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Song of Songs Ch 5
- 5:1–This verse and 4:16 are the fulfillment of the section on ascension (3:6-5:1). 5:1 is the Bridegroom’s answer to the maiden’s call in 4:16 to come enjoy the fruit within her. He answers immediately and comes and eats! He is always ready to come abide in us in greater measure and enjoy what the Spirit has done in us. This isn’t a time of producing more, but enjoying what already has been produced.
- Note how many times He says “My”. She clearly belongs to Him and all of her fruit is His. He claims her for Himself.
- The idea of intoxication connected to God comes up in 2 ways in Scripture: drunk in God’s wrath (Is 51:22, Jer 25:15-16) and drunk in God’s Spirit (Acts 2:13 & Eph 5:18).
- Thank the Lord that you are NOT under the law/His wrath anymore!!! (Ro 4:13-16)
- Pray Eph 5:18 and Luke 11:13 to ask for more of God’s Spirit to fill you with His love and presence (Eph 3:19).
- Thank the Lord that you are NOT under the law/His wrath anymore!!! (Ro 4:13-16)
- Note how many times He says “My”. She clearly belongs to Him and all of her fruit is His. He claims her for Himself.
- 5:2–She is filled with His presence and resting. She’s ceased her own activities and is alert for Him alone. She no longer goes about her own business but truly waits and moves only as He leads.
- He knocks and asks her to open the door of her heart to Him. Jesus also does this in Rev 3:20. Here in this context, He’s wanting to come in and commune with her in a new, deeper way. The way Jesus is depicted in this verse brings to mind the garden of Gethsemane. His head being drenched with dew of the night symbolizes His head being drenched with sweat and blood from praying over the wrath He’s about to endure (Luke 22:39-46). What He’s asking her is if she will know Him intimately in this way and therefore also take on this part of His nature.
- He knocks and asks her to open the door of her heart to Him. Jesus also does this in Rev 3:20. Here in this context, He’s wanting to come in and commune with her in a new, deeper way. The way Jesus is depicted in this verse brings to mind the garden of Gethsemane. His head being drenched with dew of the night symbolizes His head being drenched with sweat and blood from praying over the wrath He’s about to endure (Luke 22:39-46). What He’s asking her is if she will know Him intimately in this way and therefore also take on this part of His nature.
- 5:3–She is questioning how she could ever identify with Jesus’ receiving God’s wrath. She is clean and holy because Jesus took away God’s wrath for her. How can she now identify with Jesus who received God’s wrath in such a way where it’s not her victory but actually she bears His shame, disgrace, and rejection with Him? Jesus is asking her to take on the shame and disgrace of His death (Heb 12:2 & 13:12-13). Jesus taking on God’s wrath made people think God was displeased with Him (Isaiah 53:4). We know now He was being obedient to the Lord (Phil 2:8-9). She is questioning all this and in her hesitation, He pursues her.
- 5:4–I love this!! My biggest fret when Jesus has called me to bear His shame is “Lord will I lose You in this in some way? Will the shame make me actually struck down by You?” He pursues her, which reveals that the call is indeed one of intimacy with Him! Amazing!
- 5:5–Myrrh is the oil Jesus was anointed with in death (Jn 19:39). He clearly is calling her into an experience of His death in greater measure, with the emphasis on the shame, affliction and rejection associated with His death.
- 5:6–She does not find Jesus. This seems to be experiencing what Jesus experienced when He cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” (Matt 27:46).
- Based on all the context explained above, Jesus leaving does not seem to be because she disobeyed, like in 2:16-3:1. This time He’s inviting her into this separation.
- For this reason, and because of Psalm 22, I believe that the Lord is with us during this time even though we can’t see/feel Him. We experience the separation Jesus did on the cross, but we also know that in Ps 22:24 (the prophetic Psalm that begins with the cry “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?”) God did not hide His face. Maybe He did for a duration but I know for certain He did not ultimately. That was never the purpose of the death on the cross. We know it was for glory and intimacy (Luke 24:26).
- Be encouraged that in the pain, difficulty, suffering of identifying with Jesus in the shame of the cross, it will be for the sake of intimacy. She will find Him soon and when she does they will be closer than ever before!
- Based on all the context explained above, Jesus leaving does not seem to be because she disobeyed, like in 2:16-3:1. This time He’s inviting her into this separation.
- 5:7–Here we see the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:4. People misjudge her and beat her. It’s presumably still night and she is out wandering and lovesick. The guards find her and beat her, most likely because they think she is a prostitute. The same people who she asked for help in 3:3 now hurt her. One lesson from this is that people who once helped us in walking closer with Christ may not always help and can actually harm us when they misjudge what we’re doing. We must walk in step with the Spirit and discern each specific instance to test if the person speaking to us is in step with the Spirit.
- 5:8–Her heart remains steadfast. Pray Psalm 57:7 over yourself. May we be zealously lovesick for our One True Lover.
- 5:9–The same women who once praised her (1:4) now question why her Love is better than any other love. These people are now encouraging her in compromise. Again, we must test all things in the Spirit and stand firm even when we’re standing alone.
- 5:10-16–She starts praising Him for all His goodness! This is your call when you don’t know where He went: stop focusing on yourself. No doubts, no fears, only praise. This is always His will (Heb 13:15).