This is one of my favorite verses, and I cannot believe I did not use it in our message, nevertheless, here's what the brothers of Soloman's bride are saying...

The brothers liken their sister to one of two images that tell the tale of her purity. First of which is a wall, the second, a door. Notice their responses relative to which she might be.

If she is a wall they choose to "build on her a battlement of silver." This served as two functions. One, it further fortified her and made her stronger. Secondly, this was an act of adorning; adding dignity, strength, and beauty where one might expect to find it. Silver is highly reflective and catches the eye. This would draw attention, but due to the nature of its purpose would hold a reality of respect and grandeur, surely something to be taken seriously.

If she were a "door" effectually not guarding herself to the advances, or attacks, of suiters they would choose to "enclose her with boards of cedar," making her into a wall. This is vitally important to understand. Not only was it seen and understood that a woman was to care for, ensure, protect, and cultivate her purity, but men close to her were to embrace this as well. Her brothers made it their business, took on the responsibility, and acted upon the assurance, protection, and growth of her purity. There are far too many "boys" parading around as "men" that claim to have a woman's best interest in mind, yet at the first opportunity they either turn the guns (typically with a justification like, "i love you") or they fail in their own strength and compromise a woman's purity because they do not have a healthy understanding or respect for personal purity, let alone the purity of a woman.

The nature and imagery of a woman keeping herself as a wall or door is far more than just her own responsibility. It is as much her responsibility as it is her fathers, her brothers, and her brother's in Christ's responsibility!