Jesus: Chief among Ten-Thousand

Song of Solomon 5:9–16 NASB95

9 “What kind of beloved is your beloved, O most beautiful among women? What kind of beloved is your beloved, That thus you adjure us?” 10 “My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, Outstanding among ten thousand. 11 “His head is like gold, pure gold; His locks are like clusters of dates And black as a raven. 12 “His eyes are like doves Beside streams of water, Bathed in milk, And reposed in their setting. 13 “His cheeks are like a bed of balsam, Banks of sweet-scented herbs; His lips are lilies Dripping with liquid myrrh. 14 “His hands are rods of gold Set with beryl; His abdomen is carved ivory Inlaid with sapphires. 15 “His legs are pillars of alabaster Set on pedestals of pure gold; His appearance is like Lebanon Choice as the cedars. 16 “His mouth is full of sweetness. And he is wholly desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”

A few Sunday mornings ago I talked about the reality that I have personally preached few messages from the Song of Solomon in my over 35 years in ministry.

Some of the reason is that it includes passages that are very vivid in their sexuality.

But here I am again just a few weeks later to encourage us to see Jesus in this passage about the Bridegroom of the Song of Solomon.

To see Him like this Shunamite bride did — as our beloved.

To see Him as Chief, Greater than the sum of ten thousand of the best this world has ever or COULD ever offer.

In reality, the Hebrew word translated “ten thousand” actually means literally “a large number.”

In ancient times, 10,000 was larger than they could really imagine.

Now we talk about budgets and spending bills that range in the TRILLIONS of dollars.

Some translations use this word to describe millions or thousands of millions (billions).

So let’s see Jesus as Chief of the largest number you can grasp — and then He is better than that by exponential facts.

Let’s not only see Him — but let’s seek Him as above all others, as we pray during this last Sunday evening service of 2021.

I appreciate Sister Diane’s words of praise this morning, but PLEASE don’t look to me, look to Jesus.

I have and will fail you — but Jesus will never fail you.

He is chiefest of all the BILLIONS who have ever lived — not just chief of 10,000.

When Absalom usurped the throne, an aging King David was determined to lead his army in battle against him and his rebels. His own loyal followers vigorously protested:

2 Samuel 18:3 (NASB95)

But the people said, “You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not care about us; even if half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; ...”

This uses a concrete term that does literally mean 10,000.

They thought David that valuable.

How much more the Son of David, Jesus?

If it were possible for us to muster a group of ten thousand worthies, including the greatest leaders, potentates, celebrities, principalities, governors, dignitaries, supervisors, legislators, presidents, emperors, kings, princes, lords, and rulers, we should find that the one of chiefest dignity, noblest rank and fairest countenance of all would be our blessed Lord and beloved Savior, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:21). Jesus is ...

Ephesians 1:21 (NLT)

Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.

Charles Rolls says:

Christ is more winsome than any language can possibly convey.

The tongues of men and of angels falter when attempting to describe the transporting sight of a transfigured Savior, such as overwhelmed the three disciples on the mount.

We need to be stirred to a state of rapture, fired with a burning heart to a degree of holy ecstasy, so that our souls can mount up with wings as eagles to behold in the highest and holiest the Chiefest among Ten Thousand.

Lord, reveal Thyself that we may behold Thy beauty in the sanctuary with its dignity and glory, until our enraptured hearts burst forth into songs of adoring gratitude, and we bless Thy holy Name in ceaseless praise.

AS we come to Him, what can we offer to this One who is Chiefest of 10,000?

Will we bring an offering of metal or money, fruits or fabrics, gems or gifts?

All such things are perishables that turn to dust.

No!

What He wants from us tonight is:

our heart’s love and loyalty,

our mind’s admiration and worship

and our will’s submission willingness to sacrifice all that the world calls precious for His sake — to accomplish His will.

These attitudes and activities are of more value to Him than any and all all material things we could bring.

So as we pray let’s give Him these things — give Him all of ourselves — unreservedly.

As we do that, the more we contemplate Him

the loftier and lovelier He becomes, until His personal attributes expand into a whole world of worthiness, a paradise of perfections, a constellation of comeliness and a galaxy of glory.

Amazing thought, that this Chiefest of 10,000 should condescend to bear our sin, our shame and our dishonor (Psalm 69:19).