5 – Sustain me with raisins! Refresh me with apples! For I am sick with love.
6 – His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me.
7 – I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

Such eye-candy, isn’t it, the embrace of verse 6? It feels like there’s no getting around it. Or out from under it. The lover has his bride locked down in love! She is hemmed in, or encircled, as the Psalmist said of himself. (Psalm 139:5)

I always admired my Dad’s arms and hands. Sometimes over-protective, but mostly kind, safe, and strong. They come to mind now, when remembering what Jesus said: “My Father has given them [His flock] to Me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.” (John 10:29, NLT)

But I know a tight embrace can bring up negative feelings for some. The Lord can heal this. No woman deserves to be locked into a self-centered, abusive relationship that she can’t escape from. But every woman, deep down, has a longing to be held onto by someone who exemplifies what a safe, pure love is.

I’m sure that you have a personal meaning you can attach to this verse, that works for you. I have long overcome the fear of “losing my salvation,” so that’s not the layer I peel off. But to not feel separation anymore? That’s what I get out of this verse. Many times I have to literally go there in my divine imagination; resting, or falling asleep in the security and love of Christ’s arms. It really works.

I guess the best way to bring any verse alive to us, is to ask the Lord. “What do you want me to see here? How I am in this scene with you?”  Write the verse on a piece of paper and carry it around. Pursue an answer if you’re given a hint. When we trust Him this way, He always come through.

Oh, by the way, this scene is basically repeated three times in the Song of Songs.¹ And afterwards, there is the exact same admonition to the Daughters of Jerusalem. 

So I’m thinking it’s pretty important. It’s God’s gift, and our privilege, to live our life from an embraced position.

What does it mean to you?

__________________________

P.S. Or to communicate it another way:

¹  In Song 8:3, and something similar, but in reverse, in Song 3:4.