“Your lips, my bride, drip honey; honey and milk are under your tongue.”
—Song of Songs 4:11    

Reflection

Song of Songs gives us a beautiful picture of how Messiah responds to the words that come from the lives of His people.

Honey takes a lot of effort to produce. Bees do amazing amounts of work to create it. In the same way, when our lips speak positive things and we hold our tongues from voicing thoughts that bring death, it takes a lot of work, and our Messiah recognizes it. It is sweet to Him.

There is discipline involved in learning to speak words that give life. There are times when we have to hold back words that would wound, tear down, or release negativity. There are moments when we have to choose a different response. Messiah sees the effort. He recognizes the work that has taken place in us, and it is sweet to Him.

“Milk and honey” is also the Bible’s way of talking about abundance. When the Lord brought the children of Israel into the Promised Land, He described it as “a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Exodus 3:8) There is a sense here that after the effort and the transformation, greater abundance follows. It has taken effort to get to this place, and from here the Lord desires to bring greater abundance into our lives.

Song of Songs also speaks about the fragrance of the garments being like the fragrance of Lebanon. The Hebrew word translated “Lebanon” here carries the sense of white. The picture is of garments that are pure and holy.

Revelation uses the same imagery. Those before the throne have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation also says that the fine linen, bright and clean, represents the righteous acts of the saints. Yeshua tells us to stay awake and keep our garments, and He counsels the church at Laodicea to receive white garments from Him.

As the Holy Spirit cleanses us, sanctifies us, and transforms us, you and I come to look more and more like Jesus.

This is what God is doing in us. He is changing our speech, purifying our lives, and conforming us to the image of His Son. Romans tells us that those He foreknew, He predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, and those He justified, He also glorified.

Beloved one, you are greater than you realize. Messiah sees the work that has taken place in you. He sees the words you choose, the words you refuse to speak, and the purity He is forming in your life. And what He is producing in you is sweet to Him.

Application

• Pay attention to the words that come from your mouth. Hold back words that bring death and choose speech that gives life.
• Yield to the Holy Spirit as He cleanses, sanctifies, and transforms you more and more into the image of Jesus.

Prayer

Father, cleanse my heart and let my words become sweet before You. Help me hold my tongue from speaking words that bring death, and teach me to speak what gives life. Holy Spirit, continue to sanctify me and make my life pure before You. Conform me more and more to the image of Jesus. Thank You that You see the work You are doing in me and that my love and obedience are precious to You. In Messiah Jesus’ name, amen.