These verses describe the royal wedding, beginning with the preparation of the Bridegroom (vv. 7b-9). The anointing in verse 7b is not His anointing as King but as the honored guest at the wedding feast. It is the “oil of gladness” representing the eternal joy that belongs to the happy bride and Bridegroom (Isa. 61:3). The soldiers gambled for our Lord’s garments when He hung on the cross (John 19:23–24), but at the wedding feast, His garments will be fragrant and glorious. To have ivory inlay on the walls of your house was the height of prosperity (Amos 3:15; 1 Kings 22:39), but the King’s palace is made of ivory. As the King prepares to meet the bride, the musicians play beautiful music. In ancient times, a Jewish bridegroom went to the bride’s house to claim her and then took her to his own home, and Jesus will do that when He returns to claim His church (1 Thess. 4:13–18). The “king’s daughters” (v. 9) are princesses who accompany the bride; we would call them bridesmaids. In verse 14 they are called “virgin companions” (niv), so they must not be confused with harem women, who certainly would not be in a wedding procession.
Next comes the preparation of the bride (vv. 10–13). Today, the church of Jesus Christ is spotted by the world and looking old and wrinkled because of inner decay, but one day it shall be a glorious bride, blameless, and without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:27). Though criticized today, the church in that day will be beautiful and bring great glory to Christ (Eph. 1:6–12, 18). As the queen waits within her palace chamber (v. 13), she is dressed in the finest garments, embroidered with the finest gold (1 Kings 9:28), and she is given counsel as she enters this new relationship. She must forget the past, submit to her Husband the King, and seek only to please Him. What a word for the church in the world today—“forgetting those things which are behind” (Phil. 3:13). Our Lord loves us and sees beauty in His bride, and we must acknowledge that He is Lord and worship Him, showing respect and homage to Him (1 Peter 3:6; Gen. 18:12). It would be idolatry to worship a human king, but this is the King of Glory (24:7–10). “The daughter of Tyre” means “the people of Tyre,” just as “the daughter of Zion” means “the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (Matt. 21:5; Isa. 4:4). Tyre was a powerful and wealthy city in David’s day, and its king was the first foreign ruler to recognize the kingship of David (2 Sam. 5:11). There will come a time when the kings of the earth will bring their wealth and glory into the city of the great King (Rev. 21:24–26).
In the next stage of the wedding, the bride is brought to the King (vv. 14–15), and her companions are with her. It is a time of beauty and joy as the wedding party enters the banquet hall in the palace and shares in the wedding feast. (See Rev. 19:1–10.) As the King and His queen leave, the writer pronounces a benediction (vv. 16–17), speaking especially to the King. (The pronouns are masculine.) We may paraphrase it: “No matter how great your ancestors were, your descendants will be even greater. They will be princes in all the earth, not just government officers in the kingdom. You will reign forever and ever and your name will never be forgotten. The people will praise you forever.” Words like these spoken at an ancient Eastern wedding would be considered polite exaggeration, but when applied to Jesus Christ, they aren’t strong enough! He is bringing many children to glory (Heb. 2:10, 13), and His family will share His glory and His reign.
Hallelujah, what a Savior!