The Secret Places

Song of Solomon 2:14-17

O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

Here we see the Song as a dove, in the time of trouble. Doves are spoken much of in Scripture. To add to the other places mentioned, Matthew 3:16 speaks of the Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove at his baptism. Still, the dove is often startled, quick to fly at the slightest insult or hint of danger. Unlike the crows which fly high during the day and scavenge for prey, they prefer rather to hide. Only their song gives them away. So, here Solomon is calling to his spiritual creature. I want to talk about something sexual here because we all know this to be an appetite book. But Solomon also seems to be speaking of something sensual and attractive also. Could I not also find within hints of things that were, that are, and yet maybe? Could these also not be beautiful to some. This dove dwells "in the clefts of the rock" for shelter and safety. Even "in the secret places of the stairs" she hides. You might be asking what spirit creatures with wings and a pretty song have to do with such places.

Solomon sees his little Song peeking out to him from the rocks and the stairs which are God's. He sees even her body, soul, and spirit, which to him are beautiful. I find a man who truly sees you, not as a predator does, to be most attractive. Some of you might be crying about the rocky houses of Petra that sit in that area today. The clefts of the "rock that is higher than I" speaks of a hiding in Christ according to Psalm 61:2. The secrets of the stairs are mentioned by Genesis 28:12; here the angels come up and down as by a ladder described by Jacob. I am sorry, those are the only set of spiritual stairs I know. Sometimes things happen in this life. We might get discouraged or overcome and must be called back from out of the secret places. I am not saying these are a problem; here Solomon misses his Song and quite likes coaxing her out. My, this is a whole new level of cat-calling. Beyond that is the dwelling and abiding in Christ. We see in Isaiah 34:14-15 how God will bring even this situation to an end. There is dwelling here in the rocks and in the secrets of the stairs when all others have been destroyed. Then it will be as in peace and safety for God has wrought it.

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

Just as the prayer of Matthew 6:11-13 says, "give us this day our daily bread," so the Song and her Solomon pray for the little foxes to be taken. In Luke 13:32, Herod was even called a sly fox by Christ. Here, these are yet little foxes, and the grapes are tender. Maybe some are still in growth. The problem though with having a pet is that they soon grow into bigger pets. They might be cute and cuddly now, but sooner or later they turn cunning and dangerous. So, while they are yet little, pray for them. These vines grow together as those intertwined tend to do. Some of you start as betrothal relationships and others as entanglements. How many of you know that when you bear fruit the creatures come to be fed. If the grapes on their vines were rotten or sour, then the foxes would not spoil them so. Jesus and his prophets lament that even the foxes are treated better than they in Ezekiel 13:4 and Matthew 8:20. It is important to see that foxes might be in the same family as wolves, but they are not the same. A better picture of what they are used for is found in Judges 15:4; there Sampson tied two tail to tail and stuck the torch between them. As they ran together, they brought fire and the sword. They are dangerous because they are neither fed, tended, nor cared for by any man. Yet God makes it clear that he is their provider; he gives them holes, dens, and places to lay their head unlike himself. Now, if you are the pastor of a church or leader of a nation, I do not advise praying for foxes. But you cannot neglect them as some have done to their hurt. For in the desolation that follows, there the foxes dwell as in Lamentations 5:8. See in this text how Solomon leads his Song. Note that she does not lead him as did the other eight hundred wives and some odd concubines; instead, she follows.

My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

Solomon, as seen here, has no foxy nature. Rather he feeds among the lilies of the field and of the valley. Jesus had much to say of these lilies as told in Matthew 6:28-30; they are here today, gone tomorrow, and always sharply dressed. How much care the Father shows even these which are unworthy of it. It is in this place that Solomon feeds even though he is much greater than these flowers here. Between Solomon and the Song there is ownership and companionship to be seen. In our words this ownership is also seen. When me and you go, we are replaced with each other. I am sure the marriage counselor and some of you would not like this very much. Now the Little Song has much to say about her husband. Thankfully it is not about how mean he is to her, although it very well could be. There is belonging in the relationship but not slavery. It is like whereby we cry as in Romans 8:15 "Abba Father;" in this Father relationship we are also made the sons of God. This is why it is important to get your nourishment from the right sources. If I always go to a sneaky source to get my blessing, I will soon be sneaky too. If I go to a running source, I will soon run away after them. I need to go to a staying source where I too will learn to abide. If I go to the Lord Almighty and his children, I will grow also as those in his house. I will soon look like him, smell like him, and act like him for I am his. I wish this book spoke more of sex, their relationship, and Christ as some do. As you can see yourself the book does not always. Sometimes the issues addressed here are very real and disturbing because they come from life.

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

It is ok though to have a breakdown, to let your feelings out, but do not be afraid to live a little. This is a safe place to talk about it as any good relationship should be. You should not have to fear that your partner is going to turn on you or not understand what you have to say. Here the Song gives her beloved space to be himself. Sometimes my husband feels like leaving the house for a while. If I fight it, he will give in but later wish to go again. If I encourage his goings, he becomes more and more reluctant to go away, often taking me with him. Sometimes when you have been through some things, these create trauma reactions. Solomon and his Song I am sure had some of these. He had only seen his whole village slaughtered and barely escaped with his own life, if he is indeed related to the Edomite prince, Hadad. These trauma reactions can sometimes manifest themselves as attachment disorders. Those of you who have been to therapy may know of what I speak. Your relationship should be more important than the trauma, the situation, or the stress. See, the daybreak and the shadows speak of where they have been. I just want to talk about one more thing here. The "mountains of Bether" hold the historical significance of being the place where a Jewish resistance movement would later be murdered. I could say that these are mountains of cutting with deep valleys and high places. However, the Song tells Solomon, 'it's okay, I am here. You are safe now.' These mountains and valleys will not always be a place of mourning. One day the day will break, and dawn will come. One day the shadows of the night will flee. You will not always be stalked, hunted, or afraid. Soon the Lord will come as in Revelation 21:23; in his presence there is neither night nor need for any other light. For the Lamb himself "is the light" of that place. But when you flee, fly to Jesus. He is the best trauma therapist and hiding place in all the world.