Song of Solomon 5.2-8

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Feb 24, 2010 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

The emotions and thoughts of love enable people to make decisions they would not normal make. I am sure you have heard of the actions of others as they found themselves in the “heat of passion.” Usually the actions of those so engulfed in the torrential downpour of passion on the heart is not something that brings encouraging headlines. Too often you read the headlines describing the “crimes of passion.” The passion one has for their love can overtake the thoughts and emotions of everything in our lives.

In today’s text, Song of Solomon 5.2-8, the Shulamite woman searches for the one her heart so desperately longs to hold. The thoughts of his embrace cause her to leave the security of her residence and roam the streets at night desperately seeking her love (verse 7).

She began her search for him after she awoke to the sounds of her beloved searching for her. As she leapt to her feet her mind races with what to do next. His words are as a song of her heart and the thought of his presence brings her slight confusion. She was sleeping and now jolted awake by his words. As his hand touched the latch of the gate, her heart jumped with excitement to see her beloved. (verse 4) As she reached for the latch as well, she opened the door to see her beloved and he was not there (verse 6). His departure was as quick as his arrival. He was gone from her sight and her hearing, where could he have gone?

Quickly, she begins searching for her love. She calls out his name in desperate hopes he will appear once more (verse 6). Her searching was met by the watchmen of the city. The watchmen of the city are hostile towards her during her midnight search. The time of her search is not the time for a woman like her to be out and about in the city. As is even said today, “Nothing good happens after midnight.”

After her final plea in search of her beloved, her final plea is it to the women of Jerusalem. She appeals to them, that if they find her beloved, they inform him of her love for him.

Interesting Notes:

• There are some who believe the events of Song of Solomon 5.2-8 are a dream. Just as you dream something is real only to awake and find it was not, some believe the Shulamite woman dreamed the events of 5.2-8. The only issue with this is the statement she makes in verse 2, “I slept, but my heart was awake.”
• Also, note how the account continues in to the next several verses. This brings to mind the events of 5.2-8 were in fact real, not a dream.
• Why would the watchmen treat her with hostility? Good question, what do you think?
• Three-Person Theory – Some believe in a three person theory to Song of Solomon. In this three person theory, there is Solomon, the Shulamite woman and her beloved. The Shulamite women in living as one in Solomon’s “harem” and her desire is not for Solomon, but for her beloved. This chapter fits in the three-person theory, because those believe the beloved is the man knocking at the door then disappearing.

Just some thoughts for today,

Chris