Song of Songs 3-5
God’s Love
Chapter 3 begins with the bride in bed at night. In 1 Thessalonians 5 the apostle Paul says that those who sleep, sleep at night. Night represents darkness and separation from the light. Those who walk with the Lord walk in the light of the Lord. Historically, I believe this represents the time of the Judges where everyone did what was right in their own eyes because there was no king. The King, of course, is God, but Israel had fallen asleep and was in the dark and wants a king like the other nations have.
It is not long before she realizes the one she loves is nowhere to be found and she goes out into the night in search of him. The watchmen represent the priests and judges who are of little help but she keeps searching and soon finds the one she loves.
God says in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” NIV
God wants us to seek Him with all our heart. God desires a love relationship with us. Many times people will turn to God when things are going badly and will try to make a deal with God saying something like, "God, if you will get me out of this jam I will start going to church and be a good person," and so on. God in His mercy may deliver them from their jam but if the relationship is to last they must cease loving the world and love God. This is why in verse 5 the bridegroom says let her sleep until her desire for the one she loves wakes her up. He says this to those who are witnessing what is going on between the two of them and he wants them to see it is all about a love relationship.
As she seeks her lover it is not long before she finds him in all his glory represented by King Solomon. We are entering the Kingdom Age now where God has blessed the king to the point where the other nations take notice. This is according to God’s plan for Israel as stated in Deuteronomy 4:1-8. Israel’s witness to the world is to show the goodness and blessing of God for those who love Him. God’s love for Israel is expressed throughout Chapter 4 but in Chapter 5 the bride Israel is back in bed trying to sleep but wide awake because something is wrong.
In Chapter 5 we see the bride asleep but her heart was longing for her lover. They are separated again and in the darkness he is looking for her and calling out to her. She hears his call but she is not ready to respond and by the time she does respond, he has gone away. When she realizes he has departed from her she gets up and goes out into the night in search for him. Things have deteriorated in the kingdom. Worldly darkness has crept in and the love for the Lord has been replaced with the love of the world. In her search for her lover who has gone she runs into the watchmen and guards again. Last time they met her with interference but this time it is open hostility. The Kingdom Age is corrupted but there is always a remnant that loves the Lord. She represents the remnant that loves the Lord and becomes a witness to the onlookers who have seen this love relationship and are now asking questions in verse 9.
We have to leave it here today but stay tuned. There is more to come.
Pastor Dave