Song of Solomon 5:16 — “His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely.”
By Nick Bibile
The Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon) means that it is the greatest of songs. Just as Scripture speaks of the King of kings and Lord of lords, so this book is called the Song of Songs. It is a beautiful poetic allegory that portrays the love of Christ for His bride, the Church, and the intimate communion that exists between Christ and His redeemed people.
In this passage, the bride describes her Bridegroom with these glorious words: “He is altogether lovely.” The Church is the bride, and Christ is the Bridegroom. When we read both the Old and New Testaments, we hear the united testimony of the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, and all the elect of God. With one voice they declare:
“Jesus is altogether lovely.”
These are words of inexpressible admiration and adoration. They arise from the depths of the bride's heart. Her soul is overwhelmed with holy delight, captivated by the beauty of her Beloved. She experiences a joy so great and a love so profound that human language cannot fully express it.
Christ is altogether lovely and infinitely desirable. He is supreme above every other person and every earthly treasure. When we were guilty sinners, wandering far from God, He purchased us with His precious blood. He washed away our sins, clothed us with His righteousness, and adopted us into the family of God so that we might be called the children of the living God. Oh yes, He is altogether lovely!
Because He is altogether lovely, countless hymns and songs have been written in His praise. Through trials, persecutions, afflictions, and even on their deathbeds, believers throughout history have found comfort in declaring, “He is altogether lovely.”
The loveliness of Christ is so infinitely sweet that it cannot be weighed on scales or measured by human understanding. Even now we do not see the fullness of His glory. We know Him only in part. We are, as it were, feeding upon the crumbs that fall from the King's table. Yet even these crumbs are sweeter than all the pleasures of this world.
One day, however, we shall see Him face to face. Faith shall become sight. We shall sit with Him at His heavenly banquet and enjoy His presence forever. Until that glorious day, it is far better to feast upon the crumbs from Christ's table than to possess all the loaves this world can offer.
Many people have never experienced the loveliness of Christ because their hearts are occupied with the things of this world. Their minds are filled with earthly concerns. They know every movie, every popular song, every sale, every trend, and every worldly attraction, yet they have little time to think about Jesus or to contemplate His beauty.
Their thoughts revolve around earthly matters. Their affections are fixed upon temporal things. As a result, they fail to see the surpassing excellence of Christ.
But when we meditate upon the Word of God, the beauty of Christ begins to shine before our eyes. The Holy Spirit opens our hearts to behold His glory. At times we experience what many saints have called a holy rapture—a profound sense of Christ's beauty and love that overwhelms the soul with adoration.
In those precious moments of communion with the Lord, our hearts burn within us. Our faces seem to shine with heavenly joy, much as Moses' face shone after being in the presence of God. Our souls overflow with delight, and tears of joy may stream down our cheeks as we marvel at the goodness and grace of our Savior.
Yet what a tragedy it is that many have never known this soul-melting experience of Christ's loveliness. They are so occupied with the world and its pleasures that they have no room for Him. Satisfied with earthly things, they have little desire for Christ. Their hearts are full of the world and empty of longing for the Savior.
I pray that God would help you cast down every idol that competes with Christ for your affection. Remove from your heart whatever hinders your enjoyment of Him. Do not think of Jesus as merely a little lovely according to your own taste or preference. Scripture declares that He is altogether lovely.
Every perfection is found in Him. Every beauty meets in Him. Every grace shines from Him. Every desire of the redeemed soul is satisfied in Him.
His loveliness is precious beyond words.
David expressed this longing when he cried:
“My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God” (Psalm 84:2).
Here we see the whole man longing for the whole Savior. The believer's heart, soul, mind, and strength reach out toward Christ because Christ alone can satisfy the deepest needs of the human soul.
May God grant us eyes to see more of Christ's beauty, hearts to love Him more fervently, and souls that continually confess with joy:
“Yes, He is altogether lovely.”