In The Word
Read: Song of Solomon 5:2-6:3
2 I slept but my heart was awake.
Listen! My beloved is knocking:
“Open to me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my flawless one.
My head is drenched with dew,
my hair with the dampness of the night.”
3 I have taken off my robe—
must I put it on again?
I have washed my feet—
must I soil them again?
4 My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening;
my heart began to pound for him.
5 I arose to open for my beloved,
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with flowing myrrh,
on the handles of the bolt.
6 I opened for my beloved,
but my beloved had left; he was gone.
My heart sank at his departure.
I looked for him but did not find him.
I called him but he did not answer.
7 The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
They beat me, they bruised me;
they took away my cloak,
those watchmen of the walls!
8 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you—
if you find my beloved,
what will you tell him?
Tell him I am faint with love.
Friends
9 How is your beloved better than others,
most beautiful of women?
How is your beloved better than others,
that you so charge us?
She
10 My beloved is radiant and ruddy,
outstanding among ten thousand.
11 His head is purest gold;
his hair is wavy
and black as a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves
by the water streams,
washed in milk,
mounted like jewels.
13 His cheeks are like beds of spice
yielding perfume.
His lips are like lilies
dripping with myrrh.
14 His arms are rods of gold
set with topaz.
His body is like polished ivory
decorated with lapis lazuli.
15 His legs are pillars of marble
set on bases of pure gold.
His appearance is like Lebanon,
choice as its cedars.
16 His mouth is sweetness itself;
he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved, this is my friend,
daughters of Jerusalem.
Friends
6 Where has your beloved gone,
most beautiful of women?
Which way did your beloved turn,
that we may look for him with you?
She
2 My beloved has gone down to his garden,
to the beds of spices,
to browse in the gardens
and to gather lilies.
3 I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine;
he browses among the lilies.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
In today’s portion of Song of Solomon, we see a picture of the relationship that Jesus desires with every believer. The woman was asleep before she was awakened by her beloved’s voice and knock at the door. He wanted to share his love with her, but she protested and thought only about her comfort and not about their loving relationship. When she realized her mistake and went to the door, it was too late, and he was gone. She went out to find him but could not.
Her beloved did not force the door open, but waited for the door to be opened. Jesus will not force his way into our lives; rather, He asks and waits for our invitation to enter. He says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in” (Revelation 3:20). Jesus longs to have close fellowship with us, but how often do we not make time for Him or get consumed with other, far less important things? Or we may not allow Him in because He will see the mess we have made in our lives. He already knows about the mess and wants to help clean it up.
How much better our lives will be if we will always keep our hearts open to the stirrings of His love! Let us seek daily communion with Jesus and declare, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (Song of Solomon 6:3).