So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
Following the call to hear and forsake all for the King (v.10), this verse gives both assurance and obligation. The bride is comforted with the King’s desire toward her, and then charged with her duty toward Him. What was commanded in the former verse is now sweetly encouraged in this one. She was told to leave all for Him; now she is told beforehand that she shall not be neglected or regretted, but greatly desired. This King is the Son (Hebrews 1:8-9; vv.6-7), and the words speak of Christ and His church.
“So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty.” This is a gracious promise. The King will indeed desire the beauty of His bride. The Spirit speaks beforehand to quiet fear and remove uncertainty. Many entering marriage wonder whether they shall truly please the one they join themselves unto; here the Lord gives assurance in advance that Christ will be pleased with His bride. This is humbling and deeply encouraging, for the Lord of glory sets His affection upon those who are brought unto Him.
This beauty is not natural, but given. Christ “loved the church and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it… that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27). Her beauty is the work of His grace, for He makes her fit for Himself. The prophet spoke similarly of Jerusalem: “And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 16:14). Thus, what He desires is what He Himself has wrought.
This is the wonder of the matter: she leaves her own people and her father’s house to come unto Him (v.10), and the King greatly desires her. He does not receive her coldly, nor merely tolerate her presence, but delights in her. He does not expose her shame, but covers it; He does not remember her former poverty, but gives her royal standing. Here, the soul may well marvel that such a King should desire those who once were far off and unworthy.
This truth should strongly move the soul unto holiness. If the King delights in purity, then the bride should seek to be pleasing unto Him in life and conduct. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty! Love draws more strongly than fear. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty! The believer does not pursue holiness merely to avoid chastening, but because Christ has set His affection upon His people. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty! As the apostle writes, “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12). So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty!
“For he is thy Lord.” The ground of both His desire and her duty is His authority. He is not a king among others, but her Lord. This establishes the relationship. As Lord, He has rightful dominion, and as Bridegroom, He has chosen and received her. This is not an uncertain union, but one established by His will and power. The prophet declares, “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us” (Isaiah 33:22). Because He is her Lord, His desire is not mistaken, and His purpose toward her will stand.
This also comforts the bride. His desire is not the passing affection of weak men, but the settled purpose of One who is Lord. What He loves, He keeps. What He chooses, He preserves. Therefore, His people may rest in His constancy, for His love is joined with sovereign power. He will not change His mind.
“And worship thou him.” The proper response is worship. The bride, being brought near and made beautiful by Him, is bound to give Him reverence, honor, and obedience. This is not optional, but fitting. The Father Himself commands, “And let all the angels of God worship him” (Hebrews 1:6), and Christ reminded, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10). The church, as the bride of Christ, is called to submit unto Him and provides an example for wives: “Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing” (Ephesians 5:24). Having received such grace, she is to return worship and obedience unto Him.
This worship is more than words. It is the yielding of heart, life, loyalty, and affection. Since He greatly desires His people, they should greatly esteem Him. Since He has adorned them, they should honor Him. Since He has called them near, they should not wander far in heart.
This verse sets forth the gracious desire of Christ toward His people, whom He beautifies and receives, and the duty of those people to worship Him as Lord. Therefore, let the heart be humbled and warmed that such a King should delight in His bride, let the tongue give Him praise for so great a mercy, and let the ear attend carefully to His voice. As the psalmist declares, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2), and James exhorts, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22).
So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
Following the call to hear and forsake all for the King (v.10), this verse gives both assurance and obligation. The bride is comforted with the King’s desire toward her, and then charged with her duty toward Him. What was commanded in the former verse is now sweetly encouraged in this one. She was told to leave all for Him; now she is told beforehand that she shall not be neglected or regretted, but greatly desired. This King is the Son (Hebrews 1:8-9; vv.6-7), and the words speak of Christ and His church.
“So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty.” This is a gracious promise. The King will indeed desire the beauty of His bride. The Spirit speaks beforehand to quiet fear and remove uncertainty. Many entering marriage wonder whether they shall truly please the one they join themselves unto; here the Lord gives assurance in advance that Christ will be pleased with His bride. This is humbling and deeply encouraging, for the Lord of glory sets His affection upon those who are brought unto Him.
This beauty is not natural, but given. Christ “loved the church and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it… that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27). Her beauty is the work of His grace, for He makes her fit for Himself. The prophet spoke similarly of Jerusalem: “And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 16:14). Thus, what He desires is what He Himself has wrought.
This is the wonder of the matter: she leaves her own people and her father’s house to come unto Him (v.10), and the King greatly desires her. He does not receive her coldly, nor merely tolerate her presence, but delights in her. He does not expose her shame, but covers it; He does not remember her former poverty, but gives her royal standing. Here, the soul may well marvel that such a King should desire those who once were far off and unworthy.
This truth should strongly move the soul unto holiness. If the King delights in purity, then the bride should seek to be pleasing unto Him in life and conduct. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty! Love draws more strongly than fear. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty! The believer does not pursue holiness merely to avoid chastening, but because Christ has set His affection upon His people. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty! As the apostle writes, “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12). So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty!
“For he is thy Lord.” The ground of both His desire and her duty is His authority. He is not a king among others, but her Lord. This establishes the relationship. As Lord, He has rightful dominion, and as Bridegroom, He has chosen and received her. This is not an uncertain union, but one established by His will and power. The prophet declares, “For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us” (Isaiah 33:22). Because He is her Lord, His desire is not mistaken, and His purpose toward her will stand.
This also comforts the bride. His desire is not the passing affection of weak men, but the settled purpose of One who is Lord. What He loves, He keeps. What He chooses, He preserves. Therefore, His people may rest in His constancy, for His love is joined with sovereign power. He will not change His mind.
“And worship thou him.” The proper response is worship. The bride, being brought near and made beautiful by Him, is bound to give Him reverence, honor, and obedience. This is not optional, but fitting. The Father Himself commands, “And let all the angels of God worship him” (Hebrews 1:6), and Christ reminded, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10). The church, as the bride of Christ, is called to submit unto Him and provides an example for wives: “Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing” (Ephesians 5:24). Having received such grace, she is to return worship and obedience unto Him.
This worship is more than words. It is the yielding of heart, life, loyalty, and affection. Since He greatly desires His people, they should greatly esteem Him. Since He has adorned them, they should honor Him. Since He has called them near, they should not wander far in heart.
This verse sets forth the gracious desire of Christ toward His people, whom He beautifies and receives, and the duty of those people to worship Him as Lord. Therefore, let the heart be humbled and warmed that such a King should delight in His bride, let the tongue give Him praise for so great a mercy, and let the ear attend carefully to His voice. As the psalmist declares, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2), and James exhorts, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22).