Introduction: In our last study, the Shulamite's brothers were questioning whether or not she had kept herself pure from the many unwanted and unsolicited advances of King Solomon. They would either reward her for her faithfulness or be greatly disappointed in her infidelity.
In Song 8:8, they asked, "...what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?" They asked because they wanted to know what to do for her when she was actually demanded for marriage, i.e., be "spoken for."
What would they do for her? As we already learned, what they would do for her was dependent on what she had done and how she had behaved in her absence. They said in verse 9, "If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar." By using this idiom, they say:
- If she kept herself pure and was like a wall that kept out all intruders, they would reward her greatly and continue to honor and protect her. They would "build her, rebuild her, establish her, and cause her to continue."
- If she didn't keep herself pure and was like a door opened to anyone and everyone, they would "shut her up, show hostility to her like she was an adversary; they would treat her as an enemy."
Up until this point, they do not know how she has lived in her absence. However, they are about to find out how she has lived while she was away!
1. The Shulamite answers her brothers. - Song 8:10
"I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour."
- Even though she answers by using the same idiom her brother used, there is no doubt as to her meaning here.
- She very plainly stated, "I am a wall." She said, "I stand firm against all the enticements of Solomon. I am not a door admitting anyone." These "enticements" were words and actions that were meant to flatter and try to coax and persuade her to change.
- By stating that here bosoms were like "towers," she was contradicting the words of her brothers in the previous verse, where they said she had no bosom. They believed she was not marriageable.
* The truth is, she had more than proven her maturity.
- Solomon lusted after her beauty; but in her Shepherd's eyes, she found favor! He found completeness, tranquility, contentment, and peace in her. What a statement!
2. The Shulamite addresses Solomon. - Song 8:11-12
"Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred."
- Though Solomon is absent here, the Shulamite puts him in his place in her brothers' eyes.
- Her brothers had promised to reward her "if," so now she demands her reward and gives her reasons.
- More than likely, this is another idiom describing Solomon's harem. When it was all said and done, he ended up with a thousand women.
- In a nutshell, the Shulamite said, "Solomon can keep his thousand. I don't care to be 'one in a thousand.' I'm the only one in the eyes of my shepherd boy!"
- Apparently, there were two hundred who watched over and cared for these women. All the Shulamite needed was her "one and only."
3. A strong application for us.
- The integrity, fidelity, and maturity of the Shulamite was brought into question by her skeptical brothers.
- What we do know about this girl is that she was young and very beautiful. For whatever the reasons, this is a dangerous combination when it goes unmixed with wisdom.
- Today, when the maturity level of a young person is brought into question, the defenses go up, and the rhetoric rolls out.
* "I'm old enough!"
* "All my friends get to, and they are younger than me!"
* "I'm sixteen and old enough to drive!"
* "I'm eighteen and old enough to vote!"
* "I'm twenty-one and old enough to drink!"
- Hopefully, we parents are old enough to know better that that!
- The Shulamite backed up her statements, not with mere words, not with rhetoric, but with actions.
- One may SAY:
* "I'm old enough," but are you mature enough?
* "All my friends get to, and they are younger than me," but why would you desire to be like your younger friends?
* "I'm sixteen and old enough to drive," but are you responsible enough to drive safely?
* "I'm eighteen and old enough to vote," but are you wise enough to make the right choices?
* "I'm twenty-one and old enough to drink," but are you man enough and Christian enough to say "no" to it?
Conclusion: Age had little or nothing to do with the Shulamite's statements. Though she was young and beautiful, she stood her ground and said to Solomon that she wasn't for sale at any price. Some things in life are just too important to be auctioned off cheaply to an unthankful world.
Dr. Jack Hyles wrote "For Sale" in his book "Blue Denim and Lace." Listen to these thoughts from that chapter:
One's degree of character may be determined by what he would do wrong, for so many are so prone to "sell out" so soon. Politicians, preachers, and others find the temptation to sell out to be a great one. Some sell for much, and some sell for little.
The tendency to be for sale starts in childhood. If the child is not taught that wrong is punished, and if he gets no spankings, wrong is not made distasteful to him. He oftentimes gets his desires by doing wrong. If he cries long enough, he gets the candy, and oftentimes he is even rewarded when throwing a tantrum. He does not have to mind his parents. To say "no" to mama is considered cute. Then, he will say "no" to the teacher, "no" to the Sunday School worker, "no" to the law, and "no" to God. He then dies and goes to Hell because the parents thought it was cute for him to say "no."
This tendency to sell out continues in youth. It is found in the youth who does right only if it turns out right. Right needs to be vindicated in such a life. Every action is determined by its reward or results. According to this opinion, nothing is right or wrong in itself, only in how it turns out. Hence, anything can become right if it turns out right. Popularity, gaining a new boyfriend, good grades, etc. become the main end rather than principles and character. How sad! Such people stand only until the price is big enough. They are not taught to live by principles. Their convictions last only until the selling price reaches their desires.
This tendency increases in adulthood. From such young people, we have our police scandals, our crooked politicians, our compromising preachers, our loafers, lawbreakers, and home-breakers.
Early in childhood our youth should be taught the need for conviction and that right is its own reward and needs no vindication. They should be taught never to sell out for convenience or fair price, but rather to place a sign over their souls, "Not for Sale."