“I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.” (Song of Solomon 5:8)

Here in Song of Solomon 5:8, the writer of the Song of Songs speaks of a group of people called the “daughters of Jerusalem”; who were only briefly mentioned earlier. Obviously, these are not of the Bride’s class, but they knew the Bride and the Bride knew them.

Verse 8 is a watershed in the Song of Songs because the rest of the Song is filled with the Bride and the Beloved taking turns, first to proclaim the beauty of each other (5:10-16). Second they make statements of their oneness, or unity (6:3). Third, they speak of the enjoyment of their love (7:6). And fourth, they declare the value of their love (8:7).

The previous verses (1:1 to 5:7) were a series of appearances and approaches of the Beloved to the Bride, to bring her to the banqueting house, even to the bed chamber. And these verses then told of the Beloved’s design to deepen his Bride’s love for him, by bringing her under his authority; giving her of his fruit to eat; and revealing to her that she must take heed wherein she stands, because the flesh is a deceiver, and can bring on indifference and rebellion when the Bride lets her guard down.

The Bride uses the Daughters of Jerusalem to reveal how she really views her Beloved.

The Charge

“I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.” (Song of Solomon 5:8)

First we look at the “What” – “The Charge” – “I charge you.” The Bride has now been stripped and humbled, and given a renewed desire to find her Beloved. She is not asleep now; she is awake, alert, and determined to find her Beloved. Having been found by the Watchmen of the City; she was smitten and wounded by the Watchmen; and finally the veil was taken away from the Bride. All of which is indicative that she has been convicted, convinced, and stripped of her indifference, rebellion, and pride. Now, she is ready to find her Beloved.

She begins this turn to find him, whom her soul loveth; by charging (or commanding) the Daughters of Jerusalem, if they find him, tell him “I am sick of love.”

This charge, or command, indicates the Bride had authority over the Daughters. This charge is not “if,” but “do.” The only “if” is, “if” you find him; but there is not “if” as to what to tell the Beloved if found.

Second, we look at the “Who” – the “daughters of Jerusalem.” In the physical sense they are daughters, not the wife. This position is under the guidance of the mother, or the wife. But they are of the City of God, for they are daughters “of Jerusalem.” However, their position is less than the Bride’s. Note Song of Solomon 6:8, “…threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.” This leads us to the spiritual side.

In the spiritual sense, the understanding of who the Daughters represent lies in understanding the City of Jerusalem spiritually. Jerusalem was selected by God to place His Name upon. And this city would be where the King of Israel would dwell. So, it was the Dwelling Place of God, thus the place of the Worship of God; for here was the location of the Tabernacle of God and later the Temple of God. It also is where the king dwelt (2 Chronicles 6:6; 7:1).

Both of these things point to the Dwelling Place of God on earth, the Church. (See Ephesians 2:20-22; 3:21; Acts 2:1-; Revelation 21, 22.) These also show that it is the Place of His Worship.

Then who are the Daughters of Jerusalem, of the City of God, even the Church of God? Only God knows.

But we do know that the verses in Song of Solomon 6:8-9 show a definite difference between the “queens… concubines… and virgins” of verse 8; and “My dove, my undefiled is but one” in verse 9a. In Song of Solomon 4:9b, the writer calls her, “my sister, my spouse”; thus showing her to be in the wife position, set apart from all others.

We also know, in Song of Solomon 5:9, the question the Daughters asked the Bride, “…what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?” But in Song of Solomon 6:1, they asked the Bride, “…whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.”

Another view to consider in answering the initial question of who are the Daughters of Jerusalem, is that the Church is considered the Bride (Wife) of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-33). Therefore, if you have been baptized by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13) (regenerated, born from above; John 3:3-8); then you are in His Body. So you are either in or out, and not half way.

One consideration is that these Daughters of Jerusalem are people who (like the Old Testament saints) had been redeemed by Christ at the Cross, been given Revelation; but had not received Regeneration, had not experienced the New Birth, had not been given the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

See John 3:1-8 and Nicodemus’ condition prior to the New Birth. Also see Acts 10:1-33, the condition of Cornelius before Peter stood and preached Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and his house. And see Acts 8:26-27, the condition of the Ethiopian before his conversion and baptism. All these examples prove that before the Gift of the Holy Spirit is manifested in the believer, he does have Revelation.

See what Nicodemus said of Jesus:

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:” (John 3:1)

“The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” (John 3:2)

And see what the Ethiopian had been doing prior to Philip preaching Jesus to him:

“And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,” (Acts 8:27)

“Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.” (Acts 8:28)

The Ethiopian was reading and studying Isaiah 53:1-12. Now see Cornelius’ spiritual condition toward God before his conversion:

“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” (Acts 10:1-2) (Also see verses 3-4.)

The prime example found in the Old Testament is Israel in the Wilderness. They had come out of Egypt under the blood; which was a type of the Lamb of God (Christ), a Sacrifice for His Seed’s sake. They were given the Ten Commandments, the Tabernacle, the Priesthood, and sacrifices; which gave them a pathway to approach God. And yet they could not perceive their Inheritance, the Promised Land of Canaan; only Joshua and Caleb, who the Bible said, “…had another spirit…” (Numbers 14:24).

Therefore, all of Israel rebelled against God and died in the Wilderness (all except Joshua and Caleb and the children under 19). (See Numbers 13 – 16.) They had Revelation, but not the Gift of the Holy Spirit, except Joshua and Caleb.

The prime example in the New Testament is found in Acts 8:5-25; when Philip preached Jesus in Samaria:

“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” (Acts 8:12)

This shows they believed Philip’s preaching of the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ; and they were even baptized. And yet:

“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:” (Acts 8:14)

“Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:” (Acts 8:15)

“(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)” (Acts 8:16)

“Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 8:17)

These examples are submitted so you will consider that these Daughters of Jerusalem were God’s people, but had not received the Gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift, when received, places one in the “Bride” position.

At any rate, the Bride charged the Daughters of Jerusalem.

Third, we look at the “Contents” of the Bride’s Charge. The Bride charged the Daughters of Jerusalem: “if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.”

The first part of the command is simple to interpret; however the phrase “I am sick of love” needs explanation. This phrase reveals, not the Bride’s physical illness, but the great degree of her intensity of her love now for her Beloved. Literally, she is saying, “I am completely consumed with my love (my passion, my desire, my affection) for my Beloved.”

This is the result of the Spirit’s work through the ministry of the Watchmen of the City, as the Bride was found, smitten, and wounded; and then her veil was removed by the Word of God, her spirit enlightened by God.

Hallelujah! This is the condition where every born-from-above Child of God needs to be; that is they need to be “sick of love”; or totally consumed with their desire for Christ’s Fellowship; burning with the fever of spiritual passion for the Communion of Christ.

When the Bride is found to be “sick of love” for Christ; then and then only will the following description flow from the Bride’s lips of her internal view of the Beauty of Christ, her Beloved. (This description follows in 5:10-16.) And then, consequently, Christ’s reply to her of her beauty to Him as He sees His Love developed in His Bride (Song of Solomon 6, 7, 8).

Where are you reader? Do you claim to be “in Christ”? Do you know you have been born from above? (See Romans 8:14-16.) If so, how is your spiritual health? Can you say that you are “sick of love” for Christ? If not, examine yourself and what is happening in your life at this time. It really doesn’t matter who the Daughters of Jerusalem are. What matters is your spiritual health toward Christ. Your health is manifested by your words; which reveal your heart.

Many argue over this doctrine and that doctrine, but refuse to bow themselves before The Christ. It seems that many so-called saints today are more worried about “What” they believe than “Who” they believe.

It is easy to say, “This is who I am and what I believe.” But it is another story to prostrate yourself before Jesus Christ; having been found smitten, wounded, and having your veil of hypocrisy taken away. Then coming to confess as the Apostle Paul did:

“But by the grace of God I am what I am…” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

When the Bride comes to this humbled, confessed position; then all she has on her mind is to find her Beloved. Not the Daughters, not anyone else, nor anything else, is in her focus; only her Beloved.

This humbled condition also allows her to announce her love-sick condition, the beauty of her Beloved, and that they are one indeed (6:3). This announcement is made to the Daughters of Jerusalem without reservation. This leads us to verses 10-16, where she answers the questions from the Daughters of Jerusalem concerning the Bride’s Beloved.