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In this chapter we have an exchange between the Bride and the Bridegroom each making requests of the other.
The Bride, the Church, speaks first. She requests a more personal relationship with the Bridegroom. In the beginning she felt that she needed to stay at a distance because of His divinity but now she desired a closer walk. She also requested Him to teach her in the ways that he would have her to go. In return she promised to give Him the best of whatever works he would call for her to do.
The Daughters of Jerusalem are amazed at the change in her when they see her coming on the arm of her Bridegroom. They ask, "Who is this that comes up from the wilderness on the arm of her beloved?"
She responds to them by again acclaiming Him as her Bridegroom, one whom she raised up as he retired in the garden. She again begs him to stay close and to maintain a close relationship with her. She then describes her love for Him. A love that cannot be separated even by death. A love that cannot be doused even by the pain of separation.
Then the Bridegroom makes His requests of the Bride. He requests that she be aware of those who are strangers to the covenant. Those who have a form of religion but deny the power of it. He reminds her of the value that she possesses and the care she must take of it. The Church is like a family; care must be taken not to let those in that might cause its destruction. We are given a very serious charge to protect the purity of the Church.
In closing we see a parallel of Christ and His Disciples and the Bridegroom and the Bride. Here the Bridegroom had to depart for a while. She must stay here on earth where he has work for her to do; He must go to the "mountains" where he will function as an advocate for her. And so it is, Jesus went to the father where he sets on the right hand, there interceding for His Church.
His final request to the Bride is to make haste. Make haste in her work, make haste in her devotion to Him and make hast in her coming to Him and His returning to her. (The Second Coming) osHis
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