Song of Songs 5-8

July 21

Song of Songs 5-8

What does true love look like? John wrote; "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16, NIV) In the Song of Songs a lover pursues his beloved, they marry and consummate the marriage and commit to a life of devotion to one another. They laid down their lives for one another as their relationship moved from romantic love to a commitment in marriage until death overtook one or both of them.

"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame." (Song of Solomon 8:6, NIV) This is the love between a man and a woman committed in marriage, but it is also a picture of God’s intense love for His people. He desires for us to place Him like a seal over our hearts where we will serve Him all our lives. He is a jealous God and will bring discipline to those who reject Him or run after idols, but He is also a loving God desiring what is best for us.

Sin turns our hearts against God, the one who loves us and pursues us, but He pursues us with prevenient grace. He extends His love to us while we are still His enemy. He wants to give us a heart transplant, if we will only allow Him to work in our lives. Jeremiah wrote;  "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart." (Jeremiah 24:7, NIV)

God is the lover who pursues us for a lifelong relationship with Him. He desires for us to place Him as a seal over our hearts, guarding our thoughts and actions to live the lives He created us to live. Those who are married should be dedicated to that relationship, but God wants us to be dedicated to Him over all other relationships. If we commit to Him, He will guard our hearts and protect us from disaster. God is the lover of our souls.