The maiden eagerly offers to give herself to her Lover, the king (2). She brings him to her house, her mother’s house. Her mother has taught her how to respect others. Her mother taught her to respect her husband. The Egyptian barrenness watched as her mother served her house and her husband. She learned how to please her king.
When the Beloved first saw the king Solomon and exchanged complimentary words with him she fantasized about him holding her in his arms (2:6). Now after now after sharing compliments, kisses, hugs, and delights she finds her fantasy has come true. “His left arm is under her head and his right arm embraces her.” (3) Her master is caressing her. His arm slides gently down her curvy figure. He drinks the nectar of her pomegranates (2).
The Beloved repeats “Do not arouse and awaken love until it so desires.” Love is a gift of God planted in the soul. Love is sleeping in everyone. We have the power to awaken love if we so desire.
Love is a gift we give; an act, a word, a part of us that is tender and powerful. Awakening love can be a risky and fearful action. Love needs the wisdom to conduct it, to form it into a beautiful endowment to another. Giving love does not guarantee it will be reciprocated in the way we desire. That is why love should not be awakened until it so desires.
Love is often a shower of rain and sun drops then enable a hard seed to be changed into a plant that blooms. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” (John 15:12–14)
