April 4, 2026, Song of Solomon 8:1-7

April 4, 2026, Song of Solomon 8:1-7

8 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.

Song of Solomon 8:1-7 serves as a climactic declaration of the power, value, and permanence of true love, describing it as "strong as death" and unquenchable by floods. The bride expresses a desire for open, intimate affection, seeking a bond that is exclusively sealed upon the heart. It highlights love's immense, priceless nature. 

This passage acts as a concluding summary of the entire book, emphasizing the mature, enduring, and nature of love between the spouses. It is often interpreted both as a model for marital love and as a picture of the intense, insurmountable love of God for His people. 

How do you describe the love of God for you? 

What leaves you speechless when referring to God’s steadfast love? 

Robin Adams