The Bridegroom and the Bride · Day 8 of 8
Day 8 — Song of Songs 8
Read
She
1 Oh that you were like my brother, who nursed from the breasts of my mother! If I found you outside, I would kiss you; yes, and no one would despise me.
2 I would lead you, bringing you into my mother’s house, who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate.
3 His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me.
4 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.
Friends
5 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? She
Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you.
She
6 Set 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 Yah.†
(†“Yah” is a short form of Yahweh — God’s personal name. This is the only time His name appears in the whole Song.)
7 Many 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.
Friends
8 We 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?
9 If 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.
She
10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.
11 Solomon 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.
12 My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon; two hundred for those who tend its fruit.
13 You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice!
She
14 Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!
The Lesson
“Set me as a seal on your heart... for love is strong as death” (v. 6). Not stronger — as strong. Death is the strongest thing we know, and here stands something its equal. “Many waters can't quench love” — and the New Testament fills in what the Song only sketches: nothing — not failure, not years, not anything in all creation — can separate us from God's love in Christ (Romans 8:38–39). This is analogy, and it's glorious: what the bride asks of her groom — seal me, keep me — is what Jesus does for us (Isaiah 49:16; John 10:28). Don't miss the signature in verse 6: “a very flame of Yah” — the only time God's name appears in the whole Song. True love is a fire God Himself lit. And the book ends on a cliffhanger: “Come away, my beloved!” — He said “come away” to her (2:10, 13); now she says it back. That is where we stand: “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come... Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:17, 20). Love can't be bought — “if a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned” (v. 7). Status can't buy it. Jesus proved it: He gave everything to win our hearts.
Live It
Once today, stop and say it: “Nothing can separate me from His love — and He's coming back.”