Song of Songs 5:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Hence, through this and other means, she unlocks the door to the kingdom, both through her works as represented by her hands and through the key of faith. It is through both—works and faith—that the Word prepares for us the key to the kingdom.

When she hoped, like Moses, for the visible revelation of the King’s face, the Desired One transcended her understanding. He states, "My brother passeth away," not abandoning the soul that follows Him but drawing it closer. As the psalmist declares, "My soul shall go out into His word." Blessed is this departure in which the soul follows the Word! "The Lord will keep thy going out and thy coming in," as the Prophet says (Ps. 120:8). Witness the true preservation of the journeys God safeguards for the worthy! Leaving behind the current state is accomplished by entering into the surpassing goodness. In this way, the soul "goes out," guided by the Word, which proclaims, "I am the door and the way," and "By me every man enters, and goes out," perpetually moving from below to above, relinquishing what is held onto. Just as the coveted face of the Lord passed before Moses, his soul, pursuing the preceding Word, was always beyond the state it previously occupied.

Who does not recognize the ascents through which Moses was elevated, ever expanding, continually growing into greater heights? He initially ascended by considering "the reproach of Christ" as greater than the treasures of Egypt, choosing to endure affliction with the people of God rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin (Heb. 11:25-26). He rose further when he witnessed an Egyptian oppressing a Hebrew and killing a foreigner while journeying for an Israelite. Indeed, one can derive understanding from this by interpreting the narrative allegorically. Moses elevated himself further and, through his wisdom while in the wilderness, maintained his silence for an extended period until he was illuminated by fire amidst the pool. Before this illumination, he removed his shoes, cast down the Egyptian serpents with his staff, freed his brethren from Pharaoh’s oppression, followed the guiding cloud, parted the Red Sea, quelled the torment, sweetened the bitter waters, struck the rock, and was nourished by heavenly provisions.

He hears the sound of trumpets, bravely approaches the burning mountain, ascends to the pinnacle, enters the cloud, penetrates the darkness of God’s presence, receives the Covenant, transforming into an unapproachable light for those who draw near, shining upon their faces. Yet, who can fully express in words all of his ascents and multifaceted revelations? Despite receiving such abundant gifts and undergoing numerous experiences, along with profound elevation to God, he still harbors an insatiable yearning for more and implores God to allow him to behold Him face to face. Although the Word has already attested to his personal encounters with God, describing their communion as between friends—speaking "mouth to mouth" (Num. 12:8)—this does not quell his longing for greater encounters. On the contrary, he pleads, "If I have found grace with Thee, show me Thy glory." He Who promised to fulfill his request, stating, "I know you more than all" (Ex. 33:16-17), reveals His presence to Moses while obscured by His Divine hand. Consequently, after God's passing, Moses could see only "the back" (Ex. 33:23). This suggests that those who yearn to behold God continually and ardently pursuing Him will see what they long for; the vision of God's face demands a relentless journey toward God, successfully navigated by following the Word.

Thus, when the soul has risen in mortality, when it has embraced humility, when its actions reach toward the key, aspiring to welcome the Desired One into its dwelling, the Desired One indeed surpasses them, but the soul ventures forth, no longer remaining in its former state, instead pursuing the guiding Word. The subsequent discourse further elucidates the lesson we’ve internalized, affirming that the magnitude of God’s nature cannot be learned merely from what is grasped of it, but rather from the recognition that it transcends all thought and comprehension. As the soul begins to emerge from the ordinary, with nothing to obstruct the understanding of the unseen, it does not cease seeking the unfathomable nor remains silent in its longing for the indescribable. The soul exclaims, "I sought Him, and found Him not." How can that which bears no recognizable form—neither sight, color, outline, quantity, space, appearance, reasoning, likeness, similarity, nor resemblance—be discovered, when it perpetually eludes recognition through every conceivable means? Thus, the bride articulates her quest for Him using the discerning powers of her soul, in reflections and interpretations. Necessarily, she finds Him ever beyond them, evading the grasp of thought.

Furthermore, does one who appears eternally without a distinguishing trait allowing recognition become ensnared within any particular name? Hence, the bride attempts to create names across all imaginable avenues to express the ineffable goodness. However, every attempt at verbal expression falls short, dwarfed by the truth. Therefore, the soul calls upon the Word as much as it can, yet not to the extent of its desire, for it yearns for more than is attainable. Still, it does not seek beyond its capability, but desires in accordance with what the will can pursue. Therefore, since the one being called is beyond the reach of the caller's aspiration, the bride laments, "I called him, and he did not listen to me."

"I sought him, and found him not" (Song 5:6). How can one find what remains unrecognizable—neither sight, nor color, nor outline, nor quantity, nor place, nor appearance, nor reason for guessing, nor likeness, nor resemblance—constantly avoiding capture by seekers? Thus, the bride asserts that she sought Him using the intellect of her soul and its reasoning, only to discover that He remained beyond their grasp, eluding thought. How can one who lacks discernible characteristics be encompassed by any name? Consequently, the bride devises a multitude of names to signify the indescribable goodness, yet each verbal expression seems inadequate and diminutive next to the truth. Therefore, the soul calls upon the Word as much as it can, yet not as much as it longs for, aspiring for more than what is possible. While it desires to reach towards the infinite, it does so only as much as its will permits. Thus, finding the one it seeks beyond the reach of its yearning, the bride expresses, "I called him, and he did not answer me."

Welcome Him whom you have sought; approach Him, and He will illuminate your path; cling to Him, do not ask Him to depart; implore Him not to leave; for the Word of God can elude you; pride cannot retain Him, nor can carelessness pursue Him. Let your spirit remain anchored in His Word, and may you tread the path of that celestial Word, for it is fleeting.

Furthermore, what does she express? “I sought Him, but I did not find Him; I called to Him, and He did not answer me.” Do not assume that He is displeased with you because He left so quickly after you called, pleaded, and welcomed Him; He often tests our faith. Here, what does He say in the Gospel concerning the crowd’s request for Him not to leave them? “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, for that is why I was sent” (Luke 4:43).

Thus, it is as if, from her embrace, she had already extended her inner hands and fingers to receive the Word; the devoted soul expresses that it has reached her, although it has not yet fully passed through her. This indicates a progression, as the Word of God moves within and across the soul, for it is written, “And the thoughts of many hearts shall be revealed” (Luke 2:35). The Word transcends but does not fully enter, perhaps later, when the Lord Jesus rests upon Mary as a seal. Subsequently, there follows a new movement of the coming Word—when the soul ventures into His Word, she departs from the body, rising from her earthly dwelling and becoming a sojourner towards Him, so that she may dwell with God and share in the citizenship of the saints (Eph. 2:19); for we cannot belong to both the flesh and to God simultaneously. Thus, this indicates the departure of the soul, as previously mentioned, when it detaches itself from earthly desires. It is written, “Come out of Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans” (Isaiah 48:20). It does not imply that a Jew must entirely flee the territory of Babylon, but rather that he should shun their practices, as the prophetic message reminds us; some may even remain Jews while in Babylon, learning their ways upon leaving. Indeed, those whom the prophet mentions, who wept by the rivers of Babylon (Psalms 136:1), were situated in Babylon but did not surrender to its vices and corruption. How could those who mourned their fall from the ark of devotion and faith, and from the fruits of their ancestors' virtues, remain entwined in such vices? The soul that advances through the Word receives the Word.

In her anguish, seeking her beloved, she encountered those who inflicted harm upon her, not only tormenting and beating her but also wounding her and stripping away her garments. It seems that the Bride is alluding here to the powers, authorities, and oppressors, for they have once risen against the Church and the triumphant martyrs, separating body from soul and slaying them as one would dispose of an outer garment.

The spirit is troubled, and the very light becomes repulsive. Through this flame, the tarnish of guilt is purged from the spirit, and the soul is refined like gold; though it may have lost its form due to use, it becomes clearer through the purifying process of burning.