Meaning of Song Of Solomon 5:5

This verse from the Song of Solomon describes a moment of eager anticipation and readiness from the speaker, often interpreted as the Beloved, in response to her lover's presence. The imagery of her hands dripping with myrrh as she reaches for the bolt signifies a profound readiness and a fragrant offering of herself. Myrrh, a precious aromatic resin, was used in ancient times for perfumes, incense, and anointing, carrying connotations of purity, beauty, and even sacrifice. Her willingness to open the door, coupled with the fragrant myrrh emanating from her, suggests a desire to welcome her beloved with an offering of her very essence, prepared and perhaps even consecrated for him.

Context and Background

Song of Solomon 5:2-7 depicts a dream or a visionary experience where the Beloved hears her lover knocking at the door. She is reluctant to rise initially, having already retired for the night, but her heart is stirred by his voice and presence. This verse marks the turning point where her desire overcomes her inertia. The "handles of the bolt" represent the physical barrier between them, and her reaching for it signifies her active effort to remove that separation. The dripping myrrh emphasizes the intensity of her feelings and the fragrant beauty that her love possesses.

Key Themes and Messages

The primary themes here are eager anticipation, readiness, and the fragrant offering of love. The Beloved's response is not passive; she actively arises and prepares to meet her lover. The myrrh symbolizes the preciousness and allure of her affection, suggesting that her love is not merely a feeling but an active, fragrant offering. It speaks to a love that is prepared, precious, and willing to be poured out.

Spiritual Significance and Application

In a spiritual sense, this verse is often interpreted allegorically. The Beloved can represent the Church or an individual believer, and the Lover can represent Christ. The knocking at the door signifies Christ's persistent call to intimacy and relationship. The Beloved's response, arising and her hands dripping with myrrh, illustrates the believer's readiness to open their heart to Christ, offering themselves in worship, service, and a life consecrated to Him. The myrrh then becomes a symbol of the fragrant character of a life lived in devotion to God – characterized by love, obedience, and spiritual beauty.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This passage resonates with the broader biblical narrative of God's desire for intimacy with His people and His people's response to that call. The Old Testament speaks of God's covenant love and His longing for Israel's devotion, often depicted through marital imagery. The New Testament emphasizes Christ's love for the Church, His bride, and the call for believers to love Him in return with all their heart, soul, and strength. The act of opening the door and offering a fragrant offering aligns with the biblical emphasis on sincere worship and a life lived in response to God's grace.

Analogies

• A bride preparing for her groom: Just as a bride prepares herself with adornments and fragrances to meet her awaiting groom, the Beloved is depicted as preparing herself, her very being exuding a precious fragrance.
• An offering at the altar: The myrrh dripping from her hands can be likened to an offering of incense or a sacrifice presented at the temple, signifying a sacred and precious gift.
• A garden in bloom: A garden that is flourishing and releasing its sweet perfume in the morning air mirrors the fragrant readiness of the Beloved.

Relation to Other Verses

This verse finds echoes in several other biblical passages:

• Song of Solomon 2:10-13: "My beloved speaks and says to me, 'Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, for behold, winter is past; the rains are over and gone... Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.'" This shows the lover's call and the beloved's subsequent desire to respond.
• Revelation 5:8: "And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." This connects the idea of fragrant offerings with the prayers of God's people.
• Philippians 4:18: "I have received full payment, and more. I am overflowing, having received from Epaphroditus what you sent, a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God." This verse explicitly uses the language of a "fragrant offering" for the gifts and support given to Paul, highlighting how acts of love and service can be spiritually pleasing.
• John 15:9: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." This highlights the reciprocal nature of divine love and the believer's response to it.