As this lover utters words, multiplying his infatuation with his bride, he uses this word flawless (Hb. tām). Is it not significant, as we hunt down the essence of beauty, that this word also speaks of beauty? As one investigates the theme of beauty in Scripture, you find that there are many terms that describe beauty in different ways. This one describes beauty in such a way that it focuses on its deep and pervasive purity, its moral goodness, its guiltlessness. Beauty here is seen as something overwhelmingly wonderful because it is unspoilt, undefiled, undamaged. It has not pursued anything wrong or disgraceful. Everything about this kind of beauty is appealing and arresting. Possibly one of the most wonderful things this kind of beauty does is awaken a sense of sinfulness within the person who is gazing upon it. This kind of beauty elevates the beautiful person completely beyond the reach of a person who is less than flawless.

It appears to me that this is what is in the heart of the lover at the door. His bride is inside the room in her delightful beauty. When she doesn’t open the door, he doesn’t become sullen and insult her for denying him his rights. He simply turns away, not wanting to trouble someone he respects to such a degree, and walks away. He has no rights with her. If she doesn’t graciously consent to open the door, he will be unwilling to force himself upon her. Although he is disappointed, his appreciation for her elevated position in his perception overrules his insistence on his own desire to be with her.

He speaks of her again using this word flawless in 6:9—he is still devoted to her in spite of anything that has happened. She is still beautiful to him, so elevated in beauty that she seems to be outside of his reach. Strangely enough, she speaks about him as well. Consider the rich picture of verse 5. Her perfume is pictured as dripping and flowing from her hands onto the lock on the door. She is so aware of her own desirability, but is longing for her lover. She opens the door to let him in, but he is gone! Her heart has been pounding, and is now shocked. Her heart sank (verse 6); she was faint with love (verse 8). To lose the object of her desire was devastating for her. Her heart is so taken up with him that she calls him altogether lovely in her description in verses 10-15 (wholly desirable NASB).

When she looks at him, she also can see no fault. He is desirable to look at, the way he conducts himself is desirable, his upbringing and character are desirable, the way he treats her is desirable. She is quite overwhelmed by his desirability. Literally, she calls him lovely. When she looks at him she feels a thrill of delight in her heart and longs for him in her fondest thoughts. She holds him as you would hold a treasure, something more valuable to you than anything else in the world. She would do anything for him and desires to give herself completely to him. She longs to thrill him with everything she is and has, withholding nothing. As she thinks of him, he is not simply someone to whom she is acquainted, he is more dear to her than life itself.