 Oh that you were like a brother to me
who nursed at my mother's breasts! If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and none would despise me. 2 I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother-- she who used to teach me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the juice of my pomegranate. 3 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me! 4 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. 5 Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother was in labor with you; there she who bore you was in labor. 6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised. Final Advice Others 8 We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for? 9 If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver, but if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. She 10 I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; then I was in his eyes as one who finds peace. 11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard to keepers; each one was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver. 12 My vineyard, my very own, is before me; you, O Solomon, may have the thousand, and the keepers of the fruit two hundred. He 13 O you who dwell in the gardens, with companions listening for your voice; let me hear it. She 14 Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. Meditation God is love and the source of love (1 John 4:7-8). God reveals the nature of love so that you can more deeply know His love. God’s love is not trivial but transforming- God loves you with an everlasting love. The revelation of love’s nature is our focus (5-7), the description of love between bride and groom directing us to the nature of God’s love for you and me. Love exists before we are awakened by grace. Love’s personal touch is so intense it places a seal of ownership over our hearts, intimate identification with the one who loves- I am my beloved and He is mine! “Love never ends” and there is nothing greater than love (1 Corinthians 13). Love is jealous, tolerating no rivals, devoted, and single minded in life. Two images drive the power of love’s devotion, death and fire. Two relationships in scripture paint a positive picture of jealousy: the relationship between God and humanity, and marriage. Love’s power is stronger than death and, the flashes of love are eternal flames from above. God Himself gives love that cannot be quenched by water or drowned out by competitors for your heart. Truly, nothing can separate us from the devoted love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39). Love is more valuable than money, unable to be bought with the greatest amount of worldly wealth. God’s love is free, but it costs Him everything for us to see loves nature in the person and work of Jesus. Richly Dwelling -Which descriptions of the nature of love in 5-7 stand out to you? Why? -How does both the description and direction of love leave you longing to know love more? -What does it mean that Jesus is the full picture of the nature of love? How does security in His love strengthen you to respond by loving Him with all your heart, mind, and soul? Key Verse 6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. Comments are closed.
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