Daily Reading: Song of Solomon 7-8
Scripture Focus: Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death... 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 8.6-7)
Devotional Thought: As The Song of Solomon comes to a close, the bride expresses her confidence in the four walls of loves' protection...
A Seal of Affection and Strength: the heart and arm. This wall is critical to love's endurance. In my pastoral work, I have seen many relationships founder because affection and protection are withheld and allowed to wither away. Those who would give and receive love must be "willing to give up something of themselves to another person who is also willing to give up something of themselves" (Guzik, Enduring Word Commentary).
Irresistible and Irreversible: strong as death. True love is as reliable as death. It will not be denied. Like death, love is "persistent and keeps reaching out; it is total and irreversible. Therefore the bond of love needs to be nourished and regarded as permanent" (Guzik).
An Inextinguishable Fire: cannot be quenched or drowned. Like a raging fire, love "cannot be extinguished. Therefore, one must take care how, where, and with whom the spark of love is ignited" (Guzik).
Not to be Bought or Sold. "Love is not a piece of merchandise. Therefore, love must be appreciated for its great value and not be taken for granted" (Guzik).
Just as the bride was confident in the love of her beloved, so too, we can be confident in the love of Christ. He has set us as a seal on his heart, and his arm strengthens and protects us. Nothing can separate us from his love - not even death! Let us respond to Christ with a red-hot love for him!
Prayer: "There is a name I love to hear. I love to sing its worth. It sounds like music in mine ear, the sweetest name on earth. Oh, how I love Jesus. Oh, how I love Jesus. Oh, how I love Jesus - because he first loved me!" Amen. (Frederick Whitfield)
Psalm of the Day: 11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. 12 If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, their sons also forever shall sit on your throne." (Psalms 132:11-12)
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