Jesus and His Bride - By Kelli Tarner

9.2.09–I love the way Yeshua (Jesus) describes His bride. Song of Solomon can be read in a bridal paradigm, meaning “He” is Yeshua, and “She” is those who are lovesick for Him, His bride. In chapter 4 verse 4, Yeshua describes our neck “like the tower of David, built magnificently, on which hang a thousand bucklers.” According to Webster’s 1828 dictionary, a buckler is a “ a kind of shield, or piece of defensive armor, anciently used in war. It was composed of wood, or wickers woven together, covered with skin or leather, fortified with plates of brass or other metal, and worn on the left arm. On the middle was an umbo, boss or prominence, very useful in causing stones and darts to glance off. The buckler often was four feet long, and covered the whole body.” Isn’t it interesting that he describes our throat as such? And he says it is not just one buckler, but our neck is built like a tower with a thousand bucklers.

I believe our throat is like a shield when we worship our God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). When we adore and worship Him, really believing what we are saying, we are worshiping in truth. And that type of worship shields us from the arrows of the enemy. Can you imagine the day when we all worship, declaring to Yeshua what The Holy Spirit says about Him (worshiping in spirit), and believe it (worshiping in truth)? We will be “as lovely as Jerusalem but formidable as an army marching under banners.” And because of this, Yeshua says, “turn your eyes away from me, because they overwhelm me (Song of Solomon 6:4)!”

Psalms 45 describes Yeshua, our warrior King (c.f. Hebrews 1):
“You are the most handsome of men; gracious speech flows from your lips. For God has blessed you forever. Warrior, strap your sword at your thigh; [gird on] your splendor and majesty. In your majesty, succeed, ride on in the cause of truth, meekness and righteousness. May your right hand teach you awesome things. Your arrows are sharp. The people fall under you, as they penetrate the hearts of the king’s enemies. Your throne, God, will last forever and ever; you rule your kingdom with a scepter of equity. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy in preference to your companions. Your robes are all fragrant with myrrh, aloes and cassia; from ivory palaces stringed instruments bring you joy (2-8).”

Again God’s word speaks of our throats—the ivory palaces that bring Him joy. In addition, we see Yeshua’s character embedded in His garments: myrrh was used in burial and in purification—setting one apart as holy to Adonai (The Lord). I believe aloe speaks of its soothing and healing properties, while cassia represents Kingly humility. As we worship Yeshua in spirit and in truth, our King humbles himself in our praises. I see Him dancing at our voices and His fragrance all around Him, and us. How beautiful it is to worship our Beloved in spirit and in truth.