What is the meaning of Song of Solomon 3:5? O daughters of Jerusalem • The bride addresses her peers—“O daughters of Jerusalem” (Songs 3:5)—inviting the community to share in and safeguard the sacredness of love. • Similar calls to these “daughters” appear throughout the Song (1:5; 2:7; 5:8), showing that godly relationships thrive in accountable fellowship. • Jesus Himself wept over “daughters of Jerusalem” (Luke 23:28), underscoring God’s heart for His people to heed loving counsel. I adjure you • “I adjure you” signals a solemn charge, not casual advice. In Scripture, adjurations carry weighty responsibility (Genesis 24:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:27). • The bride essentially says, “I put you under oath.” She wants her friends to treat what follows as a sacred mandate, reflecting the seriousness with which God views romantic intimacy. by the gazelles and does of the field • Swearing “by the gazelles and does of the field” draws on graceful, pure, untamed creatures of God’s creation (Proverbs 5:19; Psalm 42:1). • The imagery highlights: – Beauty—love is as lovely as a gazelle in motion. – Innocence—wild deer act within God-given instincts; likewise, love should flourish within God’s design. – Freedom—just as no one hastens a fawn’s growth, we should not force love ahead of its season. Do not arouse or awaken love • The command repeats in Songs 2:7 and 8:4, underscoring its importance. • “Love” here refers to the powerful, passionate bond God reserves for marriage. • Practical implications: – Guard the heart (Proverbs 4:23). – Flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18). – Pursue holiness and honor in relationships (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4). • Stirring desire prematurely risks pain, regret, and spiritual compromise. until the time is right • God appoints proper seasons: “There is a time for every purpose” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). • The “right time” is the covenant context of marriage (Genesis 2:24; Hebrews 13:4). • Waiting is an act of faith—trusting the Lord’s timing instead of forcing one’s own (Psalm 27:14; Proverbs 19:2). • When the season arrives, love may awaken fully, joyfully, and without shame (Songs 4:16–5:1). summary Song 3:5 calls God’s people to honor the beauty and power of romantic love by refusing to stir it before God’s appointed moment. Spoken within community, sealed by a solemn oath, and illustrated by the purity of wild deer, the verse urges patient trust in the Lord’s timing so that love, when awakened, flourishes in holiness, freedom, and lasting joy. |
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