The Song of Solomon portrays the joy and intimacy of a couple in love within a committed marriage covenant. This book also foreshadows Christ’s relationship with His bride, the Church. At the conclusion of this discourse the bride summarized the characteristics of love:

Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, jealousy is as severe as Sheol; its flames are flames of fire, the flame of the LORD. (Song of Solomon 8:6)

The bride requested a seal that denotes security, protection, and permanence in the relationship. In the New Testament believers enjoy security as they are sealed with the Holy Spirit:

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise. (Ephesians 3:13)

The bride then considered the power of love. Just as death is the fate of mankind, love is equally as certain. Water is one of the most powerful forces on earth. God used a great flood to eradicate the wickedness, but His love endured as he left a remnant:

Now behold, I Myself am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which there is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish. (Genesis 6:17)

Love endures through the flood waters:

Many waters cannot quench love, nor will rivers flood over it; if a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly despised. (Song of Solomon 8:7)

When I reflect upon this verse, I think of December 26, 2004, when magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck off the west coast of Sumatra. This resulted in a massive tsunami with waves up to 30 meters (100 feet) high that devastated the surrounding coasts of the Indian Ocean, killing over a quarter of a million people in one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. Several months later, I had the privilege of leading a team of students to Banda Aceh, one of the hardest hit cities, for relief work. In spite of the devastation, the outpouring of love was evident – many waters cannot quench the power of love.

We will face storms in life and the tsunami of trouble may seem to engulf us, but we must remember that God is with us:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. (Isaiah 43:2)

Finally, we see that love is precious, all of one’s riches cannot compare with the supremacy of love:

(love) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:8)

Rick Higgins

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark