INTRODUCTION:

    1. In one outline of this chapter it is titled: The Bride and Bridegroom Speak To Each Other.
    2. It speaks of the strength, the stability, and the superiority of true Christian love.

  I. THE STRENGTH OF COMMITTED LOVE.

    A. The Principle Of Fidelity To Christ.
        1. "For love is strong as death."
            a. Death is binding, permanent; so is true love.
                1) Genesis 2:24.
                2) CLEAVE = stick; be glued.
            b. Christ's love for us is unending.
                1) Romans 8:35-39.
                2) Hebrews 13:5.
            c. Our love for Him should be the same.
                1) Rules out "falling out of love" with Him and refusing to be committed to our Lord.
                2) Our love should be as permanent as death.
        2. If we truly love Christ, we will not be ashamed to be identified with Him.
            a. Vs. 1b -- She says, "When I should find thee without I would kiss thee."
            b. II Timothy 2:12-13 ; (Matthew 10:33).
            c. I John 4:2 ; Titus 1:16 -- Identified in works as well as in our profession.

    B. The Practice Of Faithfulness To Christ.
        1. Vs. 2b -- "I would cause thee to drink of sspiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate."
            a. She promises to bid him welcome to the best she has.
            b. "Those that are pleased with Christ must study to be pleasing to Him."
            c. Christ deserves our very best -- the first fruits of our time, talents, treasures.
        2. When we truly love Christ, we will give Him our best. (We will want to sacrifice for Him.)
        3. II Corinthians 8:1-5 -- An example of this faithfulness.
            a. Vs. 2 -- Their pitiful condition.
            b. Vv. 3-4 -- Their practiced communion.
            c. Vs. 5 -- Their personal committment.

    C. The Preference For Fellowship With Christ.
        1. If we truly love Christ, we will avoid those things that would disrupt our fellowship with Him.
        2. Vs. 4 -- "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please."
        3. We already know (Isaiah 59:1-2) that sin separates "between you and your God."
            a. I John 2:1 -- Why we are instructed not to sin.
            b. I John 1:9 -- Why we are instructed to confess and repent.

 II. THE STABILITY OF CHRIST'S LOVE -- VS. 7a.

        * True love is not affected by circumstances. (Don't "fall in" and "fall out" of love.)
        * When we are disobedient, when we do break fellowship with our Lord, He still loves us.
        * This love:

    A. Demonstrates His Care For Her -- Vs. 3.
        1. Left hand under her head; right hand embraces me.
        2. Here is the picture of the Lord's tender care for His people and His churches.
        3. James 5:11 -- The compassion of the Lord.
            a. Psalm 78:38.
            b. Lamentations 3:22-23, 31-33.
        4. The mercy of the Lord.
            a. Psalm 103:17 -- "But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear
                him . . . " (It is everlasting.)
            b. Psalm 108:4 -- "For thy mercy is great above the heavens . . . " (It is boundless.)
            c. Joel 2:13 -- Encourages patience.
            d. Micah 7:18 -- Forgives sin.
        5. Five of the 7 letters to the churches of Asia are to encourage repentance and return.
        6. The church at Corinth received letters from the Lord encouraging their repentance.

    B. Declares His Claim To Her -- Vs. 6a.
        1. "Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm."
        2. SEAL = signet (w/o a signet, no document was considered to be authentic).
        3. The love of Christ for us and in us is our mark of authenticity -- John 13:34-35.
        4. Romans 13:14 -- "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Chrrist..."
            a. We are to "wear" Jesus.
            b. Should not be ashamed to wear His name in public.
            c. Should not make Him ashamed of us -- Heb. 11:16.

    C. Decrees His Charity Toward Her -- Vs. 10.
        1. "Then was I in his eyes as one that found favor."
        2. FAVOR = (shalom) peace.
        3. Speaks of the peace we have in Jesus.
            a. PEACE = not the absence of difficulty, but calmness in the midst of difficulty.
            b. Jesus accompanies us through it.
                1) "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death . . . " (Psalm 23).
                2) "Through It All"
                3) Hebrews 13:5.
        4. This peace comes forth out of His love for us -- Galatians 5:22.

III. THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRISTIAN LOVE -- VS. 7b.

    A. It Is Better Than Gain.
        1. Vs. 7b -- "If a man would give all the subsstance of his house for love, it would be utterly contemned."
            a. "IT" = ref. to the wealth, or the giving of it.
            b. CONTEMNED = openly mocked and despised.
        2. Giving an offering is no substitute for giving ourselves to Christ in love (as in II Cor. 8:5).
            a. I Timothy 6:5-6.
            b. I Timothy 6:17-18.

    B. It Is The Best Gift.
        1. I Corinthians 1:1-8a.
        2. I Corinthians 12:31 ; 13:13.

  CONCLUSION:

    1. We do not have to question Christ's love for us. He has proven it in giving Himself as the sacrifice for our sin.
    2. The question: Do we prove our love for Him through our obedience and faithful service?
        a. The Lord's love for us is strong, stable, and superior.
        b. Do we have a similar love for Him?