-February 14, 2022-
Good morning, happy Monday, happy Valentine’s Day,
“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it. If a man were to give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised.”
(Song of Solomon 8:7).
Love is of God. It is personal, precious and powerful. Here in the book of Song of Solomon we have a love story between Solomon and a young Shulamite maiden. The book is filled with Eastern imagery of the passion of love that God gave between a man and woman. God is love, and He first loved us, and teaches us to love one another. In a spiritual sense, this book teaches us that Christ is our heavenly Bridegroom and we as His church are His Bride.
Love is more than sentiment or emotion, it is a commitment of the heart. It is a bond that is permanent. These words in our text were expressed by the Shulamite in extraordinary language, “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it.” True love grows, flourishes, and lasts. In every relationship, especially between husbands and wives, there are hard times, disagreements, conflicts, and external problems. When two people love the Lord and each other, they stand together against all else, united, and bound by love and dedication.
In our church, we have many wonderful examples of loving, Christian marriages. Young people growing up see the love and what takes to make it all work out. These couples are examples. No one is perfect, so we must all be patient with one another. Even when the rushing waters and floods hit hard, love stands up and holds up. Among many in the world, the traditional marriage vows are set aside for more contemporary ones which is so sad.
The traditional vows show the commitment of love in the good times and in the bad times, yes in all times: “In the name of God, I take you (name) to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death (or until death do us part).” These vows are serious and sacred.
The Shulamite then says, “If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised.” One can’t but love with money or earthly riches or possessions. Love comes from the heart. It can’t be forced or manipulated. Arranged marriages rarely work out, unless of course, they are arranged by God, then they have a solid foundation in Christ. We often call them “a match made in heaven.”
May the Lord help us to love our spouses, our children, our friends, and our brothers and sisters in Christ. All our relationships are based on the love of Jesus. His love is the divine epoxy that holds everything together through any weather.
Have a blessed Valentine’s Day loving as Christ as He loves us. Stay safe and healthy.
In His matchless love,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 