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Bible Commentaries
Song of Solomon 5

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

Verse 1

  1. (5:1a) They consummate their love.
  2. (5:1b) Usually a 7 day feast where all friends & relatives eat drink & be merry with the bride & groom.
    1. Here they are encouraging them in their love for one another.

Verses 2-16

  1. Intro:
    1. Book outline:
      1. Courtship (1-3:5)
        Marriage (3:6-5:1)
        The Joys & Trials of Marriage (5:2-8:14).
    2. “We see our Saviors face on every page of the bible, but here we see his heart & feel his love to us.” (Spurg)
  2. BEHOLD I STAND AT THE DOOR & KNOCK! (2)
    1. I Sleep (2a)
      1. “I sleep, but my heart is awake” – This is a poetical way of saying “I dream”.
      2. This is her 2nd dream.
      3. It seems that some time has gone by.
    2. I Hear [knock & voice](2b)
      1. “No matter where you are & what you’re doing, fix your heart on the Lord & keep alert to His voice!” (www)
        1. We never know when He is going to come & have fellowship w/us.
  3. I HEAR YOU KNOCKIN BUT YOU CAN’T COME IN [3]
    1. This is their 1st marital problem!
      1. Quote: Illustration Unlimited pg.332 #6
    2. I’m Comfortable (3a)
      1. Have you ever experienced: You just settle into your favorite TV program w/your favorite ice-cream(still in the container). Or, ya just plop down in your favorite chair w/the newspaper, or a good book. Or, the kids are in bed & you now have “your time” to do whatever …and then, the Lord wants to spend some time with you?
        1. Lord, it’s not that I don’t want to, but I just got “comfortable!”
      2. Q: Can you think of a time when the Lord wanted to spend time with you but you were too busy?
    3. I’m Lazy (3b)
      1. The Living Bible translates it “Hunny, I have a headache!”
    4. I’m Indifferent (3c)
      1. She became “cool” to her husband’s advances.
      2. Wives – When was the last time you “put off your husbands”.
        1. Husbands often times you deserve it. – Men expect to win their wife’s love over, after a day packed full of mean words from Dr. Jeckel, as you quickly turn into Mr.Hide at 10pm, with a quick flirtatious smile!
        2. Wives – (4:16)
      3. Christians – When was the last time you “put off” the Lord?
    5. OK, YOU CAN COME IN! (4-8)
      1. ​​​​​​​I’m Moved (4)
        1. Sometimes our response is too late!
        2. He tries the door, can’t open it, then calmly leaves.
          1. What a gentleman/couldn’t he have demanded?? - A gentleman never demands love!
          2. “but she doesn’t love me!” – so, what will draw her to you?
        3. Then she sees his hand and realizes her sin.
          1. Remember—his hands are pierced.
      2. I Arose (5)
        1. His tender patience moves the brides heart – but when she seeks him – she can’t find him.
        2. Upon leaving he doesn’t pout. - He doesn’t yell “you blew it this time babe!” - He doesn’t threaten “you don’t know all the girls that would love me”. – No, instead he leaves a token of what she’s missin!
          1. He leaves his best cologne on her door handle so when she grips it, she won’t forget him. (That’s wisdom)
          2. This is like leaving a love note.
        3. Even when we miss out on that fellowship He often leaves a token blessing behind.
          1. Yet, better to have your beloved than any blessing he might give! (ww)
    6. I Opened (6a)
      1. Ooppss too late!
    7. I Refused Him (6b)
      1. Oh lazy heart, we ought to blush and be confounded!
    8. I Sought Him (6c)
      1. An affectionate heart is an alert heart, quick to respond to our Beloved’s calls.
    9. I Called Him (6d)
    10. “I called him, but he gave me no answer” –
      1. Is God not answering prayers or have we missed when he came to our door with the answer? - Maybe He’s been knocking on the door of our “busy, distracted, & occupied hearts”, but to no avail, & so he stopped knocking has moved on.
        1. Job experienced this (9:11) “If He goes by me, I do not see Him; If He moves past, I do not perceive Him;”
        2. “Trust Him where you cannot Trace Him!”
    11. I’m Disciplined (7)
      1. This is probably to emphasize the pain she felt, & the degree she went to find him.
        1. Also, woman out at night in O.T. time…seen as a criminal or prostitute.
      2. A loving heart will seek the Lord, no matter what the cost.
    12. I am Lovesick (8)
      1. She puts out an A.P.B. on him.
      2. Such is the language of the believer panting after present fellowship with Jesus.
        1. “Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness”
      3. What bread is to the hungry, clothing to the naked, the shadow of tall tree to the traveler in a weary land, such is Jesus Christ to us.
    13. ALTOGETHER LOVELY! (9-16)
    14. (9) They ask for a description? (What’s diff. about him? – How do we identify him?)
    15. (10-16) Well he’s…
      1. Indifferent no longer, her love & desire for him are fully awakened!!!
    16. (10) You can pick him out in a crowd of 10,000!
    17. (13) Say it with a scent!
      1. “The average person emits 36 odors for a combination of 150 smells. Forensic pathologists are developing “scent prints” whereby they can identify people by the smell they radiate.” (John Courson; S. of S.)
      2. I love it when I roll over & smell Kelly’s perfume on her pillow if she’s gone at a retreat or something.
      3. “lips are lilies” – maybe speaking of the delicate curl of the lip-like petals of this flower.
    18. (14) “body” – shoulder to thigh is cut (6 pack)
      1. I always blush when Kelly says that about me! J
    19. (16) 3 aspects of a healthy relationship:
    20. “friend” – In a healthy relationship, lovers are also good friends.
      1. If only we could go back to kindergarten & remember what it is to make & keep a friend.
        1. Too many marriages started off with exciting feelings of love & passion.
      2. It takes time to develop a friendship, understanding, likes & dislikes!
    21. “Beloved” – Greatly loved!
    22. “he is altogether lovely” - The exceptional beauty of Jesus is all-attracting; it is not so much to be admired as to be loved.
    23. He is more than pleasant and fair, he is lovely.
    24. Do not his words cause your hearts to burn within you as he talks with you by the way? - “Yes, he is altogether lovely.”
Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on Song of Solomon 5". "Bell's Commentary". https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/song-of-solomon-5.html. 2017.
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