“I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, That you tell him I am lovesick!” vs8

It is important that we cherish the Son of God. We cannot sin that grace might abound and expect His presence. We can’t live in unholiness and expect peace.

It is true: He forgives and cleanses, and He is far more gracious than human tongue can express (Ps 45:1). He comes to us when we’re undeserving, and He bears patiently with innumerable falls. He is not a taskmaster looking for every fault, but He is tender in mercy. Yet, let us balance God’s word. He also reproves us and hides His face [Song 5:6]. He chastens us with sorrow, if we won’t look to Christ. If we sin purposely and deny His advances to us, then He will hide Himself - sometimes for years, until we learn our desperate need and repent.

We must come back to Him, when He withdraws from us. We must remember His love and return.

Fasting is good for this. Hunger pains say, “God come near,” and He is pleased with this expression of need, when mingled with faith.

Don’t say, “I’ll get along without Him.” Don’t earn Him back, but come near to Him by confessing His greatness and believing His love. He won’t stay gone, if we seek Him, whether for minutes or months. He will return.

Secondly, she remembered His love, even though He hid, and this we must do (vs9-16). "His mouth is most sweet. He is absolutely desirable. This is my love, and this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem." Do not doubt because of your sin! Everything about Him is good to you, even though we are rotten and ungrateful!

He loved us while we were enemies, died for us when we were dead in trespasses, chose us for no reason but His own love, and determined to save us, when we were no different from Esau, Pharaoh, or Judas. We are God’s elect - loved with everlasting love - and we must remember it in the hardest times, as we seek to GET HIM BACK. Don’t misuse love to stay away, but use it to draw near.

It does us no good to forget the gospel, so remember it until He returns. Do not despair as if you’ve sinned too much, must work yourself back, or you are just unworthy. Know your Father is good, trust the Spirit’s power, and Christ’s precious blood! These things will restore peace in due time, because He can’t resist faith.

Finally, loving Him even when He is withdrawn causes others to seek Him. Song 6:1, "Where has your love gone, most beautiful of women? Which way has he turned? We will seek Him with you."

We are not altogether fruitless without His presence. We lack joy, peace, and power, but we still have faith, and sometimes faith must dwell in Babylon, and she must endure her cross. Faith has night and sunshine; she has sorrow and ecstasy. She is on the mountain top but also in the valley.

Remember this and don’t be discouraged. Remember the good He’s done even at your worst. Be encouraged in Him -that even though you are useless, He has used you, and even though you walked away, He still brought sinners near Himself.

Keep loving Him until the fullness of His love is poured forth. Remember, Ps 51 was written at David's lowest, but it's my favorite Psalm and has helped many others!

God is gracious to wayward and languishing saints, like when Samson’s hair began to grow back (Judges 16:22). He is merciful to little faith, saving Peter when Peter sunk in doubt. “Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. ‘You of little faith,’ He said, ‘why did you doubt [Matt 14:31]?’”