Introduction: The words of the Shulamite to the court ladies continues in this chapter. So misunderstood is this short and sweet little passage. Let's take a closer look at what she is saying.
1. On my bed, I sought him. - Song 3:1
"By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not."
- Perhaps, it is the misunderstanding of this verse that sets the stage for this book to be taught to married couples. We must remember, the Shulamite and the shepherd are only betrothed to one another; they were engaged.
- This verse does not teach that they were in bed nor had ever been in bed together. It teaches very simply, while she was separated from her betrothed:* She thought about him at night on her bed. It will be interesting to note here that the word "bed" used here is different than the word used in Song of Solomon 1:16 which says, "...our bed is green." The word "bed" in 3:1 is a couch upon which she could recline.
* She missed him terribly.
* She deeply desired to be with him.
* But she could not have that desire fulfilled at that time.- She tries to explain this to the rest of the harem. They just didn't understand her refusal to forget about the shepherd and get on with her life as one of Solomon's many wives.
2. I will rise now, and go about the city. - Song 3:2
"I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not."
- Simply stated, she told these other girls that she got off the couch and went looking for her shepherd.
* She lost sleep.
* She risked her own safety.
* Her great desire for her shepherd is seen and heard in this verse.
* She even asked for help in finding him according to verse 3, "The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?"- At the last, she could not find him, at least, not yet. Her heart was truly broken. Remember, she is vividly telling this story to the rest of the daughters of Jerusalem.
3. I found him whom my soul loveth. - Song 3:4
"It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me."
- It wasn't long, though, that she did find him! She only passed by the watchmen a few times. She really sought after the shepherd!
- Notice these facts about this encounter:* She found him. If you are not looking carefully enough, you won't find what you're looking for.
* She held him. This is an interesting word. When we read it, we think "hug." This is not the word at all. It means, "to grasp, to take hold, to seize, to catch, and to fasten." The primary meaning here is that she looked for him so long and so hard that when she did finally find him, she wasn't going to let him get away, so she latched onto him and would not let go.
* She brought him. The "chamber" here is not a bed chamber (bed chamber is different). It was an inner-parlor in her mother's house.
4. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem. - Song 3:5
"I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please."
- These are the same words she used in chapter 2:7. It is even spoken of in the same way. She addresses them with masculine words.
- She charges the harem not to try to excite or entice her to change her affection from her shepherd to the king or anyone else.
- To say this once was enough, but for her to repeat it, was a double-whammy for these harem girls!
Conclusion: This ends this part of her story to the rest of the harem. No matter what they had to say or offer her, her mind was steadfast and sure. Her heart was fixed. She wanted her shepherd, not the king.
Remember verse 2, "I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth"? I find it inspiring, encouraging, and challenging what she did. She turned her desire into action. She didn't just stay on the couch and wish to find her shepherd. She got up and put feet to her prayers. She did something about it.
What is it in your relationship with Jesus that you truly desire? Do you just sit there and think about it and wish for it, or are you willing do something about it? The Song of Solomon is about our relationship to our Betrothed, Jesus. Many Christians just sit and think about what it might be like to have a sweet relationship with the Saviour. Others love Him enough to actually do something about it.
- She lost sleep, risked her own safety, and did what it took to find her betrothed.
What are you willing to do to have that kind of relationship with the Lord Jesus, the Lover of your soul?