Song of Solomon 8:9
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
The verse belongs to one of the one thousand and five songs or poems written by Solomon. The book is a dialogue between various parties, expressed in vivid, warm Eastern imagery as an Oriental love poem. It is a figurative, poetical picture of Christ and His church, as many interpret it. That picture shows His wonderful love and her love in response, though her love is often wanting in faithfulness and constancy.
The verse presents the church under two images with a suited response to each: if a wall, she is strengthened and adorned by building upon her, with silver as the material for a palace, and if a door, she is enclosed with boards of cedar. The combined image of a palace of silver enclosed in cedar shows her changing circumstances and contrasting conditions.
The wall and door also picture different responses to influence: the wall is closed against temptation and open to God and becomes the foundation for something beautiful and valuable, while the door is open to both good and evil and needs to be enclosed and guarded. The verse therefore teaches the need to welcome what God imparts while guarding against evil. The Song is to be read alone with God while keeping its picture of Christ and His church in mind.