I am dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon. – Song of Songs 1:5 NKJV

Our girl has spent the evening in the Kings courts. She experienced His personal care for the first time. Now she knows what Isaiah learned in the year that King Uzziah died.

Leonard Ravenhill, the wonderful revivalist from the last century, often preached a sermon using Isaiah 6 as his text and with this outline: Woe, Lo, Go. (You can download a copy at SermonAudio.com. It’s wonderful.)

Woe is me! For I am undone. (vs 5)

When I get into the presence of the Lord the first thing that strikes me is how I really don’t belong here. I am filthy, dirty, DARK and unfit for the Kings Presence.

Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. (vs 7)

The blood of Jesus purges opens the way for me to enter this place, and I am not consumed.

Go, and tell this people. (vs 9)

Intimacy leads to productivity.

So let’s look at our maiden. She spends the evening in the King’s presence and when she gets home she begins to examine herself. One look in the mirror is all it takes to see she is earthy–from working outside–from years in the hot sun of the Middle East.

She is dirty from “everything under the sun.” This is the phrase Solomon used in Ecclesiastes to talk about the world’s influence. Jesus told Peter to sit still while He washed his feet. Peter didn’t need a bath–just a cleansing from the dust of the roads of life.

Then she remembers His words to her. He says “I am lovely.” I can see the scene in West Side Story. “I feel pretty,” rings out as our dark beauty dances about her tent’s dirt floor in bare feet, remembering her evening with the King.

The tents of Kedar made of dark animal skins dotted the white sands of the wilderness. The curtains of Solomon, sumptuous and pristine, highlighted the windows of what may have been the most beautiful palace of all time.

Dark and dusty on the outside, beautifully adorned on the inside.

So it is with us. Any time spent on introspection will turn up dirt. Exposing things we know must change. Uncovering hidden places of the heart. Highlighting areas we know we could improve. All of it fodder for shame in the accuser’s hands.

Then you take the bread and wine of God’s love and realize He made you lovely and perfectly acceptable in His sight. No, not just acceptable–desirable! You are the apple of God’s eye, the rose of Sharron, the lily among thorns. You are His desire.

Staggering, isn’t it?

O the joys of the presence of the Lord!

Come back again next week, won’t you?

Ben