You Won't Relent...

Beloveds...

I fell in love with these verses, and this song, a long time ago.  To this day, both still send shivers up my spine...  I break down the scripture a little bit below.

“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 flashes are flashes of fire,

The very flame of the Lord.

“Many waters cannot quench love,

Nor will rivers overflow it;

If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love,

It would be utterly despised.” ~Song of Solomon 8:6-7 (NASB)

“Put me like a seal over your heart,

~I, like many, believe Solomon is a representation of Christ, and the Shulammite Bride is a representation of His bride, the church.  There's much back and forth as to whether these verses are the bride talking to Solomon, or Solomon talking to his bride.  Though I guess it could work both ways, which in itself is beautiful, I lean towards the latter.   

Like a (Isaiah 49:16, Haggai 2:23) (Haggai 2:23) seal Or, Signet on your arm.

~The signet was a ring or seal worn around the neck, explaining the "over your heart" in previous line, or arm (shoulder).  Connotations of selection and ownership.

For love is as strong as death,

~The word for "is as strong" here is the Hebrew word 'az.  It carries with it the idea of vehemency, harshness, fierceness, greed, might, powerful, and  rough.  When paired with the word "jealousy"
below, there can be no doubt of our God's passion for us.  The word for death here is the Hebrew word maveth.  It encompasses all forms of physical death.  The word is even used on occasion to convey "Sheol"(see below).

(Proverbs 6:34) Jealousy is as severe Or, Its ardor is as inflexible as Sheol;

~The Hebrew word for jealousy here is qin'ah.  This word is used to express zeal, most often the zeal of God to accomplish His purpose.  The Hebrew word for "is as severe" here is the word qasheh.  Like the word 'az used above, it signifies harshness, obstinate, roughness, fierceness, strength, and an overall sense of stubbornness.  God is stubborn for us!  I love it! The word Sheol here is the Hebrew word she'owl.  The short and most frequent definition is "hell".  It can also be used to mean "the grave".  The love of God is more powerful than death and hell.  I believe the potential repetition of the word Sheol here adds punctuation to loves authority over Hell, consistent with the literary style of the time. 

Dictionary.com defines ARDOR as...

1.  great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion
2.  intense devotion, eagerness, or enthusiasm; zeal
3.  burning heat

Definition of ARDOR from Merriam-Webster...
1. a : an often restless or transitory warmth of feeling
   b : extreme vigor or energy : intensity
   c : zeal
   d : loyalty
2. sexual excitement

Its flashes are flashes of fire,

The very flame Or, A vehement flame of the Lord.

“Many waters cannot quench love,

Nor will rivers overflow it;

~There is nothing that can quench God's passion and love for us!  Not even our sin and the death it brings.

(Proverbs 6:35) If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love,

It would be utterly despised.” ~Song of Solomon 8:6-7 (NASB)

~Love can't be bought.  The word "utterly despise" here is the Hebrew word buwz.  It is the root word meaning "to disrespect".

Believing this is going to bless someone!