The wives of the East are secluded with the greatest care from the public gaze. They are to be for their lords alone. They do not dislike this, but rather estimate the degree of their husband’s affections by his watchfulness. The most flattering name that can be applied to an Eastern lady is the concealed treasure, the guarded jewel, or the well-watched angel.

S.O.S. 4:12 says, "A garden enclosed Is my sister, my spouse, A spring shut up, A fountain sealed." Our souls are to be a fountain of affection, shut up from the world, for the delight of Him who has redeemed us with His blood and sealed us with His Holy Spirit.

He dwells in this fountain, and is its Guardian. No one has a right to our affections but the Lord. We are "hid with Christ in God," hid from the world as a spring shut up, a garden enclosed. We are His concealed treasure, His guarded jewels, and His well-watched angels. He has made us and we are His (Mal. 3:17). We are the work of His hands, and even the curve of our thighs are like jewels, or necklaces as the word could be translated, to Him (S.O.S. 7:1).

In ancient times, these necklaces were handsome, and richly ornamented with pearls and precious stones, and were a principal part of the dress of both men and women.

Our Lord is the Pearl of Great Price (Matt. 13:45-46). As the oyster secretes a substance to cover over the irritation of the sand within, it becomes a pearl. So our Lord shed His blood and covered over our sin to make a PRICELESS PEARL to give to us. 

May we in all our sufferings seek His grace to cover over the irritation, or pain within, so that we may make beautiful pearls to present to the Lord that He may be adorned for His wedding day as He is adorning us (S.O.S. 1:10-11).