Time for Excitement
Opening Prayer
Loving, Heavenly Father, I look forward eagerly to sharing this time with You now. Come be with me, I pray.
Read SONG OF SONGS 5:2-6:3
[2]Beloved I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My lover 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 lover thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him. [5] I arose to open for my lover, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the lock. [6] I opened for my lover, but my lover 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] O daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you- if you find my lover, 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 charge us so? [10]Beloved My lover 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 chrysolite. His body is like polished ivory decorated with sapphires. [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 lover, this my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. [1]Friends Where has your lover gone, most beautiful of women? Which way did your lover turn, that we may look for him with you? [2]Beloved My lover has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies. [3] I am my lover’s and my lover is mine; he browses among the lilies. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
Why is the Beloved distressed here?“You’d think that people would have had enough of silly love songs,” sang Paul McCartney, but the singer in this passage clearly hasn’t. In the midst of a romantic wild goose chase, she sings of her missing man (5:10-16), detailing his appeal from head to toe. It’s a classic Arabic poetic device and the effect is not unlike one of those paintings by Arcimboldo, with faces made up of fruit and flowers: funny, yet fantastic. Even so, the passion conveyed by the singer can still make us swoon.
The writer of Revelation was similarly overcome, this time with awe, by his vision of Christ (Rev. 1:12-17), but when Jesus knocked on the door of the Laodicean church he was greeted with apathy (Rev. 3:20). For our young singer, by contrast, her heart is awake and she is ready to meet her love. She is distraught when she finds he’s not there (5:6). How would you feel if Jesus appeared at your door? Ecstatic or afraid? Would you be ready and eager to meet and greet him?
Apply
Ask Jesus to give you a vision of himself each time you open a door today. Be on watch for him.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, I pray for a greater passion for You. I want to know and love You more and more each day.
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