“Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel, and the hair of your head is like purple; A king is held captive by your tresses” (Song of Sol. 7:5 NKJV).
Did you know that glistening purple hair was marked as a sign of beauty in the Bible? I’m intrigued – probably more so as I am now at that age when women proverbially dye their hair purple. What’s more, I, and all my curly haired sisters, so relate to those wild pre CGM* ringlets that entangle her lover!
But what’s all this about?
Jesus is the Bridegroom who is splendid beyond anything we can imagine: “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, He sat down in the place of honour at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven” (Heb. 1:3 NLT). He was there at the beginning of the earth and created and sustained the worlds that deteriorate over time, but He remains unchangeable forever (Heb. 1:10-12).
Those who believe in Jesus have been given to Him as His bride: the Shulamite, as she is poetically depicted in the Song of Solomon. She has become overwhelmingly beautiful because of her association with her King. The more she is with the King, the more beautiful she grows. Every part of her is resplendent and dazzling. She listens intently to His words and everything she does is dedicated to pleasing her Beloved.
The King is the Light of the World. His countenance is like the midday sun in all its strength (Rev. 1:16) and in His presence her magnificent and eye-catching curly head of black hair catches His light and reflects purple lights.
This is the promise to all of us who long for the return of our Bridegroom from heaven: “Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever” (Dan. 12:3 NLT).
* Curly Girl Method - a popular hair care technique that brings wild frizzy hair under control through super hydration.