The Veiled Woman?

Okay.

I have jumped ahead and addressed SOS 1:13 & 2:3 as a bit of a reaction to some faulty teaching going around.

Now I'd like to go back a pick up after SOS 1:6, that place that talks about the angry brothers and her dark complexion resulting from their oppression.

SOS 1:7 Tell me, O you whom my soul loves, Where do you pasture your flock, Where do you make it lie down at noon? For why should I be like one who veils herself (wanders) Beside the flocks of you companions? (NAS)

This is the Beloved asking the whereabouts of the Lover and His flock. She wants to be near Him. She wants to come out of hiding or away from the place of wandering.

The huge significance of this verse to me in this day and age is tied up in the word translated as veil or wanders. With the growth of the Islamic culture and the recent decision by France to outlaw the burqa, we have become far more familiar with the "veiled woman" now than in the past.

Here is a link to a woman expressing the idea that the veil is oppressive and marginalizing to Muslim women. If you have time, follow her link to the Jerusalem Post article:

http://talibanrising.blogspot.com/2009/06/its-about-women.html

Muslim women aside, (Not because they and their fight for freedom are not important) how does this pertain to the average, everyday Christian believer?

Well, think about what happened in the garden after the fall. They hid themselves. But God went looking for them. "Adam, where are you?"

Think of what happened the day Jesus died. The veil was was torn in two.

One more thing to think about. What are certain groups of Christians trying to do to women?

Shut them down. Shut them up. Bar them from service in the community setting of worship.

What is the Beloved asking? Why should I be veiled among the men? Why should I have to wander and be marginalized?

The response:

SOS 1:8 If you do not know, Most beautiful among women, Go forth on the trail of the flock, And pasture your goats By the tents of the shepherds.

What does this mean? She is not to wander. She is not to remain hidden. She has just as much right to be by the tents of the shepherds as the men. Even if she has goats.

There is significance to the goats, here, by the way. But we will address it later.

God had a plan for man's salvation before the fall. It was Jesus Christ who made a way for us to boldly come into the throne room of God. We need not wander. We need not hide. Neither male nor female is kept from God's presence. The veil was torn in two for all.

Now we can seek His face, unashamed, as we let Him reveal His love for us and allow Him to teach us how to love Him back in a manner worthy. Not with an earthly carnal love. But with a heavenly, godly love.