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 Solomon 5:7

Explanation:
In the previous search found in chapter 3:1-4, the watchman were questioned, but could not help in her search for her beloved. In this text they are hurting her. They are wounding her. They took away her veil. What does this mean? There are several considerations we must acknowledge.

First, we must remember that this is poetic, possibly the description of a dream, and not the documentation of a historical event.

Second, she has gone from the privacy of the marriage bedroom, to the public venue of the city.

Thirdly, these are the only other men in this passage. There is the contrast of her husband with the watchmen. Her husband is altogether lovely, and treats her sweetly. He is the best. The watchmen beat her, wound her, and leave her feeling exposed.

Lastly, we see here the intimacy of marriage contrasted with her relationship to the outside world. In her husband she finds security and safety. In her husband she finds beauty and her needs are satisfied. In these watchmen she finds exposure and danger.

Application:
Wives and husbands should have a contrasting relationship with their spouse than they do any other relationship. Their relationship should be unique. It should be exclusive. The public relationship to other people should be wholly different than the intimate relationship with the spouse.

Response:
• Is there any way in which your relationship with the outside world is effecting the intimacy of your marriage (either present marriage or future marriage)?