Song of Solomon 8:6-14: a reflection

6Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of the LORD. 7Many waters can’t quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned. 8We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is to be spoken for? 9If she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. 10I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace. 11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit. 12My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon, two hundred for those who tend its fruit. 13You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! 14Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!

Near the close of the Song comes one of its most memorable lines about the strength of love: Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Many waters can't quench love, neither can floods drown it. Love here is described as strong as death, unquenchable, something that floods cannot drown and wealth cannot buy. And read, as this Song has long been read, as a picture of God's love, it speaks of a love that is stronger than death, that no waters can quench, a steadfast and unquenchable love.

Notice the strength of the love described: strong as death, unquenchable by many waters. This is not a fragile or fleeting love, but one strong as death, that floods cannot drown and no wealth can buy. And read as a picture of God's love for his people, it speaks a wonderful truth: that God's love is stronger than death, unquenchable, not to be drowned by any flood of trouble or bought or lost. The love of God for his own is steadfast, strong as death, and stronger; no waters of trouble can quench it. It is a love that holds, unquenchable and sure.

That strength of love is worth resting in, for God's love for us is strong as death, unquenchable by any flood. We can fear that God's love for us is fragile, that it might be quenched by our failures or drowned by the floods of trouble that come; but this speaks of a love strong as death, that many waters cannot quench. God's love for his own is steadfast, unquenchable, not to be drowned by any flood or lost. Do not fear that God's love for you is fragile or easily quenched; it is strong as death, and no flood of trouble can drown it. Rest in the strength of God's love for you, strong as death and unquenchable by any flood, as the Song says many waters cannot quench love; for God's love for his people is steadfast and strong as death, and no waters of trouble, and no failure of ours, can quench a love that holds us with such strength.

Lord, near the close of the Song comes one of its most memorable lines about the strength of love: set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death; many waters can't quench love, neither can floods drown it. Love here is described as strong as death, unquenchable, something that floods cannot drown and wealth cannot buy. And read, as this Song has long been read, as a picture of your love, it speaks of a love that is stronger than death, that no waters can quench. Show me the strength of the love described: strong as death, unquenchable by many waters. This is not a fragile or fleeting love, but one strong as death, that floods cannot drown and no wealth can buy. And read as a picture of your love for your people, it speaks a wonderful truth: that your love is stronger than death, unquenchable, not to be drowned by any flood of trouble or bought or lost. Your love for your own is steadfast, strong as death, and stronger; no waters of trouble can quench it. Let me rest in that strength of love, for your love for me is strong as death, unquenchable by any flood. I can fear that your love for me is fragile, that it might be quenched by my failures or drowned by the floods of trouble that come; but this speaks of a love strong as death. Your love for your own is steadfast, unquenchable. Keep me from fearing that your love for me is fragile or easily quenched; it is strong as death, Lord, and no flood of trouble can drown it. Help me rest in the strength of your love for me, strong as death and unquenchable by any flood.