Song of Solomon 8

For me, this chapter holds one of the most beautiful passages ever written about love: “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 the very flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, he would be utterly scorned.” (vs 6-7)

God designed love to be free and forever. Here, we see that love is designed to bind us to another person for life, that it literally places us like a seal or brand on the other. This love is as strong as death—it was intended to be that permanent, that irreversible. Nothing should be able to come between a man and woman who have pledged their lives to each other before God in marriage.

This love is also described as a fire. Perhaps that’s why, several times throughout the book, the maiden said, “Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.” (vs 4) Once you have lit the fuse of love, it’s like a raging fire that can’t be extinguished. Thus, we ought to be very careful about how, where, and with whom that spark is ignited!

This love was also designed to be free. You can’t buy love. That’s why the maiden said that if someone used all the wealth they had to “buy” love, they would be utterly scorned. By its very nature, love must be given. It can’t be bought. Sex can be bought. Companionship can be bought. But true love can only be given.

Love, as God designed it, was meant to be free and forever. It was never designed to be a temporary enterprise with strings attached, as we so often encounter it today. God created us to give and receive love in this way because that’s what His love is like. It is free—He loves all His creatures with an everlasting love. And it is forever—nothing we can do could make God love us more, and nothing we can do could make God love us less! His love is stronger than death, and it cannot be quenched!