Song 8:8-14 – Cultivate a single-minded devotion for Jesus

The last six verses of this love poem record for us three conversations. Verses 8-10 is a conversation that the Shulamite had with her brothers. Verses 11-12 is a conversation between the Shulamite and Solomon. And finally, in verses 13-14, is her conversation with her beloved shepherd. We will look at each conversation one at the time.

The conversation she has with her brothers took place back in the mother’s house. We surmised that it was they who had taken on the responsibility to raise her. She recalls how they were concerned for her. At that point, she was nearing puberty. The phrase “she has no breasts” indicates that her breasts have not fully developed yet. The brothers felt responsible to protect her chastity and modesty. The two terms, “wall” and “door” has to do with the status of her virginity. If she’s a wall, it means that she’s a virtuous lady who has not violated her virginity, then she will be crowned with silver i.e. honor. However, if she is a door, one who is flirtatious, then for her own good the brothers would build a plank of Cedar around her. This will be for her own protection.

In verse 10, the Shulamite claims to be a person of moral excellence. She said of herself, “I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace.” In saying so, she maintains her chastity and assures his brothers that she is of marriageable age, mature and she has taken hold of herself well. She knows she’s at peace with herself and had never at any point succumbed to any allurement, be it wine, fame or flattery of Solomon. And those who saw her can attest to her moral purity.

Her second conversation with Solomon is found in verses 11 and 12. She is seen here settling her account with him. Solomon owned a large vineyard at Baal-hamon and left it to the charge of caretakers. He had tenanted it and the tenants have to make their payment to him. It was a profitable vineyard. These two verses suggest that the vineyard could have been offered to the Shulamite for her hand in marriage. But she snubbed that offer and returned the vineyard to Solomon. In verse 12, she then refers to herself as a vineyard. She has kept herself well and she will not tenant herself to Solomon or any other. Despite the dangling and glittering temptations, she remains unmoved and fixed in her devotion to her beloved.  

The last two verses capture her conversation with her beloved, the one her soul truly loves. The Shulamite is seen here as sitting in the “gardens”. She prefers gardens to open pasture land. The places of her delight are not in the open field. This conveys the idea that socially, she lives a restraint life and not one of unguarded liberty. Accompanied by a few of his companions, the beloved came asking to speak to her. He is eager to hear her voice and find out what happened to her at the palace. Wanting to be alone with him, she invites him to come away, so that alone they can share some private moments of intimacy. They can go to a place where they will not be separated by barriers and there they shall have a delightful time together.  

Like the Shulamite, Christians must build a virtuous life of moral excellence. We must protect our integrity and live respectfully and honorably. We must not be easily enticed by the luring temptation of the world. Solitude is one practice we must cultivate to develop attentiveness to Jesus, our beloved. Be it fame or fortune, like the Shulamite who repels Solomon’s glittering offer of the vineyard, we too must repel the glittering offers of the world. Instead, we should find time with Jesus our beloved, He wants to hear our voice. He takes great delight in us and when we are with Him we will find perfect peace, and that we are truly home at last. With a single-minded devotion, we must pursue our love for Jesus. It is with Him that we shall find pleasure forevermore. Praise the Lord that He is our Beloved!

Song 8:5-7 – Let us love Jesus deeply and dearly

True love remains constant. It doesn’t shift despite the attractions that can come from all directions. It remains firm, fixed, and faithful. That’s the love the Shulamite has for her beloved. The attention shown by Solomon might be tempting but she is not swayed. Here in verse 5, we hear a question being asked, “Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved?” This is intended to show that true love is steadfast. Here the Shulamite’s love for her beloved is portrayed. From a distance, they are seen lovingly entwined. She leans on her beloved trustingly and tenderly. This is a stark contrast to Song 3:6 where she was being ferried in the royal entourage on a special sedan bed, a palanquin, surrounded by Solomon’s bodyguards. She was heading toward the palace then. Now she has gained her freedom and is hurrying home to her beloved shepherd.

Verses 6-7 describe the time the Shulamite first fell in love with her beloved. She found him in a special place beneath the apple tree near the house where he was born. Having found him she loves him deeply. Her desire is to be his and be with him forever. The seal is a symbol of ownership. She wants to be owned by him and to have an abiding and unbreakable relationship with him. The whole idea here is that the nature of true love is blindingly strong. Like death, true love is irresistible and cannot be overcome. True love brings about a zeal that is hard to quench. It is all consuming and is like the power of death that cannot be defeated. No one can overcome death. Similarly, no one can overcome true love. The fire of true love cannot be easily doused by forces from without. Like water that cannot quench a fire, so true love cannot be extinguished. Furthermore, true love cannot be bought. No amount of money or riches can entice a love that is true. This is depicted in verse 7 that says, “If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly despised.” In other words, nothing can pry true love away.

Are we so deeply in love with Jesus, our beloved, that nothing will ever separate us from Him? He certainly has loved us that way. There is no greater love than His. He tells us this in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” He loves us so much that He had laid down His life for us. In His magnanimous love, He looked beyond our faults and saw our needs. It is not an unreasonable thing, therefore, for Him to ask for our love in return. In fact, loving Him in return is the only appropriate and logical response to One who has loved us so much. And nothing short of a hundred percent commitment and love for Him is a befitting response. May our prayer to Him be: Awaken my heart to know and love you, O my Lord. Awaken my heart to know your love and to love you in return. Fully and strongly flowing from an awakened heart!      

Song 7:6-8:4 – True love strengthens our devotion

Solomon turns on his charm for the Shulamite, expressing his delights for her. He is still seeking to change her affection towards him. In Song 7:6 he told her, “How beautiful and how delightful you are, my love, with all your charms!” Again, we see him resorting to flattery, telling her how fascinated he is by her. He praises her stature saying that she is like a palm tree. This is a reference to her elegance. And her “breasts are like a cluster” of grapes, succulent, delicious and refreshing. Song 7:8-9 graphically describe his desire for her. He tells her that her breasts and her lips are so inviting and he feels strongly aroused. He is even prepared to go through great heights to obtain her affection and have intimacy with her. Like King Solomon enticing the Shulamite, the world with its appeal is also audaciously enticing us.

However, our hearts must be fixed on Jesus like the heart of the Shulamite that is fixed in love with her beloved shepherd. She only has one love and he is none other than her beloved shepherd. So, she interrupted Solomon’s flattery by telling him that her lips may taste like best wine, but they are only reserved for her beloved. That’s what she meant by saying that “It goes down smoothly for my beloved, flowing gently through the lips of those who fall asleep.” And like wine that induces sleep in those who partake of it, so also her lips like best wine will provide complete rest for her beloved.

So deeply in love with her beloved that she expresses her deep love for him and is confident that he loves her too. So, she exclaims saying, “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me.” She is outrightly rejecting the advances of Solomon and is certain that none could separate her from her beloved. Then in her fantasy, she invites her beloved to follow her in an excursion of the countryside. To her, the country greenery is anytime better than Tirzah or Jerusalem, the twin beauties of Israel.  In the quietness of the country, she could then walk and walk with her beloved. She even imagines the time of harvest. The vines have budded and the pomegranates blossomed. She longs to give her love to the beloved as they take the excursion in the country. And there she will feed him with fruits both new and old that she has saved for him. She even wishes for a deep relationship like one has with a brother, so that she could have the freedom to express her love without feeling or being condemned. If he is her brother that she would be able to bring him into her mother’s house and treat him with pomegranate juice. Oh, how she longs for his embrace and said, “Let his left hand be under my head, and his right hand embrace me.” Once again, she adjures the daughters of Jerusalem not to interrupt her from loving her beloved. Her love for him is so strong and true that she does not want to be interrupted until she pleases.  

We must fix our love on Jesus our beloved. When He is our sole love, we will offer only the very best to Him. We will then seek to spend time with Him to walk and talk in the garden with Him. When we truly love God there is no sacrifice too great that we will not offer to Him. And when we truly love Him, true devotion will undergird our decision in life and strengthen our submission to Him.   

Song 7:1-5 - We are blessed to be a blessing

“Beauty” according to Sir Thomas Overbury, “is skin deep.” It is true that character is more important than looks. Real beauty encompasses one’s confidence, charisma, and character. The Shulamite was probably such a person. She was truly charming. Not only was she physically attractive, but she also showed herself to be pure, chaste and modest. No wonder Solomon was so besotted with her and the ladies of the harem so impressed and overwhelmed by her. They saw beyond her beauty, that she was more than just a country girl but royalty flowed through her veins. To them, she is no longer just a Shulamite maid, but a prince’s daughter. There is such an aura of nobility in her disposition that everything about her just simply oozes with grace. So, in Song 7:1-5, they praise her from head to toe.

They begin with her feet. Her feet are said to be beautiful in sandals. Perhaps when she was first seen, she went about barefooted. But she is now given a pair of sandals. And how lovely her feet look. Remember, the Bible tells us that the feet of us Christians are also lovely when we go about bearing the good news. In Isaiah 52:7, it is said, "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” No wonder in Ephesians 6:15, we are encouraged to have our feet shod with the Gospel of peace.

Her movement is praised. To say that “the curves of your hips are like jewels, the work of the hands of an artist,’ is talking about her poise. Her movements are just so full of grace. They are compared to jewel ornaments that reflect the work of a master craft man. Our life should reflect the work of the Lord. We should always be gracious and magnanimous so that Christlikeness can be seen in us. 

Her “navel is like a round goblet which never lacks mixed wine….” The ladies must be in her private chamber and saw her shapely body. The round goblet is describing the symmetry of her body. Nothing about her is out of place. What about us? Do our physical outlook inspire confidence and show a semblance of discipline. Is temperance a part of our life? As believers, we need to have self-control.

Her “belly is like a heap of wheat fenced about with lilies.” She is compared to a field symmetrically arranged with lilies. Just imagine a well-arranged field of lilies swaying to the movement of the wind. Are we flowing in the direction of the Wind of the Spirit of God? Is our life poised to move in tandem with the move of the Spirit of God? We are called to be led by the Spirit so that we will not be consumed by the lust of the flesh. Let’s take heed of the call of direction by the Holy Spirit.

Her “two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle.” Here, taking Solomon’s words recorded in Song 4:5, the ladies praise the symmetry and elegance of her body. Her “neck is like the tower of ivory.” She must have appeared so stately that everything about her inspires confidence. Does our confidence inspire others to trust the Lord?  And her eyes are “like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim….” Peering into her eyes the ladies could see that they were moist, inviting and clear. This pictures for us a person who is without guile. She is sincere and honest. These are qualities that we must seek to be. Finally, verse 5 describes her nose, head, and hair to show how dignified she appears to be. As believers, let us walk with dignity. Our journey can be inspiring. We must live life with dignity so that our life can be a model and inspiration to those whom the Lord will bring into our path. Let us live as best as we know how, learn as much as we can, love as deeply as we are able to, and leave behind as rich a legacy as we must. Let’s be a blessing for we are blessed to be a blessing.

Song 6:4-13 - It pays to be watchful

So far Solomon has failed to gain the affection of the Shulamite, so he increases his momentum to win her heart. In Song 6:4-10, we see him renewing his flattery for her. Addressing her as his darling, he begins by saying that she is as beautiful as Tirzah and as lovely as Jerusalem. Both these cities were considered as the two most beautiful cities of the land of Israel. So, Solomon compares her to these twin beauties of the nation. He sees her as a victorious troop displaying the awesome banner of victory.  This is by way of saying that her beauty is so overwhelming.  If Solomon could fall for ladies far less beautiful and charming than the Shulamite, he surely wouldn’t be able to resist the simple charm of this unpretentious Shulamite. And so he did. 

The gaze of the Shulamite is so overpowering that Solomon requested that she not stare at him. The simple gazing of her attractive eyes is so irresistible and it makes him feel queasy. He just simply could not resist her. At a loss for words, he resorts to the same words he used to describe her in Song 4:1-2. He tells her, “Your hair is like a flock of goats that have descended from Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of ewes which have come up from their washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost her young. Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate behind your veil.” As far as Solomon is concerned, none of the beautiful ladies of his harem is as beautiful and lovely as this Shulamite. At this point in time, Solomon’s harem has not reached his 300 wives and 700 concubines as yet. Hence, he refers to “sixty queens and eighty concubines.” He could see that the beauty of the Shulamite surpasses them all. Not only is she as pure as a dove but she is also unique, exquisite and delightful in every way. Solomon is attracted by her innocence, purity, and modesty.

Besides, she is not only the admiration of Solomon but also all daughters of Jerusalem and the ladies of his harem. So fabulously beautiful is the Shulamite that both the daughters of Jerusalem as well as the ladies of the harem are dazzled by her beauty. The very moment they set eye on her, they are all astounded by her beauty, quality, and moral excellence. So, the daughters of Jerusalem call her blessed and the ladies of the harem praise her.  

So, they naturally enquire of each other, asking “Who is this that grows like the dawn, as beautiful as the full moon, as pure as the sun, as awesome as an army with banners?” These are poetic expressions to describe her sublime beauty which is like the freshness of the dawn. Besides, she is as fair as the moon and as warm and pure as the sun. And her beauty is simply beyond comparison. Verses 11-12 reveal how she came to be given to Solomon in marriage. One moment she was in her garden attending to the plants when suddenly and hastily, she had attracted the attention of Solomon and given to him in marriage. Soon she was in the royal entourage and on the way to the palace. In verse 13, she chided herself for being overly curious. If she had not been so curious, she would not be caught in this predicament.  

Wanting to escape the ogling eyes of the harem, she distanced herself from all the ladies. They then pleaded with her to return so that they might admire her beauty. Notice that not until verse 13 did the term “Shulamite” appear. In this verse, we see the term “Shulamite” used to describe this lovely maiden for the first time. The whole purpose of this verse is to underscore the irresistible beauty of the Shulamite. She is the attraction of all who set their eyes on her. However, she herself refuses to be a spectacle. So, she exclaimed in the last two lines of verse 13 saying “Why should you gaze at the Shulammite, as at the dance of the two companies?” She is timid and modest and does not want to make a big show of herself.  

Christians should be the most beautiful people on earth.  And each of us must maintain our beauty in the Lord. We will become more and more beautiful as we become more and more Christlike. When we bear the fruit of the Spirit, which is cultivated as we abide in Christ, we will become attractive like Him. However, do bear in mind that the world with all its jingles is still appealing, and many are being drawn towards them. If we are not watchful, we may unwittingly seek to satisfy our curiosity by dabbling in what we think is harmless. Before long we may be ensnared by them. This is often the case, what first appears to be harmless can become an entrapment when we become overly indulgent. Perhaps that’s the reason we are asked to be watchful. First Peter 5:8 warns us to “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  First Corinthians 16:13 also exhorts us, saying “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” We must submit to God and resist the devil and He will flee from us.

Song 5:8-6:3 – To see Jesus more clearly then to love Him more dearly

The Shulamite remains devoted to her beloved though they are now separated. Her affection for him has not changed. Even though Solomon is enchanted by her and pursues her longingly, yet she remains unmoved in her affection towards her beloved shepherd. The king was irresistible to many in his harem but not to this Shulamite. Baffled, the ladies want to know how special her beloved is, that she should be so spellbound even though she has the admiration of Solomon. They want to know what kind of person is her beloved.

So in Song 5:10-16, she describes her beloved to them. As far as she is concerned, he is everything to her. She began by saying that her beloved “…is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.” There is just something bright about him that makes him dazzles. And there is something about his look that shows how healthy and vibrant he is. And he cannot be missed even when he is surrounded by a crowd. Jesus, our Lord is truly attractive. He has distinguished Himself. He is none other than the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Once we know Him, nothing else and no one else matters. Our affection will be for Him and Him alone.

In verses 11-16 we see are ten brilliant physical qualities of the beloved that attracted the Shulamite to him. Firstly, His head is like pure gold, in other words, he is pure, superb and flawless. Secondly, his hairs are described as: “…locks are like clusters of dates and black as a raven.” He has a thick well groom bright and healthy hair. Thirdly, “His eyes are like doves beside streams of water, bathed in milk, and reposed in their setting” The eyes of a dove are large and full, like precious stones set in a ring. This description tells us that the eyes of her beloved are lively yet reflect a deep composure. Fourthly, “His cheeks are like a bed of balsam, banks of sweet-scented herbs….” This could be describing the perfumed thick bushy beard that resembles the aromatic balsam plant. And fifthly, “His lips are lilies dripping with liquid myrrh.” His lips are so soft, symmetrical, lovely and inviting. The words that flow out of them are described as myrrh i.e. they are gentle, kind and tender words.  Sixthly, “His hands are rods of gold set with beryl….” His hands are firm and strong with beryl coloured nails. Seventhly, “His abdomen is carved ivory inlaid with sapphires….” This is describing the symmetry of his “six-packs” and clearly demarcated muscles of his abs. Eighthly, “His legs are pillars of alabaster set on pedestals of pure gold….” Alabaster reflects greatness and purity and gold nobility. Ninthly, “His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars.” His height and posture are impeccably perfect and firm and strong like the cedar of Lebanon. Her beloved may not be a king but his features are kingly in every way. Tenthly, “His mouth is full of sweetness and he is wholly desirable.” His words are magnetizing and like a magnet that attracts. He draws and endears everyone to him. He is so irresistible, appealing and attractive.

In Song 6:1 the maidens of Jerusalem are so baffled by her description of her beloved that they sarcastically offer to help her look for him. They actually doubt her description, so they mockingly feign interest in helping her. Unperturbed by their doubt, the Shulamite disregards their mocking and continues to pour out her heart concerning her beloved. She is sure that he is about his work of shepherding “…his flock in the gardens and gather lilies.” Though the distance and circumstances may have separated them, one thing remains: She loves her beloved and she is assured that he loves her too. 

When we see how lovely our Lord is, we will be drawn to Him. How will we ever know the beauty of the Lord, if we do not make time for Him? Living in this world inundated with activities, we need to rightly set our time and priority for Him. Don’t be so engrossed with the world and its attraction that we miss time with Jesus, our Beloved. Keep in mind the exhortation in 1 John 2:15-16, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”

Song 5:8-9 – Seek to know Jesus our beloved

Steeped in her imagination, the Shulamite reminisces about how she didn’t respond to her beloved who came seeking to spend time with her. So he left, leaving his voice and scent lingering at the door. Waking up to her senses, she then went desperately searching for him. But she was not as fortunate as the previous time when she was able to find him shortly into her search. This second time, her search proved fruitless. And the watchmen she stumbled into probably mistook her to be a thief. So, they beat and wounded her as she fled, leaving behind her shawl. Verse 8 indicates that she now comes out of her imagination and begins to inquire about her beloved shepherd. With a heart still deeply smitten by her love for him, she asks, “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, as to what you will tell him: for I am lovesick.” She expresses her deep love for her beloved and knows that all contact with him will be curtailed once her marriage to Solomon is done. 

Stunned by her question, the daughters of Jerusalem ask her what kind of a person her beloved is. They want to know what is so special about this beloved that can make her be so deeply in love with him and holds her spellbound even though she is the admiration of Solomon. Their questions to her are: What kind of beloved is your beloved, O most beautiful among women? What kind of beloved is your beloved, that thus you adjure us?” They couldn’t understand, how given such a privilege to have the heart of Solomon, yet her heart is still with her beloved.

This is also true for people who are deeply in love with Jesus. As attractive as the world may be, when we truly love Jesus, affection for the things of the world diminishes. We just yearn to be with Him and share a precious moment with Him, the Lover of our soul. People who do not love Jesus can never share our sentiment, just like the ladies of Jerusalem who have not tasted the love of the Shulamite’s beloved. But our hearts are set on Him and nothing can deter us from loving Him. Yes, and nothing can ever separate us from His love.  So practically let us resolve to be like Mary, who devotedly chose the better part. Luke 10:39 says that Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. She not only served Jesus, but she also sat listening to His heart. What a model to emulate! 

Song 5:1-7 – Learn to respond to the Lord immediately

Despite Solomon’s advance, the heart of the Shulamite maiden is firmly set on her beloved shepherd up north. So, in Song 4:16 she wishfully expresses her yearning for him. She says to herself, “Awake, O north wind, and come, wind of the south; make my garden breathe out fragrance, let its spices be wafted abroad. May my beloved come into his garden and eat its choice fruits!” Mistaking that expression as an invitation to him, Solomon boldly responds in Song 5:1. He is buoyed by just imagining having an intimacy with her. As he visualizes that moment of intimacy with her, he compares it to gathering spices in the garden and eating honey, wine, and milk. He is sure that having intimacy with her will be deeply satisfying. In joy, he then calls on those present at his celebration to share his joy.

Despite Solomon’s advances and verbal adulation, the Shulamite’s mind is set on her beloved. She turns her thought to her beloved and visualizes, imagines and recollects the time he came for her. She may be with Solomon in person, but her affection is for her beloved. Instead of concentrating on the love Solomon is offering to her, her thoughts wander and drifted to her beloved up north. Lost in her imagination, she pictures and envisions the voice of her beloved calling out to her. In Song 3:1-4, we saw how she did not respond immediately to her beloved beckoning and soon lost him for he had moved on. Fortunately, she woke up to her senses and went seeking for him frantically and eventually found him after much effort.

This time around, in verse 2, she recalls how the beloved came seeking her, drenched by the dew of the night. He is described as coming to her and knocking at her door in the early hours of the morning. She fondly recalls the endearing terms her beloved used to address her. Firstly, he calls her “my sister.” In this term, he is treating her as his equal. His desire for her is more than a sexual advance but a deep abiding relationship.  In addressing her as my darling he wants her to know how dear she is to him and how deeply he feels for her. In referring to her as “my dove,” he sees her as simple, peaceful, pure, and lovely. And the term, “my perfect one,” he sees in her perfect devotion and uncompromising trust.

The beloved is like our Lord who comes seeking to have an intimate time with us and to bless us with His dew of the morning. Like the Shulamite maiden, we are capable of finding excuses to leave Him unattended at the door. In verse 3, her excuse is: “I have taken off my dress, how can I put it on again? I have washed my feet, how can I dirty them again?” She cites inconvenience as an excuse for not responding immediately to her beloved. Let us not find any reason to make our Lord wait for an intimate moment with us. We must learn to respond immediately to His beckoning.

Like the beloved of the Shulamite, our Lord also loves to spend time with us. But he will not forcefully push His way in. He would rather we respond to Him willingly. His hand may be on the doorknob of our heart, but we must be the one who will open up to Him from the inside. If we don’t do so, He will not insist. This is precisely what verse 4 describes for us. The beloved shepherd seeks to come in by putting “his hand by the hole of the door….”

But by the time the Shulamite’s heart is stirred to respond, it was already a tad too late. Her beloved has left. What remains is the lingering scent of his presence. Poetically, we see this narrated in verse 5. She says, “I arose to open to her love, and my hands dripped with myrrh, and my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the bolt.” Her beloved is no longer there. By the time she is stirred and moved to respond, all that remained is the lingering echoes of his voice. In desperation, she goes in search for him and couldn’t find him. She franticly calls out to him but he did not answer. Even though it was late at night, she went out searching for him. However, her search this time is not as fortunate as the precious time described in Song 3:3. This time the watchmen whom she came across did not deal with her as kindly. She was badly treated and wounded and to escape their harshness, she left her shawl behind.

This recollection was certainly painful for the Shulamite. She did not respond immediately to her lover. Regret for how she had left him in the cold, she tried to make amends but it was a tad too late. She did not get to see him again for now she is at the palace of Solomon far away from him whom her soul loves. She regrets not making the time to express her love for him. Her hope of reuniting with her shepherd is gone forever.   

An opportunity lost is an opportunity gone. Every moment in life is a good time to connect with the Lord. The excuse people often make is that they have more important assignments in life to do for that moment. They reckon that they will have more time for the Lord when those assignments are done. If we will not pause to connect with the Lord, there is always a reason not to do so. What can be more important in life than to find time for the Lord. Remember, we are urged to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all else we need will be added to us. Heed the call of Psalm 95:7-8a, “For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice, do not harden your hearts….”   

Song 4:7-16 – Don’t be swayed by the alluring world.

Relentlessly, Solomon pursues the Shulamite. Smitten by her physical beauty and great character, he couldn’t stop admiring her. In verse 7, he told her how beautiful he thinks she is. “You are altogether beautiful, my darling, and there is no blemish in you.” Then he proceeds to invite her to come with him. He must have sensed her reluctance, for her heart is still with her beloved in the mountains up north. Urging her to look away from the past and consider her bright future, being a part of his royal harem. After all, her brothers have already given her to him. And like it or not she is now his bride.

Three mountain peaks, Amana, Senir and Hermon, inhabited by lions and leopards are mentioned here. He implies here that he has come to rescue her from the rough mountainous life of Lebanon of her past to a comfortable life in the palace. Openly, and unabashedly, Solomon confesses his love for her. His heart has been captured by her stunning beauty. Addressing her endearingly, he calls her, “my sister” and “my bride.” In addressing her with these terms, he is telling her that he isn’t just taken in by her beauty but that he wants more than a casual relationship. What he is really looking for is a deep and abiding relationship.

Solomon says to her in verse 9 that “You have made my heart beat faster, my sister, my bride; you have made my heart beat faster with a single glance of your eyes, with a single strand of your necklace.” He is telling her how excited and dazzled he is just by seeing part of her face. And he can’t imagine the effect he will have when her whole face is uncovered. We can sense the king’s deep yearning for a response from the Shulamite. Everything about her just beckons him to pursue her. As he is drawn to her, so he wishes for an intimate response from her.

Verse 11 tells us of how her voice has charmed him, by her soft and gentle words, like milk and honey that invigorates a physical body. The sound of her voice has aroused his passion. And what she wears, the lovely garment and the sweet perfume bring the very best out of her and he is so excited by what she adorns. Besides, he is also attracted by her virginity. When he said, “A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a rock garden locked, a spring sealed up”, he is referring to her virginity.

The Shulamite has guarded her chastity and did not allow any violation of her moral purity. Solomon imagines that being her bridegroom, he is privileged to share an intimate moment with her. The way he expresses his thought here suggests that she has up till now kept herself pure and not allowed any man to violate her virginity. And even though he has not engaged in any intimacy with her yet, he is already excited by her personality.

Then from her outward mannerism, even though they have not had any intimacy yet, Solomon is already assured that she is truly attractive. He describes her mannerism and conducts as shoots of “… an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, henna with nard plants, nard, and saffron, calamus, and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, along with all the finest spices.” He is exhilarated just thinking of the moment of intimacy with her when they are married. Solomon describes her as a garden rich in spices that he used to import from the far east. The Shulamite is no ordinary garden, but an orchard full of wonderful fruits and rich spices. In the Shulamite maiden, Solomon could see beauty in all its fullness. He could see in her the chaste character and pure conduct, and these make her all the more desirable.

This maiden from the north is truly refreshing. Looking at her attractiveness, Solomon couldn’t help but sees how different she is from the ladies in his harem. She is truly a refreshing gain. So, he said of her, “You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water, and streams flowing from Lebanon.” She is like the cool, clear refreshing streams that flow from the high altitude of the mountains in Lebanon. The freshness of this country maiden is so stimulating and uplifting.

Verse 16 suggests that while the king is making his advances toward her, she is thinking of her beloved up north. Her interest is not in the attention of the king. Her beloved up north is the one she truly desires. Engaging in wishful thinking, she yearns for intimacy with her beloved shepherd. To him only will she give herself fully. He is the one and the only one that she truly loves whom she will allow entrance into her garden.

The lure of the world is varied and intense, much like Solomon’s wooing. The questions we ask ourselves are: will we remain steadfastly committed to our beloved? Will we refuse to be moved by the enticement of the world? The pull of the alluring world is strong. Thus, we must keep our focus on things above, and our affection for Christ our beloved. Only as we set our hearts above and our affection for Christ will the things of this world become dimmed. Meanwhile be sure to cultivate a morally upright life, displaying great characteristics and pure conduct. Stay in love with Jesus and make Him your sole affection

Song 4:1-6 - Bearing the fruit of attractiveness

The moment everyone is waiting for has arrived. The scene is set. Solomon and everyone would obviously be ready for the joyous occasion. All except the bride of course. For the Shulamite maiden’s heart was certainly and firmly set on her beloved shepherd. So, Song 4:1-6 describe Solomon’s attempt to win the affection of the Shulamite with a whole salvo of verbal adulation. Where the conversation took place is not mentioned. However, we need to note that the custom of those days encourages the groom to sing the bride’s praise at the wedding.

In these verses, we see Solomon telling the Shulamite what he thought of her. He began by saying, “How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil; your hair is like a flock of goats that have descended from Mount Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes which have come up from their washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost her young. Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate behind your veil. Your neck is like the tower of David, built with rows of stones on which are hung a thousand shields, all the round shields of the mighty men. Your two breasts are like two fawns, Twins of a gazelle which feed among the lilies.” There are seven qualities about the Shulamite that Solomon admired. Seven is the perfect number and it suggests that her beauty was totally attractive. Her features from head to toe were being admired and praised.  

First, her eyes that were likened to a pair of doves peering behind the veil covering her face. Simply put, she had lovely eyes. Second, her hair was described as long, silky and dark flowing down her shoulder, so free and sassy. Besides they are like “a flock of goats that have descended Mount Gilead.” These black colored goats from Mount Gilead, when exposed to the sunlight, would glisten and shine. Solomon meant to say that her hair was thick and rich. Third, her full set of teeth were in place, with none missing. They were also perfectly smooth, regular, and glistening white because they were well kept. The upper and lower sets were in total alignment. Fourth, her lips were seen as a thread of scarlet and her mouth lovely. Without the advantage of lipstick, her lips were already so red and bright. Her mouth could be referring to her kind speech in conversation. Fifth, her temple could well be referring to her cheek that was rosy as a slice of pomegranate. Sixth, her neck was stately and full of dignity. There were the sheer charm and poise about the way she held her head high. Finally, he referred to her shapely figure, saying, “Your two breasts are like two fawns that are twins of a gazelle, which feed among the lilies.”  Her figure was in total symmetry. The meadows covered with lilies is a poetic way of describing her beauty and elegance.  

In verse 6, we see the Shulamite’s response to the king’s advances and flattery. She would prefer to be alone to go to the green natural surrounding till the time the marriage would be consummated. Besides, her heart was still with her beloved and the greenery of the palace garden help her to keep her mind on him. She wanted to spend her time all alone reminiscing and thinking about her beloved whom she yearned for.

These verses talk about the attractiveness of the Shulamite. She oozes with charm and poise and is winsome and magnetizing. How would you like to be seen that way? The character of Christians should be attractive like the Shulamite maiden. Our presence should draw others to desire to know what makes the difference in our lives. After all, we are called to be salt and light of the world. As salt, we should cause others to thirst for what we have and as light, we must shine the light to show others the way. And we can cultivate attractiveness by being connected to our Lord constantly, consistently, and conscientiously. We need to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit. Like all sorts of fruit, the fruit of the Spirit cannot be manufactured. They are produced when a branch abides in the vine and draw rich nutrient from it. We are all branches of Jesus, the true vine. Unless we abide in Him, we will not be able to bear the fruit of attractiveness. Let us cultivate a life of attractiveness by abiding in Jesus, the true vine, constantly and consistently.  

Song 3:6-11 – The dilemma of true love

These verses describe the scene of the Shulamite maiden arriving at the palace. The people of Jerusalem, surprised by the approaching grand procession into the city, began to express their admiration. They asked, “What is this coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all scented powders of the merchant?” The crowd was curious. Known for his habit of acquiring foreign women for his harem, they must have wondered who is this latest addition to Solomon's harem. 

In royal splendor, this Shulamite maiden was transported into Jerusalem. They must have traveled through the wilderness of Judea. As the procession moves into Jerusalem, containers with frankincense were being swung to and fro, to release its sweet fragrance to perfume the air. So here we see the description of the columns of smoke that rose from those containers, known as censers, were being released as the procession progressed into Jerusalem.  

  

As the procession approached Jerusalem, what became visible was the portable bed or couch draped with curtains. It was so splendid and magnificent; hence they knew at once that it belonged to Solomon. To ensure the security and comfort of the Shulamite maiden, Solomon had a detachment of his infantrymen to guard them in the long and arduous journey. The traveling couch was guarded by “Sixty mighty men around it, of the mighty men of Israel.” The brigade of guards was needed because they were traveling through the wilderness that was swarmed with brigands, fugitives and bandits. The stretch of road from Shulam to Jerusalem would cover about 50 miles. The time needed would approximately take a two-day journey. The brigade of guardsmen literally comprised of soldiers who were skillful in brandishing the sword that was strapped to their thighs.

In verses 9-10, we see the description of the sedan couch of Solomon. It was made from the wood of Lebanon. The pillars of the couch were made of silver and the back of gold. The beautiful tapestries of the interior were beautifully decked and decorated by “the daughters of Jerusalem.” This term, “daughters of Jerusalem” probably refers to the ladies of the city in Jerusalem. They truly have a deep affection for Solomon so they did not mind preparing and decorating his beautiful portable couch with purple cushion. And they were urged to go forth to greet the king. The marriage of the king was an important occasion and it called for a celebration.  

The witnesses of the ceremony were called the daughters of Zion. They saw the crown of wreath interlaced with gold and silver strand on the king’s head. The king’s wedding was a gala celebration for his family and his subjects. Nothing was said about the feeling of the Shulamite maiden. What were her feelings? She must have been caught in a deep dilemma. Here she was married to a man, though a king, whom she did not love. Her heart was still deeply filled with affection for her beloved shepherd back home.  Her feeling of sadness must have been made worse by the joy of those celebrants around her.

As Christians, our deep affection is for Jesus, our beloved. Very often we see the world courting our affection. We seem out of place if we do not conform to the demands of the world. Yet deep within we know that we must love the Lord with our whole being. We know we must not be conformed to the world but the lure of it is so strong. What are we to do? Listen to the exhortation of Paul in Romans 12:1-2, we must sacrificially give ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. A worship of worth that’s acceptable and worthy of God. We refuse to be lured by the standards and value of the world. How? By yielding our lives to God and submit our mind to the renewing the Spirit of God and the Word. Then and then will we be able to experience not only the good and acceptable will of the Lord but His perfect will. Don’t be caught in the dilemma. Make Christ the focal point of all your affection.       

Song 3:1-5 – Draw near to God

In Song 2:10-13, the Shulamite was beckoned to arise and follow her beloved to a place of serenity to commune. In fact, the beloved pled with her to come along. Winter, he said, is over. The time of spiritual hibernation has passed. No more sleeping and relaxing. The new season of spring of potential spiritual growth has arrived. At least this is what is being portrayed here poetically. The beloved admonished the Shulamite to draw near and follow him. Just as Jesus, our beloved, calls us to follow Him. Spring is a picture of renewal, revival, and restoration. We need to discern the time of the season and seize the springtime of spiritual opportunity and arise and follow the Lord. Verses 12-13 say: 

The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom;
They give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.

Unfortunately, resting content in the cleft of the rock, the Shulamite did not budge. In Song 2:14. We saw how her beloved pleaded with her to come with him. His desire was to meet her, see her face and hear her voice. This is how much Jesus our Shepherd desires our fellowship. We have to make time for Him. If we don’t make the time for Him as He beckons us to move along with Him, we will wake up one day feeling lost. When we don’t make time for Him over a prolonged period of time, we will eventually lose the sense of His presence in our life. Spiritual opportunity must be seized. We must learn to make the best of the moment. If we don’t take advantage of the opportunity and move in tandem with the Lord, we find that we may be lagging behind. This was precisely what the Shulamite maiden felt with her beloved in Song 3:1-5

Because of her passivity, there came a time the Shulamite felt a sense of loss. Her beloved had gone on ahead and didn’t appear. She went to bed night after night longing for him. Suffering from insomnia, sleep eluded her. She thought about him much but could not sense his nearness. Feeling a sense of loss she got up often to peer through her window looking out for her beloved, but he was nowhere near. So, she laments and reproaches herself.  

Unable to stand the feeling of her beloved’s absence, she soon got up and went about desperately searching for him. She went about the city and the streets looking for her beloved, the one whom her soul loves. Sadly, her search was fruitless and she could not find him. Fortunately, she stumbled across some kind souls, the watchmen. In our vernacular, they would be the leaders of the church, the pastors. Wanting to know where she could find her beloved, she asked: “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?” Verse 4 suggests that the watchmen must have wisely counselled her to follow the trail of the shepherd. For shortly after she left the watchmen, she found the one whom her soul loves.  

So precious is the beloved to her that when she found him, she would not let him go. She took him into her mother’s house. This could be a suggestion that she had the approval of her mother. It’s a poetic way of saying that her expression of love for her beloved shepherd is set on the ground of chastity and purity. Contrast this to the opening scene in the palace where the maiden of the harem sought the opportunity to fulfil their unremitting lust for Solomon. It is no wonder that Solomon tried so frenziedly to win her affection.  

As she reminisces those precious moments in the blissful company of her beloved, her inner being once again felt the ecstasy and exhilaration of those times. Her plea in Song 3:5 is the same as in Song 2:17, “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and by the does of the field, that you not stir up, nor awaken (my) love, until it pleases.” As she recounts her experience to the maiden of the harem, she was, in fact, celebrating the preciousness of pure, spontaneous affection.  

We must celebrate the pure love and affection that we have with Jesus, the lover of our soul. Making time for Him is priceless. Relationship with Him needs time to cultivate. If we fail to do so, there may come a time when we feel a distance from Him. The Lord has a plan for our spiritual progress. If we do not seek time to be with Him we won’t know how to advance with Him. His promise to us in James 4:8 is that if we “…draw near to Him and He will draw near to us.” So, we must draw near to Him, every moment of life!

Song 2:8-17 – Make time for the Lord in solitude and d silence

In the earlier verses, we saw how true love for her beloved shepherd helped the Shulamite maiden to withstand the scorn of the harem’s ladies. Despite their attempt to influence her about how gallant Solomon was, she remained steadfast and true to her beloved. Solomon’s flattery to woo her also did not move her heart. She remained steadfastly faithful and committed to her true love. In Song 2:8-17, the scene shifts. Her imagination returns to a time in the past, to her rural countryside. And there She recalls the time where she pines for her beloved and how he courted her.

In that scene, she recalls how she longingly yearns for the arrival of her beloved. Then in verse 8, she remembers the time her beloved came looking for her. On hearing his voice, her excitement mounted. In excitement she exclaimed to herself, “Behold, he comes….”  Her beloved on his part was also thrilled and motivated to meet her. So, he came “leaping over the mountains and skipping over the hills.” These actions could hardly be describing Solomon's. He would certainly be more dignified as such outward expression would be inappropriate for a king.  

In verse 9, her beloved shepherd, like shy animals, “a gazelle or a young stag”, is described as shyly standing outside the wall of her house and peering through the lattice windows, looking for her eagerly with longing eyes. Then his voice is heard beckoning her to come away for fellowship. He calls out longingly for her, saying:

Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away,
For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come,
And the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.

These verses depict the lover of her soul coming and inviting her to leave the comfort of her house and accompany him on a journey. He desires to take her away into the surrounding and serene nature of the countryside, to commune and build their relationship. Isn’t this how Jesus our beloved also longs for us to make time in fellowship with Him? He desires that we will find the time and come away into a quiet place, and in silent solitude, commune and build our relationship with Him. Remember His words to us in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Winter is a time of death. During this cold and snowy season, everything dies. We have all seen pictures of the wintery season where branches of trees just shrivel up and devoid of their foliage. It speaks of death. Life only begins to return during springtime. It is during spring that the green leaves would return. Our past without Jesus, our beloved, is a time of spiritual death. When He came into our heart, He gives us new life. He now longs to fellowship with us. We must no longer live as we formerly did, as children of disobedience. Knowing Christ makes us alive to His voice that will create a desire in us to seek Him in fellowship. If we can hear Him today, He is saying to us, “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.”  

However, sadly, we see how bashfully she refuses to join her beloved in a peaceful journey. Like a dove, she is contented to nestle in the cleft of the rock. This phrase “cleft of the rock” has been used to describe a believer’s salvation experience. Many Christians today are contented just to live in the initial experience of salvation and will not take time and make progress in their walk with the Lord. Without a doubt, Jesus our beloved’s desire is for us to make the journey with Him. We must find time to fellowship with Him and hear from Him. What a joy it is to know Him and to be known by Him.  

Spiritual progress requires that we catch the little foxes that spoil the vine. There are things that will spoil our peaceful relationship with Christ, our Lord. We must heed His call to identify ways that will derail our walk with God. If we don’t, they will cause us to meander into the broad way of destruction. When our relationship with Jesus, our beloved, is in blossom, we don’t want to spoil it by entertaining things that will distract us from fixing our eyes on and gazing at Him. We must keep short accounts with God and deal with the sins and failures that will stumble us. Verses 16-17 show how the Shulamite cherishes the thought that her beloved deeply loves her and that they belong to each other. Though she is now in the palace far from her beloved, yet her heart is with him and assured that he still loves her. And until the day they are reunited, she envisages her beloved going about freely living his life like a roe or a hart.

Jesus, our beloved, is beckoning us to make the journey with Him. We must make time for solitude and silence, and learn to cultivate attentiveness to identify His voice. Do not be bogged down with the mundane activities of life till we fail to make time for the Lord. Remember, the Christian life is like springtime. The wintery of our past life is gone when we made Jesus our Lord. Let us now make time to cultivate our relationship with Him through constant loving fellowship with Him.   

Songs 1:9-2:7 – Being steadfastly faithful and committed to Jesus, our beloved

True love is steadfast and can withstand anything. So, we see the Shulamite maiden withstood the scorn of the ladies in Solomon’s harem. Unlike them, she does not have the same affection for Solomon. Sensing her indifference, Solomon then sets out to win her affection. In verse 9 we see the Shulamite coming face to face with Solomon. Smitten by his love for her, Solomon moves to win her heart. Using enchanting words and flatteries, he tries to woo her. He compared her to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariot. Those mares were imported from Egypt and were known for their stateliness and graceful poise. To enhance the beauty of those horses, their bridle would be decorated and bedecked with studs of gold and silver. Imagining the beauty of the decorated horses, Solomon promises to beautify her with gold and silver ornaments.

Verse 12 pictures a banquet scene, where the king sits declined on a low-lying table. In order not to be enchanted by the king’s advance, the Shulamite turned her attention to the fragrance of nard oil that rose from the pouch worn from her neck. She chooses to remain steadfast to the one her soul loves and refuses to be swayed by the king’s charms by rechannelling her thoughts toward her beloved. Though her beloved is not present there, her thoughts just gravitate toward him to keep alive her deep affection for him. She channels her memories towards him to guard her heart against the advances of the king. Verse 13 shows us she keeps her memories of him alive by redirecting her attention to the satchel of myrrh worn from her neck and hanging between her breasts. This is an indication that though absent, yet he is always on her heart. In verse 14, a beautiful scene seen in the vineyards of Engedi is pictured. She sees her beloved as “a cluster of henna blossoms” that could be seen in Engedi, located on the west of the Dead Sea. The “henna blossoms” refers to the shrub which is beautiful in appearance, that also gives out a pleasant and delightful aroma. Just the thoughts of her beloved are like a sweet fragrance.

Verse 15 shows us the king continues in his unremitting charm to woo her. He adds further words in praise of her. Being besotted by her beauty, he describes her as fair and that she has eyes of a dove. But she is not swayed. Here her affection for her beloved remains steadfast. To avoid being drawn by Solomon’s enchanting words, she uses some of the same words and applies it to her beloved shepherd. In verse 16, we see her thoughts gravitate to the time and place where the love for her beloved shepherd was aroused. It took place in the rural green of the countryside. Being transported by her imagination she returns to the time and place where she and her beloved had a lovely time. She thinks of the rural countryside of green and sees herself as a rose of Sharon and a lily of the valleys. In this, she likens herself as a rose growing in the wild and thus more accustomed to the wild environment of the green. As a lily, she is more accustomed to nature. She finds her comfort in the rural countryside of green than the spatial palace of Solomon. Here she expresses her longing for her home of greeneries.  

In Song 2:2, Solomon then continues in his advance to win her heart. He says to her: “As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women.” He made known to her what he thinks of her. If she is a lily of the valleys than she is one that has stood out against all the others. For she is one that stood out among all the flowers in the wild. In Solomon’s estimation, this Shulamite beauty stands out among all the young women in his harem. In verse 3, we see that she, once again, turns Solomon’s advance and takes his words and applies it to her beloved shepherd. She likens him to an apple tree. And that among other men, including Solomon, her beloved shepherd is sweet and lovely. And she has found security and delight in his fellowship and truly enjoyed his company.  

The very thought of her beloved sets her imagination wild. Mentally detaching herself from Solomon, her thoughts return to the wonderful time she had with her beloved. They had such intimate relationship that she still pines for those moments of loving interaction again. The graphics terms are very suggestive but they are meant to show how unforgettable and overwhelming those loving encounters were and that she simply yearns for them all over again. The last two lines of verse 7 contain a plead for the ladies in the king’s harem in Jerusalem to desist in trying to turn her affection towards Solomon. She only has one love, and that is her beloved shepherd. She would not trade it for any other.  

In our relationship with Jesus, our Shepherd, and lover of our soul, are we as steadfastly faithful in coming to Him? How often in the day do our minds gravitate toward the Lord, the lover of our soul?  Is it “Out of sight, out of mind” or “Absence makes the heart grows fonder”? No matter what attraction we have in the world, may we remain steadfast in our commitment and love for the Lord. The thoughts of having precious and intimate fellowship with the Lord should motivate and drive us to go into His presence daily and frequently. Then let us make it a point to do it. Let us allow Him to bring us into His banqueting house and allow Him to set His banner of love over us!