Song of Songs: “At Night on My Bed”
Main Idea
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III reflects on the phrase, “In the night, on my bed, I sought the one whom my soul loves,” explaining that the night may refer to the actual night, but it may also symbolize spiritual darkness, sin, confusion, weariness, and distance from God. The bed refers to laziness, negligence, spiritual sleep, and a lack of movement in the path with God.
He explains that the soul may be weak, sinful, and far from God, yet deep within it, it still loves Him and seeks Him; therefore, a person should not wait until becoming perfect before beginning to pray and seek God.
Spiritual Message
The reflection explains that a period of abandonment may come because of a person’s stubbornness, persistence in sin, and rejection of the work of grace, and it may also occur as part of God’s divine providence, allowing a person to recognize his weakness and not depend on his own righteousness or strength.
Nevertheless, not feeling God’s presence or not receiving an immediate answer to prayer does not mean the end of the relationship with Him; rather, the person should continue seeking Him and should not despair, no matter how long the period of abandonment lasts.
A person can seek God while sinful so that He may save him from sin, seek Him while lazy so that He may give him spiritual fervor, and seek Him while distant so that He may draw him closer to Himself.
Educational Lesson
The reflection emphasizes that a person should not postpone prayer until reaching an ideal spiritual condition, but should pray even during distraction, spiritual coldness, and lack of concentration, asking God to grant him true prayer.
It also warns against judging others by appearances, because someone may appear distant to us or may not be present in church, while in private he may be seeking God and searching for Him; God alone knows what is in the heart.
Practical Application
If a person feels that there is a barrier between him and God, he should not run away or end his relationship with Him, but should seek reconciliation and continue praying and searching for Him.
A person should also not depend on grace in a way that makes him lazy, but should cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit and make a spiritual effort, putting his hand in God’s hand and moving toward Him.
The central hope of the reflection is that a period of weakness or darkness is not necessarily permanent; therefore, despair should not control a person, but he should continue seeking God until he finds Him.
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