Ⅲ
Through her living in Christ's ascension as the new creation in resurrection, Christ's transformed bride becomes a garden for Christ's private enjoyment (S.S. 4:12-16).
Ⅳ
When the overcoming lover of Christ becomes one with God to be God's dwelling place, in the eyes of God she is as beautiful as Tirzah and as lovely as Jerusalem; however, to the enemy she is as terrible as an army with banners (6:4, 10):
Ａ
The lover of Christ is beautiful and comely before the Lord, as solid as the heavenly city and as serene as the sanctuary; at the same time, she displays the glory of her victory before the enemy and the world (v. 4):
１
Weapons are the most important thing to an army in battle, but unfurled banners, signifying the glory of victory, are the most important thing in victory (Exo. 17:15).
２
Banners indicate a readiness to fight and are also a sign that the victory has been won (Isa. 59:19).
Ｂ
A life within the veil is not only a life before the Lord but also a life before the enemy (S.S. 6:4; Heb. 10:19; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 6:10-12):
１
God has no intention that the lovers of Christ possess the heavenly beauty without possessing a warring nature (2 Cor. 11:2; 10:4-6).
２
The overcoming lover of Christ not only has a future that is full of hope and a life that is absolutely heavenly, but she also is a victor who constantly triumphs in her victory (S.S. 3:7-8).
Morning Nourishment
S.S. 4:12 A garden enclosed is my sister, my bride, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.6:4 You are as beautiful, my love, as Tirzah, as lovely as Jerusalem, as terrible as an army with banners.
Through her living in Christ's ascension as the new creation in resurrection for her growth in life and transformation by life, Christ's transformed bride becomes mature in the riches of the life of Christ so that she becomes four things: a garden to satisfy Christ (S.S. 4:12—5:1; 6:2-3), God's dwelling place with its protection (6:4a), the heavenly bodies as the universal light (6:10a), and a terrible army, which is the corporate overcomer—the Shulammite (6:4b, 10b, 13, and footnotes). Here the garden is enclosed, and there is a spring shut up, a fountain sealed, for Christ's private enjoyment, indicating that in experiencing Christ we, the seeking believers, must have something private, hidden, shut up, and sealed that is for Christ alone. (S.S. 4:12, footnote 1)
Today's Reading
This praise of the Beloved's [in Song of Songs 6:4] indicates that her becoming the heavenly sanctuary and the heavenly Jerusalem is due to her victory over the enemies. Only by being an overcomer can we live within the veil.When the overcoming lover of Christ becomes one with God to be God's dwelling place, in the eyes of God she is as beautiful as Tirzah and as lovely as Jerusalem. However, to the enemy she is as terrible as an army with banners. Banners indicate a readiness to fight and also are a sign that the victory is won. A terrible army signifies that the overcomers of the Lord terrify God's enemy, Satan....This army fights the battle for God's kingdom in the degradation of God's people to become the overcomers who answer the Lord's call (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). Eventually, the overcomers will be a bride collectively to marry Christ (Rev. 19:7-9). After their wedding, this bride will become an army to fight alongside Christ, her Husband, to defeat Antichrist with all his followers (Rev. 19:11-21). (S.S. 6:4, footnote 2)
[In Song of Songs 6:4] the Lord is viewing the believers from heaven, from within the sanctuary. Hence, this is something which happens within the veil. The Lord has mentioned her beauty and comeliness previously. But the beauty and comeliness in this verse are more restricted than before.
Tirzah is where the palace is (1 Kings 14:17). Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Tirzah signifies the heavenly sanctuary, the dwelling of God. Jerusalem signifies the heavenly Jerusalem. The Lord is examining our heavenly nature and life within the sanctuary. In that Jerusalem everything is comely, and in that Tirzah everything is beautiful, because both are God's new creation. Today believers are already displaying the beauty and comeliness of the coming sanctuary.
Weapons are the most important thing to an army in battle, whereas the banner is the most important thing in victory. If the battle is lost, the banner is put away in shame. An unfurled banner signifies the glory of victory....The maiden is beautiful and comely before the Lord, as solid as the heavenly city and as serene as the sanctuary [cf. S.S. 6:4]. At the same time, she displays the glory of her victory before the enemy and the world. A life within the veil is not just a life before the Lord, but a life before the enemy, because the heaven in which the saints dwell is the very heaven which the enemy assails. God has no intention for His believers to possess only the heavenly beauty without possessing a warring nature. The heavenly warfare is never abated before the Lord.
"Terrible as an army with banners" [S.S. 6:4]. Not only does she have a future that is full of hope, and a life that is absolutely heavenly, but she is a victor who constantly triumphs in her victory. She is "terrible as an army with banners." She goes from victory to victory. Do you know such a one? Have you seen her? (CWWN, vol. 23, "The Song of Songs," pp. 96-97, 101)
Further Reading: CWWN, vol. 23, "The Song of Songs," sec. 4; CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 3, "Crystallization-study of Song of Songs," chs. 9-10; Life-study of Song of Songs, msg. 7