UNDERSTAND the ‘REAL’ strength of ‘TRUE LOVE’!
July 15
Bible Reading: Song of Solomon Chapters 7-8
UNDERSTAND the ‘REAL’ strength of ‘TRUE LOVE’!
"Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon
your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave; its
flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench
love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth
of his house, it would be utterly despised." (Song 8:6-7)
The above
verses describe the climax to the story of the Song of Solomon. In words of
great beauty that have been widely quoted, the Shulamite maiden affirms that
there is no rival for her love. She describes in the most vivid terms the unquenchable nature of true love: it
cannot be destroyed by death or the grave; it burns like a blazing fire that
cannot be extinguished; and it cannot be bought with any price. So, here is
found one of the most beautiful and heavenly tributes to love!
The
Shulamite maiden wants her beloved to feel a total ownership of her in his
heart. She is committed only to him; and she wants him to be totally committed
to her. As long as she resides in his heart, she feels secure. She knows that
love deeply rooted in a heart commitment is intense—strong as death—and
passionate—like flames of fire.
Solomon used
three images to illustrate true love.
The seal speaks of ownership, two lovers belonging only to
each other until separated by death. This is the permanence of love. The fire reminds
us of the power of love—nothing can
quench it. And the wealth illustrates
the preciousness of love. Thus, the
permanence, power and priceless value of love completed in union between the
Shulamite and her beloved is stressed in this passage.
God’s word
has much to say about the real strength
of true love:
- It can be “better than wine” (Song 1:2).
- It is “as strong as death” (8:6).
- It is greater even than faith or hope (1 Cor. 13:13).
- It is the root of great evil when its object is money (1 Tim. 6:10).
- It “covers all sins” (Prov. 10:12).
- It is the only debt we ought to owe each other (Rom. 13:8).
- It “does not envy” (1 Cor. 13:4).
- It is the essence of the commandments of God (Rom. 13:9; Gal. 5:14; James 2:8).
- Its absence is evidence that one does not know God (1 John 4:8, 12, 20).
- It empowers people to give their lives for someone else, even as Christ did (John 15:13–17; Eph. 5:25–28).
God is the
source of love, and He wants to help us rediscover love, so that we bring
restoration and healing to ourselves and everyone we touch. Let us understand
the real strength of true love, and make our best effort to
love God and people as the children of God.
