Lasting Love

For a relationship to work, it takes work.

(Song of Solomon 7:1) How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince’s daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of an artist’s hands.

(Song of Solomon 7:11-12) Come, my beloved, let us go to the countryside, let us spend the night in the villages. Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom— there I will give you my love.

(Song of Solomon 8:5-6) Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I roused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who was in labor gave you birth. Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.

1. Lasting love is permanent.

(Song of Solomon 8:7) Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

2. Lasting love is persevering.

(Song of Solomon 8:8-9) We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? If she is a wall, we will build towers of silver on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

3. Lasting love is protective.

(Song of Solomon 8:10) I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment.

4. Lasting love is peaceful.

(Song of Solomon 8:11-14) Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekels of silver. But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit. You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains.

Love is a choice we make everyday.

(Colossians 3:14) And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Being loved gives capacity to love.

(1 John 4:19) We love because he first loved us.

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

Video

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/lasting-love

Discussion Guide

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/3-4-18.pdf

All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.