Who is like Him?

I have seen you in the sanctuary,

and beheld your power and your glory...

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Song 5:10 KJV

My beloved is white and ruddy, 

the chiefest among ten thousand. 

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When I first heard that worship song 'Yeshua' that's based primarily on this verse, I was so moved by it. At that time, I was yet to familiarize myself with the context of that scripture. Even so, I found it so beautiful that one could just sing a song and proclaim that Jesus, being our Beloved, is the most beautiful among thousands and thousands. 

This made me begin to wonder ~ what does He really look like? The Psalmist says He is clothed with splendor and majesty, wrapped in light as with a garment; makes the clouds His chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. Mountains melt like wax before Him. The whole earth trembles at His Presence. 

It's intriguing how Psalms 114 captures it. Because of God's majestic presence: the sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back; the mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. The rock was turned into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water. The Psalmist goes on to ask: Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you turned back, you mountains, that you skipped like rams, you hills, like lambs? 

I'd ask them the same honestly ~ what really did they see? Even the Israelites themselves trembled with fear and kept their distance when God manifested Himself at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:18-19). Great and terrible God they call Him. A verse in the Song of Moses and Miriam (Exodus 15:11) after the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea captures it so well:

Who among the gods is like You, LORD?

Who is like you - majestic in holiness,

awesome in glory, working wonders?

I thought that by reading the Shulamite's description of her lover in Song 5:10-16, I could at least catch a glimpse of Him. I'm not sure it worked 🙃, but it did something remarkable. Let's get started!!

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Song 5:10-16 NKJV

My beloved is white and ruddy, 

Chief among ten thousand.

His head is like the finest gold; 

His locks are wavy, 

And black as a raven.

His eyes are like doves 

By the rivers of waters, 

Washed with milk, And fitly set.

His cheeks are like a bed of spices, 

Banks of scented herbs. 

His lips are lilies, 

Dripping liquid myrrh.

His hands are rods of gold 

Set with beryl. 

His body is carved ivory 

Inlaid with sapphires.

His legs are pillars of marble 

Set on bases of fine gold. 

His countenance is like Lebanon, 

Excellent as the cedars.

His mouth is most sweet, 

Yes, he is altogether lovely. 

This is my beloved, 

And this is my friend, 

O daughters of Jerusalem!

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Truth be told, the description sounds a little off 🙃😂. Most of the imagery in this book may not really make much sense. There's a reel I watched a while back on Instagram and it really cracked me up. It's based on the correspondent description of the Shulamite by Solomon in Song 4:1-7. I'll risk losing your attention and drop the link, praying y'all will remember to get back 🙂.

 https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpQlsd6gjcn/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Back to our little story! The Shulamite says all the above in praise of her lover as a way to respond to the taunts of her friends in verse 9 ~ 'What is your beloved more than another beloved?' She publicly proclaims how perfect he is. Because this is in a physical context, she focuses on his physical appearance ~ his head, hair, eyes, cheeks, lips, arms, lips, body, legs, mouth and general appearance. She tries to point out to her friends that her lover was indeed perfect in beauty...that there was no flaw in him...that he was lovely in every way possible...that given a chance, she'd choose him again. He was indeed 'the most beautiful among ten thousand.' 

You can tell that she's speaking like one that's burning with love...one that had just fallen in love for the first time. It didn't matter then that she had not so long ago failed to open the door for him when he came knocking in the dead of night. Her imperfections did not stop her from adoring the beauty of her lover. In any case, she did it all the more. That love burned so ferociously that it drew her friends' attention. They longed to have a taste of what she had ~ Where has your beloved gone, O fairest among women? Where has your beloved turned aside, that we may seek him with you? (Song 6:1 ~ to be discussed at length in the next blog) 

Now, for a more spiritual perspective, Solomon in his wisdom wasn't just writing in plain terms. If you've read 2 Chronicles 3-5 you'll realize that the description above is a combination of the imagery of the human body and that of the temple he built in Jerusalem. The lover is beautifully described in the language of the temple ~ gold, precious stones, ivory, pillars of marble and cedars of Lebanon. All the above are the exact materials Solomon used in building the temple. I personally think that the description suits a temple more than it does a human body, no offence 🙂. Bible scholars have gone even deeper by carefully studying ten excellencies of God as portrayed in every line of that song. That's, however, not the direction we'll take for this study (it's a bit complex if you ask me 🙃).

David captures a bit of this combined imagery when he says (Psalms 27:4 AMP):

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple. 

I believe that though we can't really see God, we can behold His beauty and splendor as we muse and meditate on His greatness, His goodness, His love, His sovereignty, and so much more. It's almost like once we do this we might eventually catch a glimpse of His actual appearance. 

Sometimes I read the psalms of David and it almost feels like he truly saw Him, even if only for a split second. I think it's why he praised God like his whole life depended on it. He was awe-struck by His greatness. The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures have never grown weary of bowing and worshipping God since they came into being. There truly is something so supernatural about God. I don't know about you, but I'm making that my prayer. I too want to gaze upon the beauty of my Beloved, and praise Him like my whole life depends on it. 

We've been exposed to a kind of gospel that is very man-centred, sorry to say. More often than not, our focus is primarily on God's role in answering our selfish (so to speak) prayers, making our lives prosperous and care-free, and being at our beck and call each time we cry out. This makes our praises to Him be only because of His mighty acts, and seldom for who He is. Such praise lacks a perfect balance. Such christians are quick to lose it when the not-so-comfortable seasons last a second longer than their expectation. That shouldn't be the core of why we praise. We praise Him; first, because of who He is, and second, because of what He has done or can do. 

Praising Him for His marvelous attributes is also part of praising Him for who He is. Regardless of what our feelings dictate, we can choose to remind ourselves of the nature of our God ~ compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, forgiving wickedness rebellion and sin. He is the faithful God, who keeps His covenant of love to a thousand generations. He is majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders. He alone is great, and there is NONE like Him. There's none that is holy like Him. 

He says: I am the LORD, and there is no other." 

Even now He asks: To whom will you compare me, or count me equal? To whom will you liken me, that we may be compared? 

Hannah says: There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides You; there is no Rock like our God. 

David says: Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. 

The Shulamite calls her lover: 'distinguished among ten thousand.'

The four living creatures worship Him day and night, proclaiming: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. 

What then will you say?

Is He King and Lord above it all?

Have you crowned Him 'the most worthy'?

Have you set Him above all other beloveds? 

Have you called Him 'the most beautiful'? 

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Psalms 63:2-5 NIV

I have seen you in the sanctuary 

and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life, 

my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live, 

and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied 

as with the richest of foods; 

with singing lips 

my mouth will praise you.

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Once we have truly beheld Him in all His splendour and majesty, we can, in one accord, sing this psalm of David with all His creation: ♥️

Psalm 148: 1-14 NIV 

Praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD from the heavens, 

praise him in the heights above.

Praise him, all his angels, 

praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Praise him, sun and moon, 

praise him, all you shining stars.

Praise him, you highest heavens 

and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the LORD, 

for he commanded and they were created.

He set them in place for ever and ever; 

he gave a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the LORD from the earth, 

you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds, 

stormy winds that do his bidding,

you mountains and all hills, 

fruit trees and all cedars,

wild animals and all cattle, 

small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations, 

you princes and all rulers on earth,

young men and maidens, 

old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD, 

for his name alone is exalted; 

his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

He has raised up for his people a horn, 

the praise of all his saints, of Israel, 

the people close to his heart. 

Praise the LORD.

                     

♣️That said, here's what I will say:

(Pangerians let's assemble 🥁 🎵🎶)

I have searched the mountains high

I have searched the valleys low

"There is none like You

There is none like You."

I have searched a thousand times

A thousand times the same reply

"There is none like You

There is none like You."

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PS. I know it's hard to do this sometimes, especially when we know fully well that we've fallen and come up short. The enemy will always try to make us withhold our praise by condemning us with our numerous imperfections. It's true that in such moments we feel like we're miles away from God. The good news, however, is that as we praise Him, we are ushered into His Presence (Psalms 100:4). There, that supernatural joy of Salvation is restored (Psalms 16:11). Consequently, we are able to draw even nearer His throne of grace, and there receive mercy and find grace (Hebrews 4:12). Simply put, that joy helps us draw from the wells of forgiveness (Isaiah 12:3). Having received that purification, our souls are in a better position to worship Him. It's my hope and prayer that all this will become a reality 😊. 

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Isaiah 44:6-8 NIV 

"This is what the LORD says- 

Israel's King and Redeemer, 

the LORD Almighty: 

I am the first and I am the last; 

apart from me there is no God.

Who then is like me? 

Let him proclaim it. 

Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come- yes, let him foretell what will come.

Do not tremble, do not be afraid. 

Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? 

You are my witnesses. 

Is there any God besides me? 

No, there is no other Rock; 

I know not one."

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I know not one.