Song of Solomon 6:4

Step by step the bride is led on until she finds herself in the presence of the Bridegroom, and at last hears His voice. The first words that fall on her astonished ears are, "You are fair, my love." What could be more touching to a heart that has wandered and grown cold than to be drawn again into His presence? There it realises, in all its sweetness, that despite all our wanderings it can still say, "I am His and He is mine."

The first thing the Bridegroom mentions to His bride is her faultless beauty in His sight. "You are beautiful, O my love." Not one word of complaint falls from His lips. He makes no reference to where she had been, or to what she had done. His love is perfect, and His grace matches His love.

Tirzah means pleasantness. It was the royal home of the kings of Israel before Samaria was built, as Jerusalem was of the king of Judah. Jerusalem is famous in Scripture for its many glories… Tirzah was the capital of the tribes that had revolted. But the two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, will come together under one Head in the coming day of glory. They will never be separated again.

How lovely is a soul fully grounded in peace! It moves in calm peace, above all its circumstances. When the affections are divided the soul is restless, unsettled and never satisfied. It is only when the heart's affections are fully settled on Christ that we have settled peace. A divided heart is never at rest.

This figure does not convey something dreadful. It conveys something dazzling, brilliant, glorious — like the striking effect of an army with its banners flying. The King acknowledges that the glory of His beloved people, united in this way, overwhelms Him.

An army marching with its banners flying gives the idea of unity of purpose. Each individual has set everything else aside to devote his time, his strength and if necessary his life to one aim: to keep up the honour and glory of the flag he has rallied under. … "You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth" (Ps. 60:4). Christ is that banner. What joy it is to Christ to see His people united with the one object of exalting Him at all times and at all cost.

What a wonderful thought that is — the Lord finding such attraction in Jerusalem. That Jerusalem which cost Him so many tears, that Jerusalem which has slandered Him from that day to this. For Jerusalem is still the same Jerusalem it was — the same guilty, Christ-rejecting Jerusalem. But it will not always be so. The Lord will make these words true, and give Jerusalem to believe in the day that is coming.

It may be interesting to work out the meaning of the reference to Tirzah, Jerusalem, and an army with banners displayed. But do not let any of these things turn your thoughts away from the Person of the Lord Jesus for a moment… Let them be to you like streams by which you may reach the fountain. But do not linger too long by the stream — the spring is better… Tirzah is no more, Jerusalem is trodden down, and Judah's banner has long been furled. But the heart that found relief in using these meaningful pictures never changes.