The Bible says:
“Thine head ... the king is held in its galleries.”
— Song of Solomon 7: 5
A gallery is a place where artwork, such as paintings, busts, statuettes, and other treasured collectibles are displayed. Our mind also has a gallery full of things we’ve collected over the years.
The Shulamite woman’s head is presented as a gallery that King Solomon occupies. He resides as a permanent resident in the mind of this one who loves him supremely. Because of her love for him she chose to dwell on those thoughts that embraced him.
We all have this “gallery,” this place filled with people we love and memories we cherish. We walk through this gallery as we think first about one thing and then go on to think about another. Others know the people and places we talk about the most have a special place in our gallery.
Old Testament saints held God in their gallery and spoke often about Him.
“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.”
— Malachi 3: 16
The wicked however do not let God occupy any of their thoughts.
“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”
— Psalms 10: 4
Their gallery is a cage full of abominable thoughts. (Proverbs 15: 26) In a gallery there are many priceless treasures on display. But the most valuable one is given that place of prominence. As a gallery guide we speak about our most valued treasure in our gallery the most.
The Shulamite woman became King Solomon’s bride. She had only Solomon to occupy her mind.
King Solomon however had many women that occupied his mind. There was more than one woman in his gallery. And this brought about his ruin.
(1 Kings 11)
As the New Testament Bride of Christ we should have our gallery occupied by King Jesus. We occupy His thoughts.
(Psalms 40: 5) There are other treasures
there but He has the most prominent place, and we talk about Him more than anyone else.
What is in your gallery? Who occupies your thoughts? What do you meditate on? As a man thinketh in his heart so is he. (Proverbs 23: 7)
James H. Cagle is a Ray City resident who has pastored several churche. Email him at [email protected]
