Read Song of Songs 3
3 All night long on my bed
I looked for the one my heart loves;
I looked for him but did not find him.
2 I will get up now and go about the city,
through its streets and squares;
I will search for the one my heart loves.
So I looked for him but did not find him.
3 The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
“Have you seen the one my heart loves?”
4 Scarcely had I passed them
when I found the one my heart loves.
I held him and would not let him go
till I had brought him to my mother’s house,
to the room of the one who conceived me.
5 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you
by the gazelles and by the does of the field:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.
6 Who is this coming up from the wilderness
like a column of smoke,
perfumed with myrrh and incense
made from all the spices of the merchant?
7 Look! It is Solomon’s carriage,
escorted by sixty warriors,
the noblest of Israel,
8 all of them wearing the sword,
all experienced in battle,
each with his sword at his side,
prepared for the terrors of the night.
9 King Solomon made for himself the carriage;
he made it of wood from Lebanon.
10 Its posts he made of silver,
its base of gold.
Its seat was upholstered with purple,
its interior inlaid with love.
Daughters of Jerusalem, 11 come out,
and look, you daughters of Zion.
Look on King Solomon wearing a crown,
the crown with which his mother crowned him
on the day of his wedding,
the day his heart rejoiced.
Go Deeper
In this passage, the woman longs for the lover and is searching for him. She was determined to be with him. She wakes up and realizes she was dreaming, but there was a truth to share. She tells the daughters of Jerusalem to seek love following God’s timing.
Her dream includes the emotional pain that comes with longing, but recognizes that her love cannot be fully comprehended until her marriage. She must wait. We, like brides that long for their marriage, should long for our Father to protect and lead our household. God is our fortune and prize. He is unmatched. Nothing else will fill us with joy and peace.
She greets her lover with terms of endearment, with high regard and respect. She vividly describes him as kingly, majestic, and is completely enthralled with him. She depicts her wedding, and that the one she is to be with comes through the wilderness. His entrance was “perfumed with myrrh and frankincense” which had a pleasing aroma. She is eager to join him on their wedding day. The church admires this kingly depiction as Jesus Christ under the person of Solomon, whose riches, protection, and comfort are unparalleled.
What stands in the way of seeking God’s love and following his timing? We often put our own needs first. “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (James 3:16). Also, we do not trust God. “Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. What they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider’s web” (Job 8:13-14).
How can we seek God’s love and follow His timing?
- First, we look to God. “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always” (Psalm 105:4).
- We trust in God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” (Proverbs 3:5).
- We ask God for his will to be done. “Your kingdom come, your will be done” (Matthew 6:10).
- Finally, we live patiently. “Love is patient, love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4).
God’s plan may not look the way we thought it would. His timing may not be convenient. However, let us seek God’s love and follow his timing today.
Questions
- When are you longing for His love and service for you?
- Are your eyes open to truly seeing his love and devotion for you?
- God’s provision is unmatched; we are often too blinded by the world to see it. What opportunities do you have to expose your sins and rejoice in confession, mercy, and love from God?
Keep Digging
Song of Songs is a complex piece of literature. For a deeper dive into this book and its meaning, check out this blog post from The Bible Project.
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4 thoughts on “Song of Songs 3”
As Christians, we can relate to this “bride-to-be”. We long for the day when we (as the church) will be joined with Christ. The day of His return. But we must wait. There is still work to be done. What will we do while we wait? Will we tell others about Him?
And when He returns for His bride, He will come in Majesty, as the King that He is!!
I love what Pam said yesterday, we should all be in that unspeakable anticipation of Christ return. This book is so descriptive of that anticipation and excitement. This is from contemporary English Bible 1 Corinthians2:9 But it is just as the Scriptures say,What God has planned for people who love him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!” I do not think we can at all fathom what is to come but I definitely enjoy praising God for what the Word does tell us and reading this passage as a description has brought it more to life.
God thank You for Loving me soooooo!!! I do desire to be who and what You need me to be here and now. Give me Your wisdom to be a light and love that is guided by You in Jesus name amen
Just as the young woman roamed the city searching for her young man, I’m reminded of what the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the exiles in Babylon in Jeremiah 29:13 “If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when seek me.” When things look sketchy and our hearts are troubled there’s a safe place to run to, always. His plans are good & hope-filled! How wonderful that we can boldly approach him in confidence, knowing we are never out of his sight or reach.
I appreciate Forest’s comment, and it reminded me of this song that speaks to God’s great mercy and love for us.
https://youtu.be/BRkie-ThQrQ
What WILL we do with this waiting period? We need to work alongside Jesus to make heaven crowded!