King Solomon made for himself the carriage; he made it of wood from Lebanon. – Song of Songs 3:9

Today's Scripture Reading (December 1, 2022): Song of Songs 3

Some people will never know the simple things we commoners do without thinking. The simple act of heading out to the local bar for wings night with some friends or making an impromptu stop at the local McDonald's for a quick meal are things that some people will never experience, not because of a lack of wealth but because of an excess of power. I have often wondered what it would be like to be so well known that everyone knows you at a glance, regardless of where you might go. It is not something with which I would ever want to be cursed.

Consider the President of the United States. I have often wondered if there is a secret passage out of the White House so that he could escape to a local convenience store in the middle of the night. In high-stress moments of my life, I have often enjoyed a late-night walk to grab a Coke and just allow the stress to escape into the cool night air. But for the President, who seems to always travel in a motorcade with people to protect and serve him, getting alone is almost impossible.

And it has always been that way. The powerful among us have always moved with at least some sort of an entourage, enjoying or being cursed by things that we wouldn't give a second thought.

Solomon's bride dreams of being out looking for the one she loves. And she Is getting frantic in her search. Not even the watchman, who should know exactly where the King is, can help her. But then she finds him. Actually, he is a bit hard to miss. After all, Solomon, like every other powerful leader, travels with an entourage; in this case, the King is escorted by sixty warriors, each wearing a sword and experienced in battle.

But there is a small challenge to this verse, which is found with the word "chariot." A chariot often brings to mind a mobile vehicle pulled by horses. Chariots can be drawn slowly, especially when being encircled by the warriors. But a chariot might be better transportation outside the city or on the battlefield. The more appropriate way to move inside the city was a palanquin, not a chariot. And "palanquin" is a better translation of the Hebrew word used here. A palanquin is a mobile couch, usually carried by four to six people with the assistance of two long poles. It was an easy way to move the King around the city and keep him safe simultaneously. And it placed the King in a position where he could be widely seen by the people and his beloved, who is anxiously searching for the one she loves.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Song of Songs 4