A Seal Upon Your Heart - Song of Songs 8:6

In the book of Song of Songs, Solomon shared how a relative asked, “Who is this that comes up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised you up under the apple tree: there your mother brought you forth: there she brought you forth that bare you”, and in chapter eight and verse six of Song of Songs, Solomon shared how the bride said to the groom “set me as a seal upon your heart” where we read,

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which has a most vehement flame.

The verse reads, “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave:” Solomon began with the words, “set me as a seal” or “put, place, ordain and appoint me, the bride, similar and in likeness to a signet or signature ring” “upon your heart” which means “on your, the groom's, inner man, mind, will, inclination, conscience and seat of emotions and affections”, “as a seal” or “in likeness to a signet or signature ring” “upon your arm” which means “on your, the groom's, physical forearm or shoulder”: “for love is strong as death” or “because, since and on account that strong affection and passion exists as mighty, fierce and harsh as pestilence, ruin and dying”; “jealousy is cruel” which means “ardor of zeal, anger and envy exists as hard, severe, obstinate, difficult and intense” “as the grave” or “similar and in likeness to sheol, the underworld, hell, the pit and the abode of the dead”. Solomon shared how the bride desired that the groom appoint her to be like a signet upon his soul and mind and a signature ring on his shoulder because passionate affection exists as mighty as dying and arduous zeal exists as severe as the pit and place of the dead.

The verse goes on to say, “the coals thereof are coals of fire, which has a most vehement flame.” Solomon continued with the words, “the coals thereof” or “the flame, fire-bolt, spark and burning of death and the grave” “are coals of fire”which means “exist as the fire-bolt, spark and burning of fiery flames”, “which has a most vehement flame” or “that possesses the brightest and most flashy flare of fire”. Solomon shared how the bride said the flaming and flashing fiery fire of death, jealousy and the grave were the brightest and most mighty of the “flames”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how the bride knew the importance of belonging to the groom, and even as a “seal” upon his “heart and arm” would validate her position with him, the bride knew the mighty effects of “fire, death and the grave”. Like a mighty burning “fire” of passion from the groom was important to the bride, God demonstrated His passionate love toward us when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins. When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us the “seal” of His Holy Spirit that not only lays claim to us but will allow us to remain with Him for all eternity. (See Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30; 2 Timothy 2:19)

Next time Solomon shares how the bride says to the groom, “many waters cannot quench love” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".