You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you for ever. (Psalm 45:2)
My lover is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. His cheeks are like beds of spice yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with myrrh. His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my lover, this my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
(Song of Solomon 5:10, 13, 16)
Psalm 45 and the Song of Solomon have this image of anointed lips; the anointed lips of Jesus Christ, the lover, the Bridegroom, the Messiah King. His lips are anointed with grace; His words are full of grace and truth (John 1:14). No one ever spoke the way Jesus spoke (John 7:46). Many were amazed at the wisdom and grace of His speech (Luke 2:40, 2:47, 4:22). Scripture contains many examples of the grace and truth Jesus spoke.
1. It was Jesus who said to the adulteress, “Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more” (John 8:11).
2. When the multitude had sat all day listening to His teaching, it was Jesus who said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat…” (Matthew 15:32).
3. It was Jesus who said to the woman with the issue of blood, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering” (Mark 5:34).
4. It was Jesus who said of the widow woman, “This poor widow hath cast in more than they all” (Luke 21:3).
5. It was Jesus who said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2).
6. It was Jesus who said of the man born blind, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life” (John 9:3).
7. It was Jesus who said to the thief hanging on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43)
The lips of Jesus are lilies dripping with myrrh; His mouth is sweetness itself. The words of Jesus are sweet to the taste (Psalm 119:103). They are strong, satisfying like lilies – life giving/sustaining (Psalm 119:175; Proverbs 4:4; Matthew 4:4). The Bride longs for the ‘kisses’ of her lover; His lips, His words, His presence.
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth – For your love is better than wine. Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment poured forth; Therefore the virgins love you. Draw me away!
(Song of Solomon 1:2-4)
Just as the Bride longs for the ‘kisses’ of her lover, the Groom longs for the ‘kisses’ of the Bride.
Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of incense. All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you. How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice! Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like that of Lebanon.
(Song of Solomon 4:6-7, 10-11)
The Bride’s lips, like the Groom’s, ‘drop sweetness as the honeycomb’. Again the comparison to the honeycomb point to the words of Jesus full of grace and truth, God’s word, God’s law. These words are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb (Psalm 19:10). In several places scripture implies that eating honey, eating God’s word is good (Proverbs 24:13, 25:16; 119:103; Song of Solomon 5:1). Recently while I was pondering this image of the Bride eating God’s word and her lips dripping the honey of His word, I came across the following.
Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate behind your veil.
(Song of Solomon 4:3)
The Bride has the scarlet thread upon her lips. The scarlet thread is Jesus, the blood sacrifice of Christ the Passover Lamb (Joshua 2:18; Exodus 12:11; 1 Corinthians 5:7)! The Bride has the proclamation of Jesus upon her lips, the aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15). But what could a slice of pomegranate have to do with the scarlet thread upon the Bride’s lips?
From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate the name “pomegranate” derives from Latin pomum (“apple”) and granatus (“seeded”) — the apple of many seeds. The pomegranate is a wonderful fruit to eat, sweet to the taste and is thought to provide many health benefits.
Exodus 28:33-34 directed that images of pomegranates be woven onto the borders of Hebrew priestly robes. 1 Kings 7:13-22 describes pomegranates depicted in the temple King Solomon built in Jerusalem. Jewish tradition teaches that the pomegranate is a symbol for righteousness, because it is said to have 613 seeds which corresponds with the 613 mitzvot or commandments of the Torah. This last symbol for the pomegranate linking its seeds to the commandments of the Torah is significant!
Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate, the Bride’s mind compared to a slice of pomegranate which contains many seeds, seeds of truth. God’s word, God’s law, in the Bride’s mind — ready to drip or drop forth from her anointed lips?! Pomegranate juice also stains many things it comes in contact with; it is used for natural dyeing. Is it a coincidence that eating a pomegranate or rubbing its juice on the lips leaves a scarlet looking stain?
A slice of pomegranate in the bride’s mind producing the scarlet thread upon the Bride’s lips. What a beautiful wonderful image of the anointed lips of the Bride! I love these images of the anointed lips and the longing/love between the Bride & Groom. The Bride and Groom exchanging words, grace and truth, tasting the sweetness of their love. What better way to express this love than with a kiss? And a song? Notice that both Psalm 45 and the Song of Solomon are love songs between the Bride & Groom.
This idea really tickles my heart! This idea of the Bride and Groom sharing an anointed kiss by exchanging love songs is discussed in my articles ‘Voices of the Bridegroom and the Bride’ and ‘Kiss the Son’. The Song of Solomon creates this beautiful image of the lovers singing love songs to one another, exchanging kisses. It is the Groom who puts the new song in the Bride’s mouth. This can happen privately as well as corporately.
I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
(Psalm 40:1-3)
Pondering this image it’s easy to picture the Groom putting the new song in His Bride’s mouth with a kiss. When the bride responds and sings what has been placed in her mouth, she is kissing him back (paying homage in purity)! How beautiful! What a beautiful expression of the love between the Bride & Groom.
What I didn’t notice until recently is that this exchange of anointed lips when done corporately (Ephesians 5:18-21, Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 2:12) can touch unbelievers who are present. Can actually cause many to see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Anointed lips can actually allow unbelievers to taste and see that the LORD is good (Psalm 34:8).
Come wait patiently for the LORD, seek the king. Behold His beauty, concealed in His tabernacle, hidden in the secret place upon the Rock (Psalm 27:4-5). Be glad, sing for joy in the shadow of His wings (Psalm 5:11-12, 63:7, 91:4). Allow Him to stir your heart with a beautiful love song; an anointed kiss. Let this new song bubble up and burst forth from anointed lips; living water flowing. Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, His praise in the assembly of the saints. (Psalm 149:1)!
Anointed Lips
by Karen Holland
Anointed lips, the lips of the Son
Full of grace and truth
The Word made flesh, the One and Only –John 1:14
His mouth is sweetness itself; He is altogether lovely. -Song of Solomon 5:16
With the kisses, the sweetness of His mouth be drawn
His love, better than wine
His name, a fragrant perfume poured out-Song of Solomon 1:2-4
Taste and see the goodness of the Holy One –Psalm 34:8
Bow down in purity and Kiss the Son. –Psalm 2:12
Anointed lips
The thread of scarlet placed upon the lips of the Bride -Song of Solomon 4:3
In the window of her face
Jesus proclaimed, a beautiful testimony
Truth and grace
The goodness of the Holy One
Kiss the Son
Taste and see
Your heart stirred with a beautiful love song
Sing a new song –Hebrews 2:12
Sing upon the Rock in the shadow of His mighty wings –Psalm 5:11-12, 63:7, 91:4
Many will be drawn to the King–Psalm 40:3
Taste and SEE!
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.
Psalm 34:8
My version of Psalm 45:1: My heart is stirred by a beautiful song, it overflows its banks, beauty bubbles up and bursts forth. I sing of the things which I have made kissing the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer, shaping the river into words!