The moment the Shulamite woman dreamed about had finally arrived, that one she waited for, and journeyed at such great risk to experience. King Solomon was standing with her and holding her hands, staring at her adoringly. They exchanged some words of praise at their appearance to each other, skipping small talk entirely. Neither one were much for small talk.
Then she saw it! Like a door into another world, she was directed by His eyes to a place He had prepared for her. It was a resting place of soft green grass surrounded on all sides by mature trees whose branches made a protective cross-like roof over her head. It was a secret garden where they could be together!
She said, almost breathlessly, surprised that such a lush place could exist in the wilderness, “Behold, our bed! It is green! And the beams of our houses are cedar, and our rafters of cypress.”
Solomon was pleased. This woman not only noticed what He had did for her, but she saw his gift as a house, with a bed. But more importantly, she called it their house and their bed. This was a woman after His heart.
The Shulamite flashed a playful smile at Solomon, and backed into the garden, never taking her gaze off his. She sat down in the center, and then digging her fingers into the soft grass and throwing her head back, she breathed deeply while peering up into the sparkling canopy of branches and the deep blue sky beyond. She then turned to look again at Solomon who hadn’t moved from his spot.
“I am a flower,” the Shulamite said to him, smiling sweetly, “like a lily of the valley.” She reached down and picked what appeared to be the only meadow flower in the grass, and put it in her hair.
Solomon gazed on her. “She has no idea,” he thought to himself. This woman is more than a pretty flower in a field to him. How could he express that?
He thought of the many other women in the palace back at Jerusalem, the ones he took as wives for diplomatic purposes, and the concubines he received from his father David.¹ It seemed their traditions and connections to blood family complicated their relationship with him. He didn’t fully trust that any of those women would love him if he wasn’t wealthy, or a king. Tempermental, double-minded, and with ulterior motives for desiring his attention, to “pick” any of these women as a flower meant being pricked by a thorn.
He came closer, and knelt down next to her. He had tears in his eyes, and longing. “You, my beloved, are that, and more;” He replied, “You are a lily among thorns.”
The Shulamite knew what he meant, and her heart leaped inside her. All she ever wanted was Solomon. She remembered the advice of David to her early on,
O dear one, give thought and attention, and let your ear be open to my instruction, to no longer focus on your people, and the traditions and religion of your father’s house. So will the King have a great desire for you, and see how beautiful you are; because you make him your lord, and give him honor. – Psalm 45:10-11
She took that advice seriously, and because of that she never fit in with the palace women, with all the religious politics and idle chatter. She had to leave Jerusalem for that reason – because she loved Solomon. And now, to have him see her heart, and come so far to be with her? It was more than she could bear. She reached out, and slowly, and gently, pulled the King close.
…to be continued.
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. ~James 4:8
And as for the seed that fell among thorns,
these are the ones who, after they have heard, go on their way
but are choked with worries, riches, and the pleasures of life,
and thus produce no mature fruit. ~Luke 8:14
¹ Song 3:11 & 6:8