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Whenever I read through the Song of Solomon, one of my first thoughts is: I don’t think my bride would appreciate hearing me say her hair is like goats, her teeth like ewes, or her neck like the tower of David. She would probably much rather hear that her lips are like cherries, her teeth like pearls, and that her eyes sparkle like diamonds in the sky. Like me, the author is using the language and imagery of his culture to describe something deeply personal and beautiful—his love for his bride.

But the Song of Solomon doesn’t stop at how love is expressed—it moves to what love actually is. In chapter 8, verse 6, which I believe is the key verse of the book, we see a deeper expression of love from the bride’s perspective:

“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."

This is no longer just attraction—it’s covenant commitment. It reflects what love is meant to be at its fullest.

The woman is expressing her desire for a love that lasts. When she says, “Put me like a seal…,” she is saying, “mark me as yours.” In that culture, a seal represented belonging and permanence. She is not asking for something casual or temporary, but for a love that is secure, exclusive, and enduring.

I want to be careful to keep this grounded in its most literal sense. While it can serve as a beautiful picture of God’s love for us, it is first a woman longing for her husband’s lasting love. And in that longing, we’re given a timeless truth: love between a man and a woman was always meant to endure.

If you’re young—whether newly married or not yet married—hear this clearly: love is not just about attraction or the excitement you feel today. Biblical love is meant to be rooted in something deeper. It is intentional and anchored in covenant. The point is simple: don’t settle for something temporary when you were created for something lasting.

For those in the middle years of marriage—when life is busy and the emotions aren’t always as strong—this passage is a needed reminder: real love is not sustained by emotion alone, but by commitment. There will be seasons when love comes easily and seasons when it feels like work. But the calling remains the same: stay, grow, forgive, and pursue one another. Love that endures doesn’t happen by accident—it’s a choice made again and again.

And to those who have walked through years together—through highs and lows, hardship and joy—your lives are a testimony. You have shown that love can endure, that commitment matters, and that covenant is worth keeping. In a world that often gives up too quickly, your faithfulness speaks loudly.

At the same time, not everyone’s story is the same. Some have experienced divorce or carry wounds and regrets. This is not meant to bring guilt or shame. Instead, it reminds us that true biblical love is gracious. So, God does restore and He meets us where we are. Even when things haven’t gone as planned, His grace is still sufficient.

The Song of Solomon reminds us of something we already know deep down: love is not meant to be casual—it is meant to be lasting. Not because we always get it right, but because love was designed to reflect something greater than ourselves.

So, wherever you are—looking forward to love, fighting to preserve it, or reflecting on it after many years—be encouraged: love that is intentional, sustained by grace, and guarded through commitment is a love that can endure.

And that kind of love… is worth pursuing.