WOUNDED BY THE WATCHMEN

" The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me."  (Song of Sol 5:7)

The woman of this chapter is a spouse of the king, endowed with privileges unknown to ordinary women. The king has just come to visit her, but because she tarried too long, he had left. Now she is looking for him. She does not look for him among the flocks, as suggested in the first chapter (1:7-8). She does not seek him in the quietness of the field of feeding and rest, but in the city, where teeming activity is all about. But, alas, instead of finding her beloved, the watchmen of the city find her. They do not know she is the king's spouse, but consider her an ordinary woman. They judge her according to appearance, and have no regard for her tender heart and longing spirit. Thinking she is a wandering and useless soul, they strike her, and wound her. Her covering veil, shawl NASB, or cloak NIV is taken from her as she flees from them, wounded in both body and spirit. Instead of finding her beloved, her hurt has only been extended, and she is the worse for it. Not only had she sought the one she loved in the wrong place, those who had no care for her had taken the occasion of her search, and harmed her.
Here is a remarkable picture of many poor souls who have sought after the Lord in the wrong places. Within themselves, they have sensed the Lord calling them, drawing them to Himself. Yet, they have lingered too long, putting off responding to Him. Now, they seem to sense Him no more, and thus search for Him, as well they ought to do. But they do not look where precious souls are being nourished by Him. Instead, they look in the city of the institutionalized church – places where many souls gather and much activity exists. They look for the Lord amidst religious form, professional clergy, and fine buildings and religious structure. Instead of finding the Lord, the religious "watchmen," not knowing the longing of their hearts, pummel them with tradition, laws, and useless dogmas. What they have to offer make things worse, not better, for the Lord being sought is not in them. They are "watchmen" that are not watching for the souls of men (Heb 13:7). A personal fellowship with the Shepherd Himself is of no consequence to them, and thus they hurt those who are of tender heart.
Those who would find the Lord must "go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach" NKJV (Heb 13:13). They must go in contrition of heart and humility. Such souls must know that Jesus will find them, tenderly carry them, and feed them. Only He can satisfy the desires of their heart, and He has a desire to do so. But He must be sought in the right place.