) 

Husband and wife are to submit to each other. They have different roles but are as one before the Lord. She will honor him in his God given role of leadership. Paul explains … 

   And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord … And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her … As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”[1] This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So I say again, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. (Ephesians 6:21-22, 25, 31-33) 

An ancient king had this to say about the wife who honors her husband … 

   Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies. Her husband can trust her and she will greatly enrich his life. She will not hinder him but help him all her life. (Proverbs 31:10-12) 

 Just as a wife is encouraged to honor her husband so the Christian believer is to live in such a way as to bring honor to Christ. The heavenly chorus sings that he is worthy to receive such honor … 

   And they sang in a mighty chorus:
 

“The Lamb is worthy—the Lamb who was killed.

He is worthy to receive power and riches

and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and blessing.”

   And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They also sang:

"Blessing and honor and glory and power

belong to the one sitting on the throne

and to the Lamb forever and ever.”

   And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty four elders fell down and worshiped God and the Lamb. (Revelation 5:12-14) 

Showered With Gifts (vs. 12) 

The bride received gifts from wedding guests coming from far and wide, like the princes of Tyre, the main seaport of Phoenicia. So the Lord is pleased to shower his people with gifts. Paul writes … 

   How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault  in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure. (Ephesians 1:3-5) 

   We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and there is only one God and Father, who is over us all and living through us all. However, he has given each one of us a special gift according to the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”[2] (Ephesians 4:4-8) 

David said this of the Lord and the gifts he offers. 

   You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you for ever. (Psalm 16:11).

  Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O LORD. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your rivers of delight. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see. (Psalm 36:5-9) 

Jesus indicated that all of God’s gifts come to his people in the person of the Holy Spirit. 

    “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Luke 11:11-13) 

The bride in this wedding song is also … 

BEAUTIFULLY DRESSED 

The bride, a princess, waits within her chamber,
dressed in a gown woven with gold.
(vs. 13) 

In this portrait of the bride we may see a picture of the church, her members clothed, not in their own goodness for this is nothing but rag clothing,[3] but in the righteousness of Christ. Isaiah wrote … 

   I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bride-groom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. The Sovereign LORD will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, filled with young plants springing up everywhere. (Isaiah 61:10-11) 

A WONDERFUL WELCOME AWAITS HER 

In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king,
accompanied by her bridesmaids.
What a joyful, enthusiastic procession
as they enter the king’s palace!
(vs. 14-15) 

What a welcome is anticipated by the bride and her bridal party as they near the court of the royal groom. Paul writes of how, as a member of the church pictured in the image of the bride of Christ, he looked forward to such a welcome. It seems that he could hardly wait for it. He longed to go and be with the Lord but was willing to stay. 

   For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for Christ. I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live. (Philippians 1:21-24) 

   As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return. (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

A FRUITFUL LIFE TOGETHER (vs. 16-17) 

Your sons will become kings like their father.
You will make them rulers over many lands.
I will bring honor to your name in every generation.
Therefore the nations will praise you forever and ever.
(vs. 16-17) 

The poet draws the wedding song to a close with an assurance for the couple that a fruitful and meaningful life together lies ahead of them. There will be sons born to them. Their sons will become strong leaders as they add the peoples of conquered countries to the kingdom. The king’s name will be honored by the generations that follow and throughout the world. 

Paul draws an analogy from this picture of the union of the royal groom and his bride. 

   As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to wife, and the two are united as one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. (Ephesians 5:31-32) 

Jesus assures us that united with him, his disciples can expect to lead fruitful and meaningful lives. 

   I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in me and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.

   Yes, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile and burned. But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like and it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father. (John 15:1-8) 

The result will be to bring glory and honor to Christ as many are brought into the Kingdom of God. This was always Paul’s goal in life and in his preaching, to win others to faith in Christ and to cause his name to be honored in the nations. He writes … 

   For I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honor Christ, whether I live or die. (Philippians 1:20)

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