26th March 2026

26th March 2026


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Song of Solomon 3v8-17) 


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


You could stop reading the Song of Solomon at 2v6 and be able to explain that the Song involves two people who are deeply in love and so you might even say "and they all lived happily ever after." Nevertheless, that wouldn't be the whole story because before the Shulammite and the Shepherd go hand in hand into the sunset there is one small problem - the Shepherd is on the wrong side of the wall.


The Shulammite heard her beloved's voice but she described him as "behind our wall, gazing through the windows, looking through the lattice." (3v9). It isn't everyone's interpretation but I am convinced that the Shulammite is enclosed within Solomon's hareem. Historically, hareem's were managed by eunnuchs who were castrated men who wouldn't have been able to enjoy the King's women. Everyone else would have been outside the complex and although the Shepherd came bounding over the mountains, he was unable to access Solomon's hareem.


As he tried to catch a glimpse of his beloved through the lattice he called to her and urged her to come away (3v10). The winter was past, spring had come (3v11-13) and so was the perfect time for the Shepherd and the Shulammite to be together. The Shepherd again urged the Shulammite to come away and leave the hareem behind (v13). He longed to see her face and hear her voice (v14) but all he could see was a mere glimpse through the lattice.


It seems to me that the Shulammite then asks the Shepherd to catch the foxes who ruin the vineyards (2v15). What did mean? She longed for the problems in their relationship to be put away - she wanted the walls of the hareem to be pulled down and for their love to flourish. But now it was time for the Shepherd to leave the walls of the hareem, to flee from potential danger (2v16) and wait for a better day.


The Shulammite and the Shepherd were not yet able to live happily after after and if the Song ended at this point we wouldn't be sure if they ever would. The problems they faced seemed insurmountable and isn't that the story of many of our relationships? Things don't go as planned after the big day ends, money is tight, promotions don't come and the home is tense constantly. Love in this world will not always look like the movies.


Brothers and sisters, if the foxes are to be put out of our own relationships then we would be wise to heed Solomon in Ecclesiastes 4v12 where he wrote that a threefold cord is not quickly broken. What does that look like in reality? Christ in our marriages, Christ in our courting, Christ in our parenting, Christ in our friendships and Christ in our interactions. May he chase the foxes and tear down the walls - all glory be to Christ.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q25 How doth Christ execute the office of a priest? Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us.
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