Song of Solomon 8:9

The "little sister" means Ephraim, or the long-lost ten tribes — of this we have no doubt. Their captivity took place before the birth of Christ. So they know nothing of what Judah, the two tribes, has gone through about the birth, death, resurrection, and return of the Messiah. Still, they come to enjoy the blessed results of His first coming in grace and of His second coming in glory. And their more highly favoured sister Judah instructs them, builds them up, and establishes them in the doctrine of Christ.

A wall speaks of separation. It encloses what is within and separates it from what is outside... All spiritual growth begins with what the Bible calls the fear of the Lord. That means having real reverential respect for Him, and recognising His power and authority over us. This leads to hating and forsaking evil. It enables one to stand like a wall against the evil influences around and not allow them any entrance within... Where it is lacking there is no foundation to build upon.

Silver speaks of redemption... This atonement money was used to make the silver sockets that served as the foundation of the tabernacle... The silver sockets show that redemption is the foundation on which everything rests. Without redemption we have nothing to stand on at all. In our passage the silver builds a turret on the wall. A turret is something that stands out conspicuously. It is costly and precious, and adds beauty and adornment. The turret of silver then would speak of redemption beautifully displayed before the eyes of others.

A door is a means of entrance, a way by which one gains access to what is within... Every believer should be able, in some degree at least, to point the lost to the Saviour and show the ignorant the way of life. In this way he becomes a door... But some believers have not grown yet. They are not very clear themselves about the truth, so they can do this only in a clumsy way... Such people are like a rough, unfinished door in a stone wall. Someone who has reached spiritual maturity would do this work more effectively. He would be like a door beautifully enclosed with boards of cedar.

The cedar is a fragrant, rot-resisting wood that grows on the heights of Lebanon. So it speaks of a character lifted high, fragrant and attractive, with power to withstand corruption and evil.

When Israel is again established on a firm foundation like a wall, then she will be a monument of redeeming grace: "We will build upon her a turret of silver." When she becomes a door — when her heart is opened to Christ — she will come under His protection and care: "We will enclose her with boards of cedar."

We cannot produce growth by criticising, or by knocking and harping on people's faults and failures. We must seek rather to add something of beauty and value to them. We must build upon the wall a turret of silver.

Whatever the interpretation of this verse may be, let us apply it to ourselves like this. If our affections are not developed toward Christ, and our door is open to the world, one thing will hold us in responsive affection to Him: thinking on His redeeming love, His holy sufferings, and the unique greatness of His Person. "Silver" and "cedar wood."