Song of Solomon 3:1-5

TEXT 3:1-5

c.

Relation of a Dream, Song of Solomon 3:1-4

d.

Adjuration to Court Ladies, Song of Solomon 3:5 (second)

1.

On my bed night after night I sought him whom my soul loves;

I sought him but did not find him.

2.

I must arise now and go about the city;

In the streets and in the squares.

I must seek him whom my soul loves.
I sought him but did not find him.

3.

The watchmen who makes the rounds in the city found me,

And I said, -Have you seen him whom my soul loves?

4.

Scarcely had I left them

When I found him whom my soul loves;
I held on to him and would not let him go,
Until I had brought him to my mother's house,
And into, the room of her who conceived me.

5.

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

By the gazelles or by the hinds of the field,
That you will not arouse or awaken my love,
Until she pleases.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 3:1-5

72.

Is there anything in the previous verses that might suggest the cause of this dream? (What about a promise unfulfilled?)

73.

Why the oft-repeated phrase whom my soul loves?

74.

In what city was her search?

75.

What were the duties of the city watchmen?

76.

Do you think the watchmen helped her in her search?

77.

Why bring her beloved to her mother's house?

78.

What reason is there in mentioning her conception?

79.

Who or what is not to be awakened until the proper time?

80.

What is the meaning of this verse?

PARAPHRASE 3:1-5

Shulammite to Court Ladies:

1.

By night on my bed I kept dreaming

(That) I sought him whom I dearly love;
I sought him but I found him not.

2.

(Thought I) I will get up and go about the city,

Into the streets and open spaces.
I will seek him whom I love dearly.
I sought him but I found him not.

3.

The watchmen who patrol the city found me;

(I asked), Have you seen him whom I love dearly?

4.

Hardly had I passed on from them,

When I found him whom I love dearly,
I clung to him and would not let him go
Until I had brought him to my mother's house,
Into the apartment of her that bore me.

5.

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

That ye arouse not nor stir up love
Until itself is pleased to awaken.

COMMENT 3:1-5

Exegesis Song of Solomon 3:1-5

The women of Solomon's harem are here told of a reoccurring dream. Perhaps it is occasioned by what is not shared with themthat her lover failed to return as promised (Song of Solomon 2:17). It is of some passing interest to observe that the term bed or couch of Song of Solomon 1:16 is a day couch. Repetition in dreams is a common occurrenceIn a time of anxiety frustration in dreams would reflect such a state of mind.

We are not told the name of the city but it would be natural to assume it was Shunemit could have been Jerusalem. She is to make a thorough, if not frantic search. Up and down the streets and into the larger areas of the intersections and city gates she searches hither and thither. Anywhere where persons congregate she will go looking between and among all she meets. She will look at each one for the familiar dear form of her beloved. The night watchmen appearsurely they will knowthey can help meI will ask themShe describes her beloved to them (or perhaps they know him by name if it is in the town of Shunem) Have you seen him? We are not told of their responsewe would assume they did not know from what follows. She had no sooner left them than she suddenly sees him and in an instant she is in his arms. She clings to him with the tenacity and joy of the lost is found!
Why did she bring him to her mother's house? Perhaps this represented the place of securitysafety and permanence. The mention of her mother's house would seem to confirm the thought that her mother was a widow.
This might also support the thought of the concern of her brothers for her safety. Some commentators suggest that this is a description of the consummation of the marriage. We see no need for such a conclusion.

We ask the reader to please refer to our comments on Song of Solomon 2:7 for the meaning of Song of Solomon 3:5. This verse is again repeated in Song of Solomon 8:4. In our day of the billion dollar sale of pornography we need to read and understand this verse more than thrice.

Marriage Song of Solomon 3:1-5

Does my wife dream of me? If she does what is the nature of such dreams? If her dreams are filled with anxiety it could be because we do not dream more often of her. We want our comments to be as practical as at all possible. We have found the following expression so very much to the point.
Bill Lawrence is 38 years old. He has a pretty wife, two beautiful children, and is considered one of the outstanding preachers in his city. Bill and June were married while Bill was still in seminary. Their first child was born during his senior year. June never completed her college education but took a job to help Bill through seminary. Bill is an effective preacher and is greatly respected by both his assistant and the congregation. He works hard on his sermons. His church is growing.
Bill's wife will leave him next week.
Bob Ramsom is the executive director of Christian Commitment Abroad which he founded 22 years ago. He has travelled all over the world and is a much sought-after speaker. After a shaky start, CCA began to grow rapidly about ten years ago. Much of its growth is due to Bob's high level of commitment and his willingness to give himself unstintingly to the work of Christ.
Bob doesn-'t know it, but he left his wife eight years ago. WHERE ARE YOU?
Where are you as a Christian leader? Where does your commitment lie? Could it be that you, too, are one of those, perhaps without even knowing it, who has left his wife?

How do you sort it all out? Where do your Christian priorities lie? How does one find a balance between commitment to the task and commitment to one's family? THREE PRIORITIES
In one of our earliest Christian Leadership Letters, (March 1973), we laid out what we consider to be three levels of Christian commitments, three levels of priority. Simply stated they are:

First: Commitment to God and Christ
Second: Commitment to the Body of Christ
Third: Commitment to the work of Christ

We picture these as foundation stones, one built upon another. We begin with the initial commitment to God through His Son. But the visible evidence of this vertical relationship with God is found in this second priority of horizontal relationships with the sons and daughters of God. The Bible calls us away from a Western individualism back to a biblical corporate unity. It is on this foundation and within the framework of this body-like relationship that the work of Christ is to be carried out. It was he who -gave gifts to mankind-'. He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12, TEV).

These priorities cannot be exclusive of one another. All three are needed. One of the conditions for effectively carrying out the work of Christ is the relationship that exists within the body. If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are My disciples (John 13:35, TEV). WHERE IS YOUR WIFE?

We are addressing ourselves here as Christian leaders, and especially as married men. Where does your wife fit in these priorities? Certainly of all the relationships described in the Bible the highest and most mystical is the relationship found in marriage. Paul could only compare it to the relationship of Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:21-33). The disruption of this relationship can have tremendous spiritual consequences. Peter tells us that interruption of the relationship can even interfere with our prayers (1 Peter 3:7).

Is your ministry as a Christian Leader built upon a foundation of a strong marriage relationship, or does it move forward in spite of that relationship. (Christian Leadership Letter, March 1977).

Before our wife wakes up and finds her nightmare is true, let's change the cause.

Communion Song of Solomon 3:1-5

Communing with God on our bed is no new unusual thought. Daniel was given a vision upon his bed. Cf. Daniel 2:28-29; Daniel 4:5; Daniel 4:10; Daniel 7:1. The Psalmist says, Let the saints exult in glory: Let them sing for joy upon their beds. Psalms 149:5. As we close our eyes for rest it should be a time when we take His yoke upon us that we might find rest for our souls as well as our bodies. A total yielding to the presence and interest of our wonderful Lord should precede our slumber. There are times of concern when sleep flees from us. It is at such times we need Him most of all. We are glad to affirm that He has not left us. Any feeling of desertion or separateness is not because He has left. There is no need to seek Him in the streetsnor to make inquiry of others as to His whereabouts. He is right where we left Him. Return to your place of disobedience and confess your sin and be cleansed. He will be found again just on the other side of genuine repentance.

FACT QUESTIONS 3:1-5

123.

To whom are these words addressed? Why?

124.

Why this troubled dream?

125.

There are two types of beds described in this book. What are they? (Cf. Song of Solomon 1:16 and Song of Solomon 3:1)

126.

In which city does she see her lover in her dream?

127.

What was the task of the watchmen? Why ask them?

128.

Why take him to her mother's house

129.

What dreams could our wives have of us? Discuss.

130.

Discuss the article When Did You Leave Your Wife?

131.

Show how these verses can relate to our communing with our Lord upon our bed. Discuss.