The Bride’s Identity and Life Purpose
I. THE BRIDE’S IDENTITY AND LIFE PURPOSE: BEING JESUS’ INHERITANCE
A. A foundational premise of God’s Kingdom is the Father’s promise to give Jesus an inheritance that He knew Jesus
would greatly desire. An aspect of His inheritance involves the mandatory obedience of all creation. Jesus wants more
than this. He longs for an eternal companion or a Bride who voluntarily chooses to be equally yoked to Him in love
(Ephesians 5:31-32; Rev. 19:7-9).
B. The Bride of Christ is the great prize of all the ages that Jesus awaits. The affections of the human heart are the
most precious possession to God. Jesus died to redeem and thus, possess human affections. The reason we were
created and redeemed is to love Jesus with all our heart. Satan attacks our hearts that we would not fully love God and
thus, live as Jesus’ inheritance.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)
C. The Spirit is restoring the First Commandment to first place in the Body of Christ. It is the first commandment
because it is the first priority to God. It is not called the “first option”. Loving God is an end in itself and is the highest
lifestyle possible. It is the great commandment because it always is great in the impact it has on God’s heart and our
heart (eventually others).
37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
38 This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)
D. The Church as His Bride will be prepared in this age before the Second Coming. The power of the End-Time
Church will be found in walking in the anointing to love God (Revelation 15:2-4). This includes the supernatural ability
to feel God’s love and then to feel love back to God.
7 For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7)
E. The Bride is pictured as a beautiful rose and a pure lily whose primary life purpose and identity is found in seeking
to fully love (rose) and obey (lily) Jesus. The rose is chosen for its beauty and fragrance as the chief of flowers. A lily
speaks of purity. The valley speaks of the low and dark places in this fallen world. She lives in purity in the midst of the
dark valley of this fallen world.
1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. (Song 2:1)
F. In poetic language, the Bride declares her primary life purpose and identity as being Jesus’ inheritance. The rose
and the lily are the same people identified as the Bride in Song 2:2. The king sees her as a lily among the thorns which
like the valley speaks of sin. Thorns came forth as the result of the curse of Adam’s sin (Gen. 3:17-18; Heb. 6:8).
2 Like a lily among thorns, so is My love among the daughters. (Song 2:2)
G. We are the rose and lily whose love and obedience arises as fragrance that intoxicates Jesus’ heart. We are the
only prize Jesus longs for. The reason we were created and redeemed is to fully love (rose) and obey (lily) Jesus as His
inheritance and thus, to bring joy and pleasure to God.
H. The Bride’s first confession was that she was dark in her heart but lovely to God through Jesus (Song 1:5). She
sees much more in seeing her purpose for her life in confessing, “I am Jesus’ desired inheritance.” This revelation only
comes after seeing the truths in Song 1:12-17.
I. We must pray to receive revelation that we are the inheritance the Father promised the Son.
17 That the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation… that you may know…what are the riches
of the glory of His inheritance in the saints… (Ephesians 1:17-18)
J. We cannot separate love and obedience. Jesus’ inheritance is a people who walk out their purity. Our life choices
are a real part of the Father’s plan to reward and honor His Son. God has made a great investment in us by choosing us
as the rose and lily that He is cultivating for Jesus. We are the reward of His sufferings. Many believers mock the call to
purity by dismissing it as legalism.
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me… (John 14:21)
K. Our identity is determined by the way we define value or measure success. “Who am I? How do I become
successful?” The issue of our function (ministry) is important but secondary to this.
L. Our primary identity (value/success) is found in who we are in our intimacy with God which consists of being loved
by God and in being a lover of God. I confess, “I am loved (by God) and I am a lover (to God/others) therefore, I am
successful.”
M. We find our identity or success in being desired by God and in loving Him instead of seeking our primary value in
how much we accomplish or the impact we make. We are most successful because we are desired by God and love Him.
We no longer need to fear being a failure.
N. Our primary identity is not what we do with our hands but what we pursue with our hearts. Seeing that we are His
rose and lily breaks a sense of purposelessness, failure and inferiority. We measure our success in context to how much
we grow in our intimacy with God by loving and obeying Him. It takes revelation to see the nobility of loving God and how
it matters to Him.
O. We must agree with God’s definition of success. Many agree with lies about what success is and thus, feel like a
failure and live aimlessly. They focus mostly on externals (what they do and possess) instead of internals (who they are
to be in their hearts). They view their life in context to their struggle and lack of impact. Jesus corrected those who put
their ministry before loving God.
3 You have labored for My name…4 I have this against you, you have left your first love. 5 Remember from where you
have fallen; repent or I will…remove your lampstand. (Revelation 2:3-5)
P. Paul taught the truths of Song 2:1 in teaching that we are betrothed (engaged) to Jesus and live in devotion to
Him. Our ultimate destiny in this age is to walk out a lifestyle as His inheritance.
2 For I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. 3 I am afraid, lest as the serpent
deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ
(2 Corinthians 11:2-3, NAS)
II. THE BRIDE’S REVELATION: JESUS ALONE CAN SATISFY HER HEART (SONG 2:3A)
A. The Bride declares that Jesus alone is the apple tree who refreshes (fully satisfies) the heart.
3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my Beloved among the sons.
(Song 2:3a)
B. The apple tree speaks of that which refreshes.
5 Refresh me with apples, for I am lovesick. (Song 2:5)
C. There is only One who refreshes the human spirit at the highest level. When we receive the revelation of Jesus
as an apple tree or as the primary source that satisfies our heart then we seek Him with all our heart. This is a foundational
truth in marriage, business and ministry. Jesus is more than the savior who forgives or the healer and provider. He is the
apple tree that satisfies. In vain, some transfer the primary source of their joy to their ministry, money and relationships.
D. Jesus is like an apple tree among all the great men of the earth. The trees of the woods speak symbolically of the
great men of the earth who tower over others as lofty trees (Daniel 4:10-14).
12 The day of the LORD of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty…13 on all the cedars of Lebanon that are
high and lifted up, and on all the oaks of Bashan… (Isaiah 2:12-13)
III. THE BRIDE ENJOYS GOD’S PRESENCE: SITTING BEFORE THE KING (SONG 2:3B-4)
A. Jesus declared the wisdom of Mary’s life as she sat at His feet. Mary is described three times in Scripture. Each
time she is sitting at Jesus’ feet (Luke 10:39; Jn. 11:32; 12:3). Jesus forever settled the debate about the importance of
sitting at His feet by calling it the “one thing needed” and choosing the “good” way to live (v. 42). She took seriously the
call to live with extravagant devotion. We must choose this part. No one can choose it for us. That good part will not be
taken away from Mary. Her decisions had eternal implications in being remembered by Jesus forever.
39 Mary…sat at Jesus' feet and heard His Word. 41 Jesus answered, "One thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that
good part, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:39-42)
B. Like Mary of Bethany who sat at Jesus’ feet, we must sit before Jesus and experience His refreshing shade that
protects us from the scorching heat of this fallen age. One of the greatest pleasures available to the human spirit comes
as we feed on His Word and feel His presence. The Word brings delight and is sweet to all who will continually feast on
Jesus in spirit and truth.
3 I sat down in His shade with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste. (Song 2:3b)
C. She asked, “Where will You feed your flock?” (Song 1:7). She had been feasting at the King’s table on God’s love
as seen in Song 1:12-17. The cross is the only tree that can shade from the scorching heat of our sin. We only enjoy the
shade of God’s Word by resting in the shade of Jesus’ cross. We cannot rest in our achievements by relating to God
based on our maturity.
D. We must have a vision to be regularly exhilarated by the Word by pray-reading (meditating) it. Our inheritance
is to experience the sweetness of the Word of God. This is for all believers not just a few. There is a sweetness that is
within reach of every believer. We will never experience the delight and refreshing of Jesus as the apple tree without
sitting long hours in the shade of the apple tree by feeding on His Word by the help of the Holy Spirit.
E. We put our cold heart before the bonfire of God’s presence by seeking Him in the Word. We can feed on the
Word even in the presence of our enemies (sin, disappointment, difficulty, etc.).
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies... (Psalm 23:5)
F. We must enjoy our relationship with God if we are to mature consistently. We can persevere through great
difficulties if we find delight in His presence. A lover will always outwork a worker. When a worker becomes a lover,
their paradigm about the work changes greatly. I have not seen anyone seek God diligently for decades without
enjoying Him in the Word.
IV. JESUS’ BANNER OVER HER LIFE: HIS LOVING LEADERSHIP (SONG 2:4)
4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love. (Song 2:4)
A. In the ancient world, an army would march in battalions under a specific flag or banner. Each unit had their own
banner that was meant to clearly identify them. The banner or flag over our life that identifies who we are and where we
are going in our life is Jesus’ good leadership (wise, loving and powerful) that leads us to grow in love and in our identity
as His inheritance (Bride).
B. We are called to feast at God’s banqueting table. The fulfillment of this ultimately occurs at the Marriage Supper
of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7). Jesus wants us to enjoy tokens of that “Wedding Table” in this age by the power of the
Word and the Spirit. This is translated by some as the “house of wine” because it refers to the celebration of God’s love.
C. Jesus has a good and specific plan for each believer. It is to bring us to His banqueting house or to where we
celebrate His love. His primary goal in His leadership over our life is to bring us to the banqueting house to celebrate
His love for us and our love for Him. We may not know the details as to where Jesus is leading our ministries. Make
no mistake about it, He is first leading us so that we feed at the “Wedding Table” or on truths about our identity as the
Bride of Christ.
D. Jesus’ goal in His leadership over us is to lead us in a way that reveals His love to us as well as imparting it in us.
He is determined that we grow in love, meekness and revelation. God’s plan and first priority for our life is much bigger
than our comfort or our function in ministry. There is great confusion in many because they think His banner over their
life is comfort in this age.
E. Jesus wants us to be strengthened in the revelation that we are His inheritance with our primary identity in being
a lover of God. This occurs as He feeds us on His Word related to the “Wedding Table”. He may “bring to us to the table”
by giving us a dream or a vision that excites our heart about His love. He may give us the joy of a new friendship that
ministers God’s life to our heart.
F. Jesus manifests His banner of leadership over us in various ways. First, His banner over us is His lovingkindness
(mercy). When we fail, the banner over our life is confidence in His mercy not the fear of being rejected by God. We
confess, “His banner over me is love even when I fail.” Second, His banner over us speaks of His ability to overrule the
negative circumstances in our life by causing everything for our good (Romans 8:28). The banner over us is His goodness
in not being neglected by God. Third, the banner over us is to be exhilarated in God’s love instead of being deceived
with the false comfort of sin.
G. He brings us to the table using both positive and negative ways because He is jealous to remove everything that
hinders love in us. First, the positive way in voluntarily following His leadership to the banqueting house by feeding on
and obeying His Word. Second, the negative way is seen in resisting His leadership as He seeks to take us to the
banqueting house. Thus, He is forced to discipline us by exposing our sin, taking things from us and shutting doors that
frustrate us.
V. THE LOVESICK BRIDE CRIES OUT FOR GREATER ENCOUNTER WITH GOD (SONG 2:5)
A. The Bride’s experiences at the “Wedding Table” awaken a greater desire in her to go deeper in God. They cause
her to be lovesick as she cries out to God to be sustained and refreshed by giving her more of His presence and Word.
5 Sustain me with cakes of raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am lovesick. (Song 2:5)
B. As the apples speak of the refreshing of Jesus (Song 2:3), so the raisins speak of the ministry of the Spirit since
they are dried grapes. Grapes symbolically point to the wine of the Spirit. In other words, she cries, “Sustain me with
more of the Spirit and refresh me with more of Jesus.”
C. We are called to live lovesick for God. This caused us to have deep and even painful feeling of love and longing
for more of Jesus. When we touch this, we can never go back to “business as usual” in our walk with God. She is ruined.
I will mention two aspects of spiritual lovesickness.
1. First, “feelings of love” that are very strong. We love to feel love for God.
2. Second, “spiritual hunger pains” that come because of her life vision to walk in all that God has for the human
heart in this age. God does not immediately satisfy this in us. Thus, we have a painful even agonizing hunger.
Lovesickness will not be satisfied with anything less than persevering. These desperate hunger pains are proof
that we have been touched by God.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)
VI. EXPERIENCING GOD'S 2-FOLD EMBRACE (SONG 2:6)
6 His left hand is under my head, and His right hand embraces me. (Song 2:6)
A. The Bride understands God’s 2-fold activity in her life, the right and left hand of God. The left hand of God speaks
of the activity of God that we cannot see. It is under the head therefore, it is out of view. The Lord does many things for
us that we do not see. He withholds and releases many things to bless, provide and protect us. He spares us from
troubles that we are not ever aware of in this age. For example, we have been delivered from accidents we did not discern.
B. The right hand of God speaks of the visible or discernable activity of God. The idea is that Solomon stood in
front of the Bride to embrace her. She can see and feel it. This speaks of the “sweet” manifest presence of God that
can be felt and discerned. At times, we feel our heart tenderized by the working of God’s right hand.
VII. THE HOLY SPIRIT GUARDS US IN STRATEGIC SPIRITUAL SEASONS (SONG 2:7)
7 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field, do not stir up (disturb) nor awaken
love until it pleases. (Song 2:7)
A. The Holy Spirit speaks here. He has ordained strategic seasons in each person’s spiritual life. There are seasons,
where He desires to establish our heart in new and deep revelations of His heart. The Spirit’s agenda for the Bride in this
season was to awaken lovesickness in her as she went deep in the Word as she fed on apples and grapes at the
banqueting house (Song 2:3-5). Many do not see the necessity of dedicating seasons of their life to go deep in God
and His Word. John was told to eat the scroll or to understand God’s Word in a deep way (Revelation 10:9-11).
B. The daughters of Jerusalem represent believers who lack discernment of the various operations of the Spirit
and the different seasons in God. The Spirit solemnly charges other believers to not disrupt or disturb the devoted ones
with the Bride’s heart in this season by their opinions and judgments. We can trust Jesus to disturb us when the seasons
change as seen clearly in Song 2:8. The Spirit tells those who were insensitive to the ways of the Spirit to not disturb the
Bride from this particular season of sitting at the table to be sustained and refreshed by the Word and the Spirit. Many
only have one counsel; that is to seek God less and increase in ministry activity.
C. Solomon charged them by the gazelles or by the does of the field (Song 2:7). By the gazelles or the does” speaks
of the importance of gentleness and sensitivity in relating to the young Bride in this season. A gazelle or doe has a
sensitive nature and can be easily startled. Many are easily distracted from the Word. We must have sensitivity in
relating to others in different seasons.
D. In the phrase, “Until it pleases”, the Hebrew can be translated as it, he or she. The NAS accurately translates the
phrase as “Don't awaken love until she pleases” instead of “until it pleases.” If the Hebrew was translated “He” it would
refer to the Lord being stirred to action by the daughters of Jerusalem. The Lord has no need for this nor does He need
to be protected by the gentleness pictured by the gazelles. It is the Bride that must be protected from distraction. Three
times Jesus speaks this phrase, “Don’t arouse or awaken my love until it pleases.” (2:7; 3:5; 8:4). In 8:4, He uses the
same phrase “don’t disturb her”. He embraces her like the other 2 times. However in this third reference, He omits the
phrase “by the gazelles of the field” because she is no longer immature and easily tossed to and fro (Ephesians 4:14).
VIII. SUMMARY: SEVEN CONFESSIONS OF FAITH IN SONG 2:1-7
A. When we worship or when we are tempted we proclaim the 7 different confessions of the Bride in (Song 2:1-7):
I am the rose of Sharon (2:1); I am the lily of the valleys (2:1); like an apple tree so is Jesus among men (2:3a); I sat
down in His shade with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste (2:3b); Jesus brought me to the banqueting
house, and His banner over me was love (2:4); I am lovesick (2:5); His left hand is under my head, and his right hand
embraces me (2:6).
1. I am the rose of Sharon (Song 2:1)
2. I am the lily of the valleys (Song 2:1)
3. Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my Beloved among the sons (Song 2:3a)
4. I sat down in his shade with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste (Song 2:3b)
5. He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love (Song 2:4)
6. I am lovesick (Song 2:5)
7. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me. (Song 2:6)