If you browse or study Song of Solomon you will likely come across the thought that it not only represents the love and passion of a husband and wife for one another, but also picks up on the metaphor raised elsewhere in scripture of the body of Christ as the bride and Christ as the husband.
With both in mind note the passion in Song of Solomon 5. Note the anxiety and torment of separation. Note how we are to look upon our spouse and savior… with admiration. With Christ, there are no flaws; some would think that is easy to admire. Take care, however, because the world is constantly trying to redefine what is right and good and then make it appear that Christ and those who follow Him are bad. Also, we are vulnerable to acknowledging His good and admirable traits, but sometimes without true passion to pursue Him. We may not give Him our full attention and focus.
With our spouses, of course we all have flaws. While flaws need to be acknowledged, prayed for, and dealt with, let us focus on those things that are admirable about our spouse and do so passionately.
The Torment of Separation
1“I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride;
I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam.
I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey;
I have drunk my wine and my milk.
Eat, friends;
Drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers.”
2“I was asleep but my heart was awake.
A voice! My beloved was knocking:
‘Open to me, my sister, my darling,
My dove, my perfect one!
For my head is drenched with dew,
My locks with the damp of the night.’
3“I have taken off my dress,
How can I put it on again?
I have washed my feet,
How can I dirty them again?
4“My beloved extended his hand through the opening,
And my feelings were aroused for him.
5“I arose to open to my beloved;
And my hands dripped with myrrh,
And my fingers with liquid myrrh,
On the handles of the bolt.
6“I opened to my beloved,
But my beloved had turned away and had gone!
My heart went out to him as he spoke.
I searched for him but I did not find him;
I called him but he did not answer me.
7“The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,
They struck me and wounded me;
The guardsmen of the walls took away my shawl from me.
8“I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
If you find my beloved,
As to what you will tell him:
For I am lovesick.”
9“What kind of beloved is your beloved,
O most beautiful among women?
What kind of beloved is your beloved,
That thus you adjure us?”
Admiration by the Bride
10“My beloved is dazzling and ruddy,
Outstanding among ten thousand.
11“His head is like gold, pure gold;
His locks are like clusters of dates
And black as a raven.
12“His eyes are like doves
Beside streams of water,
Bathed in milk,
And reposed in their setting.
13“His cheeks are like a bed of balsam,
Banks of sweet-scented herbs;
His lips are lilies
Dripping with liquid myrrh.
14“His hands are rods of gold
Set with beryl;
His abdomen is carved ivory
Inlaid with sapphires.
15“His legs are pillars of alabaster
Set on pedestals of pure gold;
His appearance is like Lebanon
Choice as the cedars.
16“His mouth is full of sweetness.
And he is wholly desirable.
This is my beloved and this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem.”
Don’t get lost in the metaphors used that may not resonate today the same way they did when written. Focus on the desire, the passion, the pursuit of spouse and savior. Then reflect on your life and consider if you are pursuing your spouse and your savior with that kind of passion. If not, ask God to help you and start focusing your mind on what is good and admirable about each as you pursue them more passionately in the future.
Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ
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