Love Is a Roller Coaster
Opening Prayer
Before you begin to read today’s passage, take time now to praise God for his constant love and faithfulness.
Read Song of Songs 5:2-6:3
[2]She I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.” [3] I have taken off my robe- must I put it on again? I have washed my feet- must I soil them again? [4] My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him. [5] I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the bolt. [6] I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer. [7] 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 of the walls! [8] Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you- if you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him I am faint with love. [9]Friends How is your beloved better than others, most beautiful of women? How is your beloved better than others, that you so charge us? [10]She My beloved is radiant and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand. [11] His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven. [12] His eyes are like doves by the water streams, washed in milk, mounted like jewels. [13] His cheeks are like beds of spice yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with myrrh. [14] His arms are rods of gold set with topaz. His body is like polished ivory decorated with lapis lazuli. [15] His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars. [16] His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem. [1]Friends Where has your beloved gone, most beautiful of women? Which way did your beloved turn, that we may look for him with you? [2]She My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies. [3] I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine; he browses among the lilies. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
Reflect
How would you describe her portrayal of her Lover?It’s difficult to work out what’s happening in this passage, but it certainly seems to be packed full of drama! It’s one of those days–all couples have them. An argument starts. The man is late coming home (2); his hair is wet with dew (or rain?); his wife has gone to bed (3); she doesn’t want to have to get dressed again to let him in. So she locks him out as a punishment. He calls; she leaves him there to suffer! Is she perhaps beginning to take him for granted? Or perhaps creature comforts are beginning to outweigh love’s early passion? Either way, it’s a classic example of a relationship where one partner is asking for, or assuming, more than the other is currently willing to give. As soon as the wife has shut him out, she remembers her love for him (4,5). All she longs for is reconciliation. But she has pushed too hard, and he has gone (6)! When our efforts at reconciliation are rebuffed, it’s all too easy to withdraw in hurt. But not this woman (7). Her urgency and determination to get her lover back are quite an example (6,7).
Apply
Are your relationships healthy and good, or are there unsolved fights and problems? What about your relationship with God?
Closing prayer
Lord, please give me the determination to see that all my relationships are as good as I can make them.
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