I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.
Withdrawn. He knocked when she, was sleeping; for to have left her then would have ended in the death sleep; He withdraws now that she is roused, is she needs correction (Jeremiah 2:17; Jeremiah 2:19), and can appreciate and safely bear it now, which she could not then. 'The strong He'll strongly try' (1 Corinthians 1:13). The admonition, Psalms 45:10, similarly hints at a disturbance of the marriage relation between Israel and her Lord.
Failed when he spake - rather, because of his speaking; at the remembrance of His tender words. The word is often inefficacious at the time when it is preached; but afterward in times of trial the Spirit of God recalls it to our memory, and we long for the visitation of the Lord in grace, which we did not value enough at the time. Let us take heed to the warning in Luke 17:22.
No answer - (Lamentations 3:44.) Weak faith receives immediate comfort (Luke 8:44); strong faith is tried with delay (Matthew 15:22).