Solomon had the sweetest name. Line up 10,000 holy men and Solomon stood above them all.

Solomon was like Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is “Greater than Solomon”. If you can grasp how sweet and delight the name Solomon was to the woman in the Song and then think of Jesus you should have more delight in your heart because the Name of Jesus is the sweetest Name above all other names.

Solomon had a bride and Jesus Christ has a bride.

Actually The Son of God always had a bride because the Father gave the Son a Bride before the world began.

Solomon and Jesus Christ had a bride.

The one in possession of the bride is the Bridegroom.

Both The Son of God and Solomon had the same bride.

The woman in the Song is owned by The Son of God because The Father gave her to Him. John 6:37,29; 17:2,6,7,9,11,12

The woman in the Song is owned by Solomon for she gave herself to him because she loved him.

What did she love about him?

It was because of his/His sweet name that she loved him/Him.

Solomon’s name was sweet but The Son of God who put on flesh and died for His Bride has a Sweeter Name! Infinitely sweet. The Source of all delight. A river a pleasure flows from our Heavenly Bridegroom and never runs dry nor can it be quenched. And nothing can separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus!

So If you can get some idea of the delight the woman had when thinking of who Solomon was, what he was like and what he would do and then make an argument from the lesser Christ to the Greater Christ, Jesus then you will have a better understanding of the degree of joy and delight you should have in Jesus for He is Greater than Solomon.

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What she knew about him for sure!

We get what she knew for sure from the text. Meaning, its hard to find any other information in other scriptures that would help us know what she knew of him. I mean it seems she didn’t know a lot, but enough to know she loved him.

I will endeavor to explain what the woman knew for sure about the coming king. What she could have known about him through the Scriptures or word of mouth on or before his first anointing for Solomon was anointed two times, once right before David died and the other time was at his wedding after David died. Compare “anointing oils” in Song 1:3 with Solomon’s first anointing at Gihon. 1 Kings 1:33, 38, 45. With the “crowning” in 3:11 and the people making Solomon “king a second time”…”anointing him as ruler for the Lord” 1 Chronicles 29:22. A Theocratic Monarchy.

What we really want to know is what she knew about him for sure. More specific a question is what do we know for sure that the woman in the Song new about the co regent king (because David was still alive) that drew out her affections towards him? She deeply, passionately and earnestly desired him with fervent affection. She knew for sure:

• That his/His “love was better than wine.”
• That his “name” was pleasing to her.
• That he would be the next “king” of Israel.
• That he was anointed by God, for his “anointing oils” were “pleasing” to her.

In Solomon’s name. What’s in his name that made him so desirable?

What was in his name made him so desirable?

1 Who he is.

2 What he is like.

3 Anything prophesied about him,

4 Psalm 72. And

5 Anything said at the anointing.

All these things could have been known to the salve girl on or before the first anointing of Solomon. Notice that I do not include the unmeasurable wisdom, 1 Kings 4:29. Solomon got unmeasurable wisdom after his second anointing because David is not dead yet til sometime after Song 1:2 and before Solomons wedding. When the woman thinks of the character of Solomon the idea of him having unmeasurable wisdom can’t be included in his name because God hasn’t come to Solomon in a dream yet until 1 Kings 3.

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1 She had an idea of his/His love.
So what did her idea of love consist of?

She had some idea of the superlative nature of his/His love. Particularly as it relates to wine. His love was better than wine. She knew the superlative nature his love. It was better. It was better than wine. This is what she knew about him who she loved.

What is it about love that makes it better than wine and could she have known this? I take the view that it is here at young Solomon’s first anointing where the smell of his anointing oils, that only get poured on at anointing is fresh. The amiable nature of Solomon’s character consisted in his love. She had an idea and taste of his love and that idea and taste was better than wine. Her idea of his love included in it the fact that it was better than wine.

A. She knew no other enjoyment could truly satisfy her soul. B. She expects it to satisfy her and his/His love satisfies her expectation. C. The satisfaction endures and is permanent. D. The degree of her desire for satisfaction could be answered by his/His love. ( See note on “better than wine” for further detailed explanation)

How much of the description about love in Song 8:6-7 did she know when she fell in love? Did she know loves superlative power, jealousy, unquenchability of it, it’s spark, it is a flame above all other flames, can’t be overfilled and was priceless and in-exchangeable? In short I believe she knew loves power to some degree.

“Love is strong as death” Did she know loves superlative strength when she desired affection from him in Song 1:2-3. Loves strength is know in it’s powerful affects. What affect did his love have upon her? It made him desirable to her. Did she know it was a power above human nature? Did she know the love she had in her heart and the love the king had in his was “strong as death”. She knew for sure that his/His love had power to satisfy above wine. So his/His love has a superlative ability to satisfy her soul.

Did she weigh the cost of self denial?

Did she know the supreme cruelty of the nature of loves jealousy?

Did she know love sparks? Yes. Clearly her love is sparked for him. This is the first spark when she first fell in love. She could feel it, it was better than wine.

Did she know love was a flame above all other flames? Yes. The feeling she had was better than wine. Love desires. Her desire for him was greater than her desire for wine. Her love to him inclined her heart to choose what was better. Kisses from him or wine. She desired intimate kisses over wine. The thought of him and sense of his love increased her desire for him. She felt this desire for him. It was intense!

She had the most ardent affections for him and most fervent heat due to the light of the knowledge of his name! The glory of God in the face of Solomon was a light that illuminated her mind, revealing the character of God by way of reflection. His love was a better light. His love was a better flame of light because the thought and experience of it revealed a higher, better knowledge. The knowledge of God, who is love.

Being the recipient of wine is a common grace. Being a recipient of true love is a special grace of God.
the

2 She knew his name was pleasing to her. She had a feeling and sensation in her heart at the thought of him. The thought of him had an affect on her heart. Her affections were aroused or awakened by the thought of him and it was sweet. Sweeter than honey to the lips. He had a sweet name. Who he was and what he was like, his person, along with what he would do was pleasing to her. So that we get some idea of the pleasure she got she compares it to something familiar to us. The thought of who he was and what he was like gave her soul a feeling or sensation similar to that which “anointing oils” give to the nose. But better. Smelling “anointing oils” would bring to mind that something really special was going on. The anointing oils were holy. Set apart for only rare specific occasions.

Since a prophet of God said that Davids son that would rule after him and build the temple was going to be a beloved son of God, that would be enough to cast out all fear or doubts as to who Solomon was. Here in this world we may doubt or question whether or not someone is truly a Christian and adopted into the family of God. But here a woman of faith who’s love promotes and cherishes faith would believe what God said through the prophet Nathan about David’s son. The slave girl had love in her heart toward God. It’s out of her love to God that she believes what God said about Solomon for its out of love to God whereby all things He says is believed. “love believes all things” 1 Cor. 13:7

3 2 Sam 12. 1 Chron 28?

4

5

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“Name“

Whats in a name?  Solomon’s names.  Solomon’s titles and relations.  Solomon’s character.  Prophecies about Solomon.  Christian vs non Christian qualities.  What she knew of his name.

What is in a name?

What is included in a name is Who a person is, which can be known by their title and relations.  Not who a person is but what a person is like is included in their name. So not only is the person, who they are and what they are like, that constitutes the totally of their name but also their “work”. So it’s person and work that are included in a persons name. Solomon’s work was to build the temple, be a peacemaker etc.

He is desirable, Son of David, his name Solomon, the superlative nature of his love, anointed, King of Israel.

The first thing we learn about him.

1 He is desirable. She wants him. She desires. Her mind, will and emotions are all caught up in him. What made him desirable? Who he was and what he was like made him desirable. He was the most desirable man alive for all the maidens loved him as their king. How many of them wanted to marry him, the text doesn’t say. So the maidens and the slave girl loved their king. Yet, the slave girl wanted more. She wanted a closer more intimate relationship with the coming king. His holy name made him desirable for the amiableness of a person consists in his holiness, which is his moral beauty and what makes him attractive or desirable. Who he was and what he was like was the foundation fo her love to him. Her love was powerful, fearless, selfless and priceless. What is absent in this relationship is a deeper level of intimacy. To go from knowing of him as her king to experientially knowing him at a higher, deeper, wider and longer level of intimacy in marriage. Holy people desire the closest most intimate relationship possible in their respective positions in life for love unites hearts. King to servant. Brother to sister. Friends. Past enemies.†

That he was a son of David. Solomon was a son of David. This implies that Solomon could have been the Messiah everyone had been waiting for since the promises made of him/Him going back as far as Genesis 3 were someone would be born more powerful than Satan through Eve that would “crush” his head.

She new not only his character but his name “Solomon”.

1 That he could have been The Messiah. The king that would rule forever.

Who is Solomon?  Solomon is a human and not an angel, God nor Jesus Christ.  We know who a person is by their titles and relations.

What’s in a name or the person and work of Israel’s Messiah and king is what could be known of Solomon prior to his wedding night.  The night of his second crowning.  Just prior to Solomon’s first anointing which also includes anything that was said at his anointing for she was there when she first fell in love with Solomon.  So she knew of him.  What did she know of newly anointed young co regent king?  So I will list everything that was possible for her to know about Solomon prior to her being close enough to smell his anointing oils.  So at a minimum she knew enough to be swift, powerful and fearless in her pursuit of a closer more intimate relationship with him.
She knew of his love and this is clear because she says it was better than wine.  Knowing him and his love was enough to cast out fear and give her boldness like a mare in battle.

The reason I bring it down to the bare minimum is because then this is what we can know for sure.  Everything else that is possible is only possible.  But what is for sure that she knew of him?  She knew of his love.  She knew his name was pleasing.

She had his love in her because she could sense it.  She knew they had the same love.  He loved her as her king and she loved him as her king, but she wanted a more intimate relationship than that.

Solomon’s titles/roles

Messiah, king, Shepherd of people and sheep,

Titles

Israel’s promised Messiah, Anointed king, Christ, Wisest Prophet, Priest and king of kings 2 Chronicles 9:26+,

Beloved son of God.  Solomon was a “son of God”.  Beloved “son of God”  2 Sam. 12:24-25.  Solomon was a son of God.  This speaks of his relationship to and with God.  Solomon was not a child of the devil.  Solomon was born of God and was God’s son.  Solomon’s other name Jedidiah carries with it the idea of being loved by God, therefore Solomon was a beloved son of God.1 Chronicles 22:10“He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ We know what Solomon was like by his character and names

Prophecies about Solomon

2 Sam. 7:12-14

Psalm 72

Solomon’s Character

Character of a believer or someone born again.  Holy faith.  Sacrificial love.  Godly wisdom.  Humble.  Heavenly Minded.  Godly sorrow that leads to repentance.  Verses the character of everyone has including non believers that is honest, justice, generosity, supposed good nature and social skills or manners.

Holy faith.  In love to God there is faith for love promotes and cherishes faith.  What God says those who have love to God will believe Him.  So those who love God have a holy faith and also believes righteousness is by that faith Gen. 15:6.

Love.  Solomon’s was characterized as a man of love.  He loved God  1 Kings 3:3.  Solomon not only loved God but also loved His people and would love them. Solomon cared to be a wise king for the good of God’s people.  So Solomon asked for wisdom and not riches.  Solomon was not selfish in his prayers.  Nor was Solomon selfish in his love to his first wife Song 8:7.

Solomon’s Character after Song 3:11 but before he grew old.

Solomon had knowledge of God.  2 Chronicles

What she could have known about his name

What could have been known about Solomon before his first anointing?

1  What could have been known about Solomon in 2 Sam. 7:12-14

2  What could have been known about Solomon in Psalm 72

3 The truths about Solomon on or before 1 Kings 1:38

4 If she knew Ex. 30:30-32 then she would know more about Solomon due to him being anointed. Not an ordinary man, consecrated to God, to serve him

This is important because when she says his “name” was pleasing to her in Song 1:3 what is included in his name can only be things known about Solomon up and including what was said at his anointing because when she smell his anointing oils thoughts of who he was, what he was like and would do were in her head.  So Solomon did not have unmeasurable wisdom yet until after David died.  David is still alive for a time after Solomon’s first anointed.  God came to Solomon at night after Song 3:11 and 1 Chron. 29:22.    I do not doubt that she knew Solomon would be wise in order to be a king of peace, build the temple and be a prophet but in their courtship Solomon was wise but didn’t have unmeasurable wisdom until his wedding night.  2 Chronicles 1:12

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“NAME”  Character

“wisdom”  “knowledge”  2 Chron. 1:12  Which knowledge is “knowledge of God”  Knowledge of the love of God.   Knowledge of His Name.  Knowledge of who He Is and His love to Israel.   Herein Israel’s Messiah and king loved his bride as God loved Israel.  We know the things Solomon did and we know the motive of his heart  Song 8:6, 1:2-3, “fully devoted” to God. 1 Kings 11:4  Understanding to discern what is right.

He was a “beloved and friend” above all others Song 5:11,16, son of David, 3rd Messiah of Israel, who sat on the “throne of God” in Jerusalem 2 Chronicles 9:8.  Built a house where God came to dwell with man.   As far as I can tell Solomon was the greatest type of Christ to have ever lived!   Of course Solomon sinned and so did all the other messiahs.   Solomon sinned at the end of his life 1 Kings 11:4.

Character

1. Unmeasurable wisdom
   1. Understanding the love of a mother to her child.
2. Had the Love of God dwelling in him
   1. Was not selfish but loved God’s people by prayed for wisdom rather than riches 1 Kings 3
   2. Love suffers, as Christ.   Being a father after a hard days work is difficult, but if you love your wife and kids you will do some cleaning and then lead your family in some devotions from the Bible.
   3. Had love to his wife in his heart. Song 8:6
   4. Loved God in his heart.  1 Kings 3:3 “And Solomon loved the Lord,”
3. Future.   He would be “Strong and courageous” in building the temple 1 Chronicles 28:20.   Solomon at the time of his wedding at a young age 3:11, 1 Chronicles 28:20.  Yet the building of the temple was prophecied by God, therefore Solomon would be strong and courageous and finish the task because God promised it.
   
4. Holy. Solomon was holy. Set apart for God. Holiness is an excellency of God. It was the sight of Solomon’s holiness that drew our her humble affection for him. “Humility as an essential qualification of charity is one and the same work of the Spirit, just as love to God and to men are not two gifts of the Spirit but one. In this sense , a humble love is the sum of all virtues. The reason humility lies deep in the heart of charity is that both are immediate responses to the loveliness of God, to his moral excellency.”

Names

Solomon, King to whom peace belongs.  Jedidiah, loved by God. 2 Sam. 12:24-25

A Messiah of Israel and Gentile nations.   Anointed king, knew God was with him. 1 Chronicles 28:20

Relational Aspects

Son of David, Beloved above all other beloved’s Song 5:9, Friend above all other friends, Brother,

Key Truths

He was born king of the Jews 1 Chronicles 22:9

Of the Tribe of Judah.    Ultimately, the most important Judahite is King David. The tribe of Judah was the first to raise him to the kingship in Hebron (2Sam 2:1-4) and the first to call him back to his throne after his son Absalom’s revolt (2Sam 19:11-15). Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal when the northern tribes seceded (1Kgs 12:16-17), and the psalmist marks secession as treason and grounds for God’s rejection of the northern tribes (Ps 78:68-72). In the exile, Daniel of the tribe of Judah becomes a model for correct behavior and faithfulness (Dan 1:6). As the fortunes of the Theocratic Israelite monarchy declined, the messianic vision held that the future was in the hands of a Davidic descendant within the tribe of of Judah who would restore the nation and its relationship with God (Isa 11:1, Mic 5:2).

Chosen by God to sit on the throne in the kingdom of God or God’s kingdom.  1 Chronicles 28:5

Physical Possession

“Royal Splendor”

“Royal Splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before”

David had a great name 1 Sam. 18:30, Solomon had a greater name, being king of kings and unmeasurably wise, yet Jesus Christ has a Greater Name above all other names for He is LORD of lords.  Solomon was to be a type of Christ.  Just the mention of his name, Solomon, people who loved Him were pleased, to hear the name of the greatest type of Christ alive was like perfume poured out.

“name” She has a divine sense and relish of the heart, of the holy beauty and excellency of the person and work of God’s son the king of peace for his “name” was like perfume poured out.  The Holy Spirit of Love dwelling in her mind and heart gives her this sense. 8:6
His good name renders him amiable and is a motive and encouragement to love him for who he is and the kind of person he is like.

The people had a high view of their new Messiah, Solomon, the king of peace gifted with unmeasurable wisdom and we to also ought to have that high view of Solomon before he “grew old” 1 Kings 11:4 in order to a right view of Solomon.

Our highest and greatest affections or love must be exercised to those who are most worthy of them.

The sufficiency of Israel’s Messiah character to fulfill God’s purposes was greater than any other king before or after.  2 Chronicles 1:12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.

holiness consists in having grace in the heart: grace and holiness are the same thing.

“name”  Title Messiah, anointed one,  or Christ.  Purpose was to be a type of Jesus Christ.  The Song illustrates for us how the greatest type of Christ alive loved his bride and she reciprocates.  How a Messiah of Israel who was immeasurably one with God’s Son loved his bride.  Solomon possessed unmeasurable wisdom.  The Wisdom that guides Israel’s Messiah and king is on display in his union with his bride 2:15, 17.

Love desires the strictest union with the object of its affection.  Especially since his name was worth more than gold and silver for “name is like perfume poured out.” Solomon was most desirable to have as a husband due to the supreme excellency of his character and reputation.

Doctrine?  1 Kings 4:34 The proclamation of the excellencies of the king of peace and his love good will toward men drew men unto himself.  “his name was like perfume poured out no wonder the maidens loved him.”

Love to God consists in a delightful and affectionate sense of the divine perfections were ever they may find them.  She saw them in Solomon to the highest degree and loved him for who he was, what he did and stood for.  His “name” was like perfume poured out.

She desires this love from Solomon without fear because of who he was,  Solomon was one of Israel greatest promised messiah and there was no other greater husband to be desired,  he was “chief among ten thousand” Song 5:10 and was a “beloved above all others” Song 5:9  No waiting around here,  she says “Let us hurry..  Let the king take me into his chambers”  Swiftly she expresses her desire of union with the king of Israel who’s name is like perfume poured out, in marriage.   She intensely desires to be married to a type of Christ with a good name a sweet and pleasing name, like perfume poured out pleases us.

From the name of the king of peace to the Name of God, “His name was in the city Jerusalem.” 1 Kings 11:36

I Kings 4:31, 5:11

The Greatness and Holiness of God’s name made it praiseworthy.  Ps. 99:2

“Name”  The Queen of Sheba recognized Solomon’s great “wisdom” and God’s “Eternal love” for Israel is why God gave them Solomon to be their king.  1 Kings 10:8-9

“His name”

His name is understood in the mind and delighted in by the heart and the will inclined to choose him.

There was going to be “no one like him”  before him nor after!!  1 Kings 3:12, Song 5:10  “No equal among kings”  The context of Song 1:2-4 is Solomon as a young child loving selfless king in Jerusalem.

“Name”  Jedidiah.  Beloved son of God.Colossians 1:13“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” 

The union of the heart of a believer to Christ is begun when his heart is drawn to Christ, by the first discovery of divine excellency.

True love is immediate in the sense of being determined by the intrinsic nature of its object alone

This Love Song starts off with a request, a deep desire expressed in words.  She desires multiple shows of affection from God, through Solomon.   Kisses are shows of affection.  Solomon’s love is more delightful than wine.  Meaning more delightful than what most people consider to be delightful.  Most considered wine to be delightful around a wedding.  What is more delightful than the wine is being the bride experiencing God’s love in marriage to the greatest type of Christ alive and single.

Now to stir up your love for Christ, and this book will do it like no other.  Argue from Solomon to the Greater Christ.

The bride desired multiple show of intimate affection from Solomon because experiencing God’s love through Solomon was more delightful than wine.  Wine is physical and love is of the Spirit.  Spiritual delights are better than physical delights.  Experience more love from God through a mediator or experience more wine?  His/his love was more delightful than wine.

The sweeter the name the more powerful the attraction and desirability.

Application for the husband, wife or believer.

God’s idea of Himself or Name is manifested in and through Solomon’s roles, as king, priest, prophet, husband, friend.  Get an idea of the greatest type of Christ in Solomon then you get reflected and true idea’s of God.  Solomon was God’s representative on earth.

“Spiritual light han’t its seat only in the head, but mainly in the heart. It primarily consists in a sense of the excellency of divine things in the heart.”  JE

“is like”  There is something similar about her knowledge of the king and his love to her that is similar to that of the king’s ointments being poured forth.  Thinking of the person and work of Israel’s current king and Messiah and sensing and knowing his love to her is like sensing or smelling the fragrance of the best perfume.  Do you know the smell of the ointments the king would be anointed with?   Just as you don’t know that smell a non believer does not know God’s love for they have not experienced God’s love of forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  They don’t know what it feels like to have a love relationship with God for they aren’t in one.

No king would ever bring about more peace in Israel and the surrounding Jewish Nations than the king to whom peace belongs would bring by his love to God guided by his unmeasurable wisdom.

Observe what it was that aroused his affections for her.  Remember we are in the arousal section of the Poem when they first meet and their affections are aroused for each other. Here we see that king Solomon was hearing a woman in love expressing her thoughts and feelings about his love which arouses his affections for her.  Solomon would not know the sincerity of her words but she probably didn’t give any indication that she was lying.  She wasn’t just saying this to impress him.  It was true and she knew his love was better than wine.  She knew his love to be better and of a more soul satisfying nature, therefore it would have been a holy true love in her heart for him.  Meaning that your average person wouldn’t know that God’s love through Solomon would satisfy the soul like she knew it would because they have not tasted the special love of God like she has because you have to have the same love in your heart in order to sense it and taste the “betterness”  if I may say so of it.  Not everyone has this holy flame in them.  This love comes from God, is something of God and has God as it’s primary object “for love is strong as death.”  Song 8:6  The love she had in her heart and the love he had in his was above human power to muster up.  Humans have no power over death.  No one is strong enough to stop death and neither is anyone strong enough to have an unquenchable and priceless love apart from God.    So not only does she have a superlative love in her heart and a sense of it that is subjective, but she also has a love of complacency in him due to his holy name, good reputation and character.  Holiness being the supreme excellency of his character, thus she has love in her heart as Edwards defines it.  “Love is the souls relish of the supreme excellency of the divine nature, inclining  the heart to choose
God as its chief good.”  JE  This love in her heart is what attracted him to her and made her morally beautiful in his eyes.

“name”  Solomon’s name.  His reputation.  Officials wanted Solomon’s “name” to be “more famous” than David’s.  1:47

(After the introduction have a part where I talk about his “name”. In that section is everything about Solomon. In the commentary would be all the main points that refer to the intro for details.)

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Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.

Is God, the Living Word of God.

He spoke and the World came into existence!

Son of God, the image of the invisible God, put on flesh and made His dwelling among us.

Father to the fatherless

He makes God’s enemies to be at peace with Him

Strength for the weak.

He is the Lord our Righteousness for the unrighteous.

Spiritual Healing for the broken hearted.

King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Savior, He will save you from your sins.

The way, the Truth and the Life, no on goes to the Father but through Him!

Holiness for the unholy.

Good to those who are evil.

Our substitute, the Lamb of God.

Satisfaction for the unsatisfied.

He is Hope for the Hopeless.

When afraid of punishment He is the propitiation for our sins.  He averted the Wrath of God for us.

A relationship with Him is better than any other experience!

Revelation 1:12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.

17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

Song of Songs 5:10-16