In Song Of Solomon 5 What Does The Brides Dream Reveal About Our Readiness To Respond To Christs Call?
The Bride’s Dream in Song of Solomon 5: A Picture of Readiness and Response to Christ’s Call
The Song of Solomon, often interpreted allegorically, beautifully depicts the intimate relationship between Christ (the Bridegroom) and His people (the Bride). In chapter 5, we encounter a vivid dream sequence where the bride’s delayed response to her beloved’s knock leads to longing, searching, and sorrow over missed fellowship. This passage offers profound insights into our spiritual readiness and responsiveness to Christ’s call in our own lives.
The Dream Sequence: Song of Solomon 5:2-8
The passage begins with the bride asleep, yet her heart awake, hearing her beloved knocking:
I was asleep, but my heart waked: It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night. - Song of Solomon 5:2 ASV
Her beloved calls, but she hesitates, offering excuses:
I have put off my garment; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? - Song of Solomon 5:3 ASV
By the time she finally rises to answer, he has withdrawn. Overcome with longing, she searches for him but finds only sorrow and pain at his absence.
Spiritual Lessons: Readiness to Respond to Christ
1. The Call of Christ and Our Response
Just as the bride’s beloved knocks, so too does Christ call to us:
Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. - Revelation 3:20 ASV
This parallel emphasizes the importance of immediate responsiveness to the Lord’s prompting. Delaying or hesitating can result in missed opportunities for fellowship and spiritual growth.
2. The Cost of Delay
The bride’s reluctance reflects the human tendency to prioritize comfort or convenience over communion with Christ. Jesus Himself warned against spiritual lethargy:
Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh. - Matthew 24:42 ASV
Spiritual readiness is not a passive state but an active, expectant posture toward God’s voice and leading.
3. The Sorrow of Missed Fellowship
When the bride finally opens the door, her beloved is gone. The pain she feels echoes the sorrow believers experience when they realize they have neglected intimacy with Christ:
I opened to my beloved; But my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone. My soul had failed me when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. - Song of Solomon 5:6 ASV
Though Christ is always present for the believer, our enjoyment of His presence can be hindered by spiritual neglect. The longing and seeking that follow serve as a reminder to remain alert and ready.
4. Restoration and Persistent Seeking
Despite her initial failure, the bride’s pursuit does not end in despair, but in determined seeking. This reflects the biblical encouragement to seek the Lord with all our heart:
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13 ASV
God’s grace meets us in our longing, drawing us back into restored fellowship as we persistently pursue Him.
Practical Application: Cultivating Spiritual Readiness
- Daily Surrender: Keep your heart sensitive to the Spirit’s prompting through prayer and time in the Word (Psalm 119:105 ASV).
- Immediate Obedience: Respond promptly to opportunities for fellowship, service, or confession (James 1:22 ASV).
- Persistent Seeking: If you feel distant from Christ, do not give up but seek Him earnestly, trusting His promise to draw near (James 4:8 ASV).
Conclusion
The bride’s dream in Song of Solomon 5 is a powerful call to examine our own readiness and willingness to respond to Christ. It warns against spiritual complacency and encourages an eager, wholehearted devotion to the One who loves us supremely. Let us, therefore, be ready when Christ calls, cherishing every opportunity to draw near to Him.