Poetry – Song of Solomon 7-8

We have come to the last book and chapters of the Poetry genre today and aptly ends with the joyous message of love between the loved one and his beloved.

Love – is this not the greatest message in the Bible?

Read on celebrate the fact that because of love, we have what we have today…

Bible Passage: Song of Solomon 7-8

Love – As Strong As Death

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

Song 8:6

Human history and literature is filled with stories of challenges and failures of people in love.  Love has produced great tragedies, as well as great achievements.

The Bible speaks extensively about the great power of love:

• It can be “better than wine” (Song 1:2)
• It is “as strong as death” (Song 8:6)
• It is greater than even 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” (Pro 10:12)
• Perfect love “casts out fear” (1 John 4:18)
• The love of Christ “passes knowledge” (Eph 3:19)
• It is the only debt we ought to owe each other (Rom 13:8)
• It “does not envy” (1 Cor 13:4)
• It makes believers capable of blessing those who curse them, and doing good to those who hate, spitefully use, or persecute them (Matt 5:44)
• 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.

Sinful human beings have often twisted and abused it, and even reduced it to destructive fits of passion and lust.  But God wants to help us rediscover love, so that we bring restoration and healing to ourselves and everyone we touch.  This is basic to the message of Christ.

We have heard exhortations in the last few sermons and also in the various bible blog posts that we should look to consider our ways as the year draws to a close.  We should look to fulfill the desires of the Lord and not our own and this reminder of love is a good one for me.

As we look at the points listed above – let’s examine ourselves and see whether we have met the standard that God wants us to attain.  And see if the love we have for God is as intense as the love found in the Song of Solomon.

May His love and mercy continue to shine on us.