Bible Reading: The Song of Solomon 7:1-13
“How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, o prince’s daughter: the joints of thy thighs are like Jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning work man” – Song of Solomon 7:1 (KJV).
When the glory of God departs from a people, their true beauty fades. The outward man may be adorned but the faded beauty of one who has lost favour and relationship with God leaves little to admire. The true beauty of a person is the inward beauty of inner virtue of character, values and godliness. This is the real and lasting beauty that does not fade with time. This beauty is God’s glory and presence in one’s life. The peace, joy and spiritual virtues of faith, patience, love, goodness and temperance is matchless and of great price. “Whose adoring let it not be that outward adoring of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” – 1 Peter 3:3-4 (KJV). As much as all the above outward adorning can enhance one’s beauty, they cannot be compared to the spiritual virtues or inner beauty. As much as one pays attention to outward adorning, more attention should be given to the inward adorning because it excels in value and endures for time and eternity.
Israel lost her beauty when she wandered away from God. Neither her ornaments nor her ointments could make up for the loss. The glory departed and the beauty faded. Jerusalem was trampled underfoot by nations but there is coming a restoration. Her lost beauty and glory will be restored when she shall turn again to the one whom she had pierced and rejected. Our text refers to the restoration of Israel. The beauty and glory will be so obvious that her companions will notice and comment on her attractiveness and glory. All these are the works of a master hand. All the glory will go to God who restored them in Christ. The same goes to all sinners who rejected Christ, they have no beauty, they have fallen short of the glory of God “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23 (KJV).
In Christ, there is restoration. The lost glory and beauty is restored when a sinner turns to Christ in repentance. As Jesus takes his rightful place in one’s life, everything will fall in place.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to enjoy the full restoration in Christ.
Rev. Vincent Diolu