Song of Songs 3:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the stillness of the night, I sought Him (Song of Songs 3:1). These words allude to the women who ventured early on the first day of the week to the tomb of Jesus (Luke 24:1) only to discover that He was not present. The phrase "on my bed" signifies either a separation from the bed or symbolizes her inner being as the sepulcher of the Lord, in which we are united with Him in burial (See Rom. 6:4). Yet, she could not locate Him upon hearing the news that He had risen (Matt. 28:6). When she encountered her guardian angels, she inquired, "Where have you taken the Lord?" (Jn. 20:15). Following their departure, she was met by Jesus, who greeted her with, "Rejoice!" (Matt. 28:9). Thus, she proclaims, "Hardly had I left them when I found Him and would not let Him go" (Song 3:4).

The time of the Divine declarations is once more implied through their direct interpretation, so these statements can be related to what has been experienced. "In my bed at night I sought Him whom my soul loves; I sought Him, but found Him not; I called for Him, but He did not answer me. I will rise and go into the city, through the streets and along the avenues; I will seek Him whom my soul loves: I will seek Him, but I cannot find Him. The watchmen who go about the city found me; have you seen Him whom my soul loves? I have held on to Him and have not let Him go until I brought Him into my mother’s house and into the chamber of her who conceived me" (Songs 3:1-4).

Since even the holy angels find the essence of the Bridegroom to be beyond comprehension, they did not respond to my inquiry, teaching me through their silence that, as created beings, they too cannot fully grasp the Uncreated One. Thus, I left them and set out in search of my Beloved. Just after departing, I discovered Him whom my soul cherishes; I clung to Him and would not let go (Song 3:4). Shortly thereafter, I transcended the limitations of the mind and the angelic realm by means of created things, seeking the incorporeal Beloved of my soul, for He is my benefactor.

What does it signify when the Church seeks the Beloved of her soul within her bed or through the nights? It represents the innermost sanctuary of her heart, where divine wisdom abides and where, in her unwavering devotion, she searches for her Lord and Redeemer. If this sacred resting place is the heart, then what could those nights signify when she sought the Lord but was unable to locate Him? I believe it indicates that the God of light cannot be perceived amidst the shadows of night.

In times of peace within our lives, we, on our beds, seek the Beloved, yearning for our Savior. We search for Him in the night, for although our minds are awake in Him, our eyes are shrouded in darkness. Should one fail to find the Beloved, it is necessary to rise and journey through the city, symbolizing a quest through the sacred Church, with our thoughts devoted to locating the chosen ones. He must be sought in the streets and plazas, where we pay heed to those journeying along both narrow and broad paths, seeking signs of Him, for there are individuals, even in secular realms, who embody virtues worth emulating.

The beloved, responding to her bridegroom’s call, admires his speed and recounts how he arrived at her home, sharing with her the splendor of the springtime in Palestine. He invites her to the mountain ravines and vineyards to relish his presence and words (2:8-15). In turn, she beckons him to her, narrating her nighttime quest through the city streets as she inquired of the city watchmen concerning him; ultimately, upon finding him, she brought him to her mother’s house (2:16-17; 3:4). The beloved again pleads with the companions of the bride not to disrupt her tranquility (5).