Pretty sure I’ve never noticed it before. Perhaps because I was too busy blushing.

Come on! Read the Song of Solomon and at times it’s like you’re peeking into thoughts and things that shouldn’t be peeked into. Some pretty passionate language being used to describe some pretty intimate stuff. So, how to read it? Literally? (Blush). Allegorically? I’m thinking. After all, didn’t Jesus say, “The Scriptures . . . bear witness of Me”? Yeah, He did. And so, they do. And thus, to look for Jesus in this over-the-top love story by Solomon would seem appropriate.

So, when I hear “SHE” say, “My beloved is mine, and I am his” (Song 3:16), I’m hearing the church fawning over her Savior. When she dreams of how she “sought him” and “found him” and “held him” (Song 3:1,4), I see in it the ardent response of those who have been graced with being betrothed to the One who is “altogether desirable” (Song 5:16).

And then, this morning, I see that thing I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. The LORD. Like literally! I see the two English words, “the LORD.” The only time you’re gonna find that one Hebrew word YAH, aka Jehovah, in the book. Okay, that’s something to pause and take notice of, isn’t it? That, it seems to me, is worthy of chewing on.

Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm,
for love is strong as death,
jealousy is fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
the very flame of the LORD.
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house,
he would be utterly despised.

(Song of Solomon 8:6-8 ESV)

The very flame of the LORD . . . There is it! “SHE” is expressing to her beloved the depths of love she has for him. Strong as death . . . as possessive as the grave . . . as bright and intense as fire. Fire that waters cannot quench, and floods cannot drown out. What kind of fire is that? The very flame of YAH. What kind of love is that? The love of God!

In trying to find the right words for love, she has to go to the very source of love to try and express the depths of her love. And God is love (1John 4:8).

A supernatural fire. A divine flame. That is the love kindled within her for her beloved. For that is the love which had wooed her and won her. The love which had redeemed and received her. The love which had bought her and bound itself to her. And that type of love — though imperfect while she is yet imperfect — is the love she feels for the one she loves.

The depths of love we feel too? Yeah. Should be.

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.

(1Peter 1:8 ESV)

Oh, to love Him who has first loved us with the very flame of YAH.

By His grace. For His glory.

I love You Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship You
O my soul rejoice
Take joy my King
In what You hear
May it be a sweet sweet sound
In Your ear

Laurie Klein, © 1978, 1980 House Of Mercy Music