“Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.” (Song of Solomon 5:2b)

Here the Beloved is using the figurative language of being barred from her presence by a door; by having reference to some barrier that separates him from his Bride, such as a mental barrier.

But in keeping with his physical analogy of being separated by a door, note the following thoughts:

A. The What

First, the “What”; “Open to me.” The Beloved makes his request to his Bride. It is her responsibility to open the door which separates them.

Now she knows for certain why he has awakened her. No doubt, her Beloved wants and desires her to arise and open the door, or the barrier. It is not if she wants to, but it is a command to do so.

In the spiritual sense, Christ is saying to His Bride, open (break down) this barrier of numbness, laziness, unresponsiveness, because of your unbelief, or your unconfessed sin, or your tiredness, or whatever it is that has robbed you of My Fellowship. She knows she must take down the barrier to Christ.

B. The Whom

Second, the Beloved clearly identifies to “Whom” his request is directed, by giving four appellations (names). These names allow no doubt as to whom he makes his request:

The first name is “my sister.” This phrase denotes relationship, not physically, but mentally. Not speaking of his blood sister, but speaking of a relationship. She is a woman, not another man. This title speaks then of gender; it also speaks of closeness.

The second name the Beloved uses is “my love.” This speaks of endearment; it speaks of only one; and it speaks of possession, “my.” It speaks of the quality of the endearment; for his endearment to her was as a wife. One to whom he loves as his own flesh; one to whom which he has become one in unity; one that is above all others to him. One with whom he had intimacy with, the only one; the one to whom he has given his body, soul, and spirit. The one to whom he has pledged to be her husband, her head, and the savior of her body; the one who has received his love and has returned her love, her total body, soul, and spirit unto him.

The Beloved’s third name is “my dove.” This speaks of his one and only life’s soul mate. Those who have studied the habits of the dove say they have only one mate as long as they live. Also the Beloved is saying, my wife, my love, is my wife of peace and rest.

The fourth name is “my undefiled.” The Beloved is saying that she is my virgin; she is holy, pure, and righteous in her body, soul, and spirit. He is also saying her eyes are fastened on Christ and on her husband. She is faithful, loyal, and single-eyed to her husband.

In the spiritual sense, note the names Christ calls His Bride. This is to remind her of who she is to Him.

The first name is “my sister.” This speaks of her relationship as a joint-heir of Christ. We are now one in Him.

The second name is “my love.” Christ is saying to her, you are My Bride. I purchased you in My own Blood (the Atonement); you are the one for whom I gave My All, as your Substitute on the Cross to Redeem you, to Reconcile you, and to Justify you (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). You are My wife. You are One in Me. You have been ordained to be where I am and to behold My Glory (My Perfection, My Preeminence, My Perception, and My Power). You are the object of My Love from eternity past. (Read Ephesians 1:3-11; 1 Peter 1:18-20; Revelation 13:8c.)

The third name is “my dove.” That is, you are My Bride, and there is no other. You are the one I placed peace in, and vowed by Covenant to be My one and only.

The fourth name is “my undefiled.” You are holy and without blemish in Me. I sanctified you on the Cross (1 Corinthians 1:30). You have been set apart for Me and only Me. You are spiritual virgins, undefiled by this world.

C. The Why

Now, we look at the third thought; the “Why” of his request.

The first reason he gives is “for my head is filled with dew.” Why? Because he is outside in the weather, requesting to come in to his Bride. Again, the Beloved is using figurative language of his condition standing on the outside of her mind. It denotes his persistence, his patience, and his love. It also denotes his purpose to change his Bride’s condition; and his wisdom of what to do and how to guide his Bride’s growth.

In the spiritual sense, Christ is showing all the above. Christ always makes His Bride, “…willing in the day of thy (His) power…”  (Psalms 110:3). He gives her space for repentance to do its work in her. She sees His love and concern and patience; which move her to get up to “open the door.”

The beloved’s second reason is “and my locks with the drops of the night.” This is ultimately the same thing; if his head is wet with dew, so is his hair. Again it stresses the points of all the above.

In the spiritual sense, this is the same thought as a head filled with dew. It shows Christ’s tenderness, His patience for His Bride to say yes, as His Word works effectually in her.

Conclusion to Verse 2:

Reader, Christ is so gracious and patient with His Bride in His recovery process. This verse reveals that God is a God of Love (which means He is a God of Purpose). His Purpose for His wayward Bride is not to condemn her and destroy her; but to stir her to repentance and confession and change, even to conform her to His Image.

This verse presents the depth of His Love for His Bride, whom He purchased by His Atonement on the Cross. Read Isaiah 53:1-12; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-20; 2:24; Galatians 3:13; and many more verses showing God’s Love for His Sheep. His Death and Resurrection for us are the height of perceiving God’s Love for His Bride; as our Substitute, Sacrifice, and Savior in His own Body on the Cross.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

If you hear His Knocking; be still, and listen, and respond to Him now.