AMAZING LOVE

"He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love." - Song of Solomon 2:4

Every person has an innate need to be loved.  Some seek affection through illicit relationships.  Others desire attention & appreciation through professional accolades.  Most look for love through normal relationships, such as family and friends.  Whether a person is rich or poor, young or old, extrovert or introvert --- the fact remains that everyone wants to be loved. 

We can easily understand the love that a man has for his bride.  We can appreciate the love a mother has for her child.  These examples are merely a small reflection of a greater form of love, a love that defies normal human logic.  While we may understand certain forms of love, the love God has for us is far superior.  His love is amazing.  It is a supernatural love.  It is a sacrificial love.  All other expressions of love pale in comparison to His love for us.

The Song of Solomon remains one of the most unusual books of the Bible.  It is the love story of Solomon and his bride.  Through the years, theologians have debated this book.  Some declare that it is the story of Christ's love for His Church.  Others say that it is Solomon's poetic description of marital bliss.  A few believe that this book demonstrates God's approval of marital intimacy.  I believe that there is truth to all of these ideas.  The message of this Biblical book is the simple story of love.  It is the story of Solomon's love for his bride.  It reflects God's love for His people. 

Our text, Song of Solomon 2:4, states, "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love."  These are the words of a young bride at her wedding.  The groom has brought her to the wedding feast and the groom has declared and demonstrated his love for her. 

As we read the New Testament, we are made aware of a love far greater than Solomon had for his bride.  God loves us with a divine love.  His love is amazing and life changing.  Consider two things about God's love for us:

1.  GOD DECLARED HIS LOVE FOR US

First of all, God declared His love for us.  Jesus said, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  God has declared His love for us by sending His Son to die for us.  God is not ashamed to declare His love for us.  Are we ashamed to declare our love for Him?

2.  GOD DEMONSTRATED HIS LOVE FOR US

Mankind had rebelled against the holy God of the universe.  It is unthinkable that God the Father would love His enemies to the extent that He would give the ultimate sacrifice to them --- but He did.  It is good to declare your love for your spouse, but it is even better to demonstrate that love.  God declared His love for us and He demonstrated His love for us.  Romans 5:8 states, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  The life of Jesus declared God's love to us, but it was the death of Jesus that demonstrated the Father's love for us. 

Some teach that God saw what we could be and because of this, He loved us.  That is not how Paul expressed it.  Paul wrote that God demonstrated His love toward us, "... in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  

Because of Jesus, we have been brought to the banquet house of salvation.  We have feasted of the good things of grace.  His banner declares and demonstrates His love toward us. 

As believers, we are part of His Church, the Bride.  One day, Jesus will come and take His Bride home.  The banquet house will be ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb.  Because of God's grace, we will feast at that banquet table & enjoy sweet fellowship with the One who loves us so much.

That's amazing, isn't it?