The Song Of Solomon 5.2-9

“Open for me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my flawless one!
My head is drenched with dew,
my hair with the dampness of the night.”

 “I have already taken off my robe—must I put it on again?
I have already washed my feet—must I soil them again?”
My lover thrust his hand through the hole,
and my feelings were stirred for him.
I arose to open for my beloved;
my hands dripped with myrrh—
my fingers flowed with myrrh
on the handles of the lock.
I opened for my beloved,
but my lover had already turned and gone away.
I fell into despair when he departed.
I looked for him but did not find him;
I called him but he did not answer me.
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 on the walls!

I admonish you, O maidens of Jerusalem—
If you find my beloved, what will you tell him?
Tell him that I am lovesick!

Why is your beloved better than others,

O most beautiful of women?
Why is your beloved better than others,
that you would admonish us in this manner?”

(The Song Of Solomon 5.2-9, NET)

In her dream the bride is awakened by the sound of her lover…knocking at the door (v.1). He calls out to her using many titles that reflect the many roles we each play in our relationships (v.2). The bride seems to give reasons why she cannot open the door just yet (v.3) and the lover tries to open the door himself (v.4). Finally the bride opens the door but in taking too long her lover has gone (vv.5-6). She searches and is reprimanded by the watchmen in her dream (v.7) and then calls out for help in finding her lover, but to no avail (vv.8-9).

There are some passages in Scripture that we read and quickly see a clear and cogent point for ourselves (2 Corinthians 1.3-5 and the call to comfort one another, for example) and there are others that simply add to the context in which it sits.

We could draw a conclusion and say that when in relationships, we need to be less self-centred (v.3).

We could say that guilt about things we have done wrong will come back to haunt us (v.7).

We could even say that whilst our relationships are profoundly special to us, to others they are absolutely not (v.9).

Rather than over-interpret passages like The Song Of Solomon 5.2-9 it is better to see it as an interesting part of the book in which it sits. We are seeing sides and scenes to a relationship that we would not if this passage were not included. Enjoy reading it, think on it, and apply what you see to your own relationships.