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
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