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!
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