Song of Solomon 2:5
Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
Song of Solomon 2:5 (KJV)
Context
This verse belongs to the Song of Solomon, also called the Song of Songs, a poetic book in the Old Testament. The book is traditionally attributed to King Solomon and portrays the love between a bride and her bridegroom. In the preceding verse, the bridegroom brings the bride to the banqueting house, and his banner over her is love. Now the bride, overwhelmed by this experience, asks for support and refreshment. Her words come from a heart that has tasted deep affection and feels faint under its power.
Meaning
The word “flagons” refers to containers of wine, which were seen as refreshing and strengthening. The request for apples also points to comfort and delight. The phrase “I am sick of love” expresses a state of being overcome, not by illness, but by the intensity of love. The bride feels faint under the strength of her emotions and longs for help to endure them. This is not a weak or sinful condition; it is the natural response of a heart fully captured by love.
Biblical connections
This verse reflects a spiritual longing that appears throughout Scripture. The believer, having tasted the love of Christ, desires more of it and cannot be satisfied until filled. The flagons may symbolize the Word of God and the means of grace, through which Christ’s love is made known. The request for sustenance shows a holy dependence on the beloved for strength and refreshment. As the church has received large discoveries of Christ’s love, she yearns for even more of His presence and grace.
Application
For readers today, this verse teaches that love for God can be so powerful that it leaves us yearning for more. When we feel spiritually faint, we should turn to God’s Word and prayer for comfort. Just as the bride asked for refreshment, we can ask God to strengthen us in our walk with Him. This dependence is not weakness but a mark of true devotion. It shows that we recognize our need for His sustaining power in every season of life.
Reflection
The verse invites us to examine our own longing for God. Do we desire His love with such intensity that we feel lovesick? The bride’s cry shows that genuine love seeks the presence of the beloved. In the same way, our love for God should drive us to seek Him continually, knowing that He alone can satisfy our deepest needs. When His love overwhelms us, we can confidently ask Him to strengthen and comfort us, for He is faithful to answer.
