Towers

Song of Solomon 4:1-4

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.

My, Solomon has some interesting words to say about his Song. If this is speaking of Solomon, I have but one thing to say; that is for the sharp-tongued hussy has gone too far this time. But these are some of Solomon's favorite compliments for the little Song as we have seen before. See, the doves' eyes which peer from between goat hair as upon Mount Gilead. Solomon says this goat came from among her flocks upon the mountains. The mountains speak of the high places of this time. If you think about it, the Egyptians certainly were high and exalted during their time and as in ours today in some ways. They are referred to as goats for a couple reasons. Matthew 25:32 speaks of the separation between sheep and goats, righteous and unrighteous. The goats are a self-sustaining flock while the sheep need their shepherd. That is why when the Shepherd appears his hair is "white like wool" as in Revelation 1:14. The hairs of both are similar but they have not the same nature. Forget this notion some of you have that Egyptians are white. Believe me, they are not. This text here says her hair is like the flocks of goats on Mount Gilead. If you know anything about mountains, they are windy and very high. Therefore, this little Song has some messy hair indeed. It is a wild beauty which is completely unexpected in the palace settings. Nor is it tamed by man. Rather, she has been brought to this time and place by the Lord. If you recall even at this time, it was bad to have anyone outside of an Israelite within its' borders. Thus, the little Song's eyes are like doves and speak of her true nature.

Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.

Somebody hold me please before I turn into a multi-headed monster of your nightmares. Or maybe I will turn into one in your arms once you do. Let me tell you, if I married a woman or man that had a mouth like many shorn twin sheep from the washing, that would kill the mood right there. If you were my spouse, I might be inclined to murder you for saying so. Of course, if you are a plain-spoken German, you would be feeling very romantic indeed right now. Beauty can mean different things to everyone. What appeals to you may not to me and vice versa. It is good to have something about your spouse that attracts you to them. So also, can what attracts repel. That is why some of you need the Lord to give you some wisdom to tame that thing. This business of attending church on Sunday and speaking of the devil throughout the week is not okay. Others need the Lord to redeem you. Then let him change that thing. Here Solomon seems to value these words which come from his Song's mouth. The wise are of gracious speech according to Ecclesiastes 10:12. So, each word from her mouth seems to flourish, grow, and make clean the hearer of it. This is why the men will praise Solomon in the city gates because of the dealings of his Song. Each word of her mouth is neat and tidy; nor will any be barren for they are of the Lord and from him bear results. How many of you know that when it comes to the Word of God from Isaiah 55:11, it will never return to him empty.

Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.

Here we see the lips of faith-care. These lips are as "threads of scarlet" whereby Rahab let down the spies after she hid them on her roof as in Hebrews 11:31. Wisdom is in her mouth for she has eaten someone important; this one "has been made unto" her the wisdom of 1 Corinthians 1:30. You might be saying that this text makes you feel very uncomfortable. Think about it. There was King Solomon, who was the wisest man of that time, and there is King Jesus. Had she eaten Solomon, her wisdom would have passed after he had gone as in 1 Kings 4:30. Rather, she has eaten of the Lord as we will soon see. She says all these things, they take shape and fly away as prettily as she does. For those of you who need some good mouthcare, see Jesus. He is the best dentist in the world. He will wash the inside with "the water of the Word" as in Ephesians 5:26. He will redeem your story for himself. Then will he make the outside beautiful. I once knew a woman that read this passage and took to eating a pomegranate every day. This is why Psalm 34:8 says "taste and see" of the Lord's goodness. How many of you know that when you are in the Lord's hands, he will make even your brokenness as to be as food for others. There is beauty to the Song's brokenness, and it is for Solomon alone. So also, the inside of the little Song has been changed to something fit for her king and for God himself. In another text it says, "the king admires my beauty." He does so indeed as we will soon see. The things which make Solomon aroused are different than those of other men. He says, 'oh I could just hold you, love you, squeeze you, and call you George.' Well, everything except for the calling her George bit. But it seems she has just succeeded in awakening her love.

Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.

He goes on down her body like the oil of Psalm 133:1-2 which flowed from Aaron's head as the brethren dwelled together in unity. Awakening love can be for both men and women. It happens for each and at different times. Some of you say you cannot love so and so because of what happened. Let God take care of those things for you. He will replace the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. He can make it all new again. You might look at your partner one day and say, 'who is that fine person sitting there.' But she is like the fortress of his father David which both defends him, protects him, and rebuffs him. Some of you need to be like Rapunzel in the fairy tale tower and 'let down your hair;' your knight in shining armor is here. Some of you might be saying to yourself, 'well, I don't have any.' Is that not just your problem. How can you expect to have authority over others if you cannot even control your own head as in 1 Corinthians 11:10; then let us not even talk about the stiff neck you have. The little Song had none of these issues, however. How many of you know you have been in the company of some perfect people. No, she is not perfect. That is why the Song is Solomon's and not yours. But such as she was to her God and to her Solomon. Trust me, God is the best defense in the whole world – and the best offense too.