By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
By night - literally, 'By nights.' Continuation of the losing for the dawn of Messiah (Psalms 130:6). The spiritual desertion here (Song of Solomon 2:17; Song of Solomon 3:5). is not due to indifference, as in Song of Solomon 5:2-8. 'As nights and dews are better for flowers than a continual sun, so Christ's absence (at times) giveth sap to humility, and putteth an edge on hunger, and furnisheth a fair field to faith to put forth itself' (Rutherford). Center Song of Solomon 1:13; Psalms 30:6-7.
On ... bed - the secret of her failure. So Israel's estrangement from God through spiritual indolence (Isaiah 64:7).
I sought him - no want of sincerity, but of diligence, which she now makes up for by leaving her bed to seek Him (Psalms 22:2). Four times she calls Jesus "Christ Him whom my soul loveth," designating Him as absent: language of desire: 'He loved me,' would be language of present fruition (Revelation 1:5). In questioning the watchmen she does not even name Him, so full is her heart of Him. Having found Him at dawn (for throughout He is the morning), she charges the daughters not to abridge, by intrusion, the period of His stay. Compare as to the thoughtful seeking for Jesus Christ in the time of John the Baptist, in vain at first, but presently after successful (Luke 3:15-22).
I found him not - Oh for such honest dealings with ourselves! (Proverbs 25:14; Jude 1:12.) I found him not - Oh for such honest dealings with ourselves! (Proverbs 25:14; Jude 1:12.)