Song 8:5-7 – Let us love Jesus deeply and dearly

True love remains constant. It doesn’t shift despite the attractions that can come from all directions. It remains firm, fixed, and faithful. That’s the love the Shulamite has for her beloved. The attention shown by Solomon might be tempting but she is not swayed. Here in verse 5, we hear a question being asked, “Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved?” This is intended to show that true love is steadfast. Here the Shulamite’s love for her beloved is portrayed. From a distance, they are seen lovingly entwined. She leans on her beloved trustingly and tenderly. This is a stark contrast to Song 3:6 where she was being ferried in the royal entourage on a special sedan bed, a palanquin, surrounded by Solomon’s bodyguards. She was heading toward the palace then. Now she has gained her freedom and is hurrying home to her beloved shepherd.

Verses 6-7 describe the time the Shulamite first fell in love with her beloved. She found him in a special place beneath the apple tree near the house where he was born. Having found him she loves him deeply. Her desire is to be his and be with him forever. The seal is a symbol of ownership. She wants to be owned by him and to have an abiding and unbreakable relationship with him. The whole idea here is that the nature of true love is blindingly strong. Like death, true love is irresistible and cannot be overcome. True love brings about a zeal that is hard to quench. It is all consuming and is like the power of death that cannot be defeated. No one can overcome death. Similarly, no one can overcome true love. The fire of true love cannot be easily doused by forces from without. Like water that cannot quench a fire, so true love cannot be extinguished. Furthermore, true love cannot be bought. No amount of money or riches can entice a love that is true. This is depicted in verse 7 that says, “If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly despised.” In other words, nothing can pry true love away.

Are we so deeply in love with Jesus, our beloved, that nothing will ever separate us from Him? He certainly has loved us that way. There is no greater love than His. He tells us this in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” He loves us so much that He had laid down His life for us. In His magnanimous love, He looked beyond our faults and saw our needs. It is not an unreasonable thing, therefore, for Him to ask for our love in return. In fact, loving Him in return is the only appropriate and logical response to One who has loved us so much. And nothing short of a hundred percent commitment and love for Him is a befitting response. May our prayer to Him be: Awaken my heart to know and love you, O my Lord. Awaken my heart to know your love and to love you in return. Fully and strongly flowing from an awakened heart!