Love’s Excitement

Song of Solomon 5.2–6.3

By Don Ruhl

This section begins with an interesting interaction, where we will see this:

She sleeps
He knocks
She stalls
He tries
She hopes
He leaves
She melts 

Song of Solomon 5.2 – Love’s Visit

I sleep, but my heart is awake;
It is the voice of my beloved!
He knocks, saying,
“Open for me, my sister, my love,
My dove, my perfect one;
For my head is covered with dew,
My locks with the drops of the night.”

She slept, but did she also dream, or was she groggy? What awoke her? How did he refer to her? Why did he use four descriptions for her? What did he want? He had been out. Why was he out? It was night and he sought shelter. Truly:

Love dreams.
Love speaks.
Love knocks.
Love praises.
Love needs.

However, the next section will show that she turns him down. Was it bad timing? Was it just that she was not completely awake? Was it merely a matter of inconvenience?

Song of Solomon 5.3–5 – Love’s Excitement

I have taken off my robe;
How can I put it on again?
I have washed my feet;
How can I defile them?
My beloved put his hand
By the latch of the door,
And my heart yearned for him.
I arose to open for my beloved,
And my hands dripped with myrrh,
My fingers with liquid myrrh,
On the handles of the lock.
(Song 5.3–5)

Why did she not want to get up and let him in? She had already prepared herself for bed. She either thought of her convenience over his love, or did not realize what her words would do to him.

However, does verse 4 show that she changed? What happened when he put his hand on the latch of the door? He was hoping that he could still come in, and suddenly she yearned for him more than for her own comfort.

She decided to put on her robe, which meant to defile her feet, and she put her hands upon the lock, knowing that his hand was just on the other side.

How does she picture her hands and fingers? Why do you think she compared them to liquid myrrh? Does this show the loving excitement that she felt in her body?

Love inconvenienced (v. 3).
Love searches (v. 4).
Love yearns (v. 4c).
Love awakens (v. 5).

Song of Solomon 5.6–8 – Love’s Disappointment 

I opened for my beloved,
But my beloved had turned away and was gone.
My heart leaped up when he spoke.
I sought him, but I could not find him;
I called him, but he gave me no answer.
The watchmen who went about the city found me.
They struck me, they wounded me;
The keepers of the walls
Took my veil away from me.
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
If you find my beloved,
That you tell him I am lovesick!
(Song 5.6–8)

She was too late. She missed the opportunity, and regretted it.

He had called to her, but she gave a disappointing answer, and so now she calls, and he does not answer.

What happens in verse 7? Back in 3.3 the watchmen had not harmed her. This time they do. Why? Since they were watchmen, did they hold her in suspicion?

She managed to get away, leaving her veil behind perhaps in the same way that Joseph did when he fled Potiphar’s wife or as Mark did when he fled those who were arresting Jesus.

Like the poem in chapter 3, she again speaks to the daughters of Jerusalem, but back then she wanted them to stay away, whereas this time she wants their help in locating her beloved. What message did she want them to give to him? That she was lovesick. She regretted turning him away.

Love turns away (v. 6a).
Love regrets (v. 6).
Love runs into danger (v. 7).
Love seeks help (v. 8).

Song of Solomon 5.9–16 – Love’s Loveliness

What is your beloved
More than another beloved, 
O fairest among women?
What is your beloved
More than another beloved,
That you so charge us?
My beloved is white and ruddy,
Chief among ten thousand.
His head is like the finest gold;
His locks are wavy,
And black as a raven.
His eyes are like doves
By the rivers of waters,
Washed with milk,
And fitly set.
His cheeks are like a bed of spices,
Banks of scented herbs.
His lips are lilies,
Dripping liquid myrrh.
His hands are rods of gold
Set with beryl.
His body is carved ivory
Inlaid with sapphires.
His legs are pillars of marble
Set on bases of fine gold.
His countenance is like Lebanon,
Excellent as the cedars.
His mouth is most sweet,
Yes, he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved,
And this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem!
(Song 5.9–16)

The daughters of Jerusalem wanted to know what made her beloved special. Why was he different from any other men; they wanted to know why they should help in the search?

First, in verse 10 she declared that he stands out among ten thousand men.

Then from verse 11 through the first line of verse 16 she painted a picture. They wanted to know how to identify him. She provided the details, starting from the head down.

She pictured him much as he did her. She spoke of his value to her. She found no fault in him. The loveliness of her man:

Hair – valuable and dark
Eyes – peaceful and pure
Cheeks – colorful and aromatic
Lips – produce beautiful words
Hands – valuable
Body – a work of creation
Legs – strong
Face – exudes excellence
Mouth – sweet words

Notice that his head—the top part of his body—was like the finest gold, his hands—the middle part of his body—were like rods of gold, and his feet—the bottom part of his body—she compared to gold.

Love questions (v. 9).
Love answers (vv. 10–16).
Love cherishes above others (v. 10).
Love sees perfection (vv. 11–16a).
Love endears (v. 16).

Song of Solomon 6.1–3 – Love’s Garden

Where has your beloved gone,
O fairest among women?
Where has your beloved turned aside,
That we may seek him with you?
My beloved has gone to his garden,
To the beds of spices,
To feed his flock in the gardens,
And to gather lilies.
I am my beloved’s,
And my beloved is mine.
He feeds his flock among the lilies.
(Song 6.1–3)

Having asked, “what,” in verse 9, the daughters of Jerusalem now ask, “where?” They wanted an idea of where he might be. That way they could narrow down the search. However, it appears that she had found him.

Love wants to help (v. 1).
Love enjoys (v. 2).
Lovers unite (v. 3).

What shall we do with this section of the Song of Solomon? 

• Remember that we do not belong to ourselves (1Co 7.3–6).
• Love is not always convenient.
• People are more important than anything, except God.
• Turning down opportunities may hurt.
• Value everything about your spouse.
• Remember you are friends.

Remember you are friends.