Understanding The Bible |
Dr. Clarence E. Mason, Jr.
Philadelphia College of Bible
1969
CANTICLE 6
3:1-5: "A Sad Song Which Ends Right"
The Setting of the Song
Place: The Palace (Jerusalem)
Time: After the marriage
Occasion: A dream (cp. 5:2). Something of the uncertainty and loneliness
of the days of separation at Lebanon creep into the Bride's dream. In her
dream she seeks the Bridegroom, but not finding him, her dream becomes a
nightmare. In her dream she remembers his love, and drifts back to restful
slumber (v. 5).
THE DREAM | SPIRITUAL APPLICATION |
The
Bride tells of a dram (3:1-4) 3:1a "By night on my bed I sought him"; cp. 5:2, "I sleep, but my heart waketh." Plainly a dream. |
3:1-4 This message is to us concerning the folly of unbelief. Dreams are like unbelief in that:
|
3:1b-3 "Sought ... but found not" In her dream, she imagines herself seeking him on the streets of Jerusalem -- being accosted by the policemen (watchmen), to whom she appeals for help (v. 3). |
|
3:4 But then, in her dream she finds him and desperately clutches him; yet, the net moment, twisting as dreams do, she imagines she is back in Lebanon, where she takes him to her mother (even though, evidently, no longer living), as it were to make him realize the seriousness of his offense in leaving her and have him reaffirm his intentions toward her. All this indicates the queer twist dreams can take. | |
3:5 Again, swiftly shifting, she is at rest in her dream as she remembers his love for her, which steals thought her mind with its cheering message of the form of Solomon's favorite chorus or refrain to which she has often drifted off to sleep. (Remember to read "till she please.") Cp. 2:7 |
"Mason's
Notes"
![]() 200 Manor Avenue Langhorne, PA 19047 United States of America |
"Mason's Notes" Study materials on this website are made available here free, through the generosity of Cairn University, and may be copied for use in Bible study groups, in limited numbers, providing that no charge is made for them. No further distribution or use of these materials is allowable under U.S. or International Copyright Law without the express permission of Cairn University. |
20160408