In today's daily bread passage (Song of songs 5:2-6:3), the beloved comes knocks on the door stating, "Open to me."
But the woman was reluctant. In the first place although the heart was awake, she literally 'was sleeping' lying down perhaps comfortably in bed.
Then after much struggle I should say she woke up, got out of the bed, responded to the door learning the beloved was gone.
Why did the beloved go away? The answer is obvious: he did not want to force. He cannot and does not be where he is not wanted.
The woman came to her senses. She went out looking for the beloved. She even got beaten by the watchmen. And she had to pass the words around among the friends, asking to find him for her.
And he went down to his garden to browse the lilies. (In the Bible lily is synonymous of the one who is confident of His love. SOS 2:1
The woman's blunder reminds me of the hymn entitled, "Love divine all loves excelling". The lyric goes like this:
- Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of Heav’n to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.
- Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
- Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
- Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in Heav’n we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
