Today’s Reading: Song of Solomon 7-8
Song
of Solomon is THE love song above ALL love
songs, for it is the love song inspired by God to give us His perspective on
love and romance. It is also a powerful allegory which presents the love of God
for His Bride, the Church. The kind of deep love which a man and woman feel for
each other is a remarkable (albeit inadequate) hint of the love which God has
for you and me.
Here
in verse 7, Solomon presents the permanence and value of love: “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.” With these words,
Solomon is saying that no amount of money can create or buy love, and no amount
of misery or hardship can kill true love.
Christ’s love cannot be purchased
for any price. His Love can’t be bought,
can’t be sold—it’s not to be found in the marketplace. If a man gave “all the
wealth of his house” it would fall infinitely short of obtaining God’s love.
This covers any and every attempt to “earn” or “merit” God’s love. It is an
impossibility that any amount of human effort could ever be enough to warrant
God’s love. The good news is that this truth brings great freedom to those who
understand and accept it. It is because we cannot purchase or earn or merit
God’s love, that there is no reason to make an effort to do so. When we
recognize that God’s acceptance of us is His free and heartfelt expression of
His love, we are set free from the tyranny of religion and of “being good
enough” or “rich enough” or “holy enough.” We can cease our labor, and enter
into His rest and leap into His loving arms.
Additionally, Christ’s love cannot be quenched
by “many waters” or “floods.” In Scripture, the word “floods” is often used of
the miseries and trials and troubles which people face in life. The words of
Song 8:7 express God’s great truth that His love is permanent and absolutely
nothing can cause Him to stop loving you!
Isaiah the prophet wrote, “When you pass through
the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not
overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the
flame shall not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2). Note the promise contained
here… that He will not leave you when the floods of misery and difficulty come
into your life. He never promised life in Him would be easy, but He promised
His life and love will be with you the whole way.
His love for you is permanent and unchangeable! You did
nothing to earn this love, and you can do nothing to terminate it. Even the
greatest challenges of life are no match for the permanent and undying love God
has for you.
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