Love as Strong as Death 爱情如死般坚强
Dexu Xia
For love is as strong as death. Song of Songs 8:6
f you were to stroll along the old brick wall stretching between the Protestant and Catholic graveyards in Roermond, Netherlands, you’d discover a curious sight. On each side, flush against the wall stands two identical towering headstones: one for a Protestant husband and one for his Catholic wife. Cultural rules during the nineteenth century required they be buried in separate cemeteries. They wouldn’t accept their fate, however. Their unusual headstones are high enough to reach above the fenced obstruction so that at the top there’s only about a foot or two of air separating them. Atop each, a sculptured arm reaches out to the other, each clasping the other’s hand. The couple refused to be separated, even in death.
The Song of Songs explains love’s power. “Love is as strong as death,” Solomon says, “its jealousy unyielding as the grave” (8:6). True love is powerful, ferocious. “It burns like blazing fire” (v. 6). True love never surrenders, won’t be silenced, and can’t be destroyed. “Many waters cannot quench love,” writes Solomon. “Rivers cannot sweep it away” (v. 7).
“God is love” (1 John 4:16). Our strongest love is only a fractured reflection of His ferocious love for us. He’s the ultimate source of any love that’s genuine, any love that holds fast.
Reflect & Pray
How have you been experiencing God’s strong love? How has He revealed His strong love for you?
Dear God, I need Your love that’s stronger than death, stronger than evil, stronger than my failings. Thank You for Your powerful love.
因为爱情如死般坚强。雅歌 8:6
如果你漫步在荷兰鲁尔蒙德新教和天主教墓地之间的古老砖墙旁，你会发现一个奇怪的景象。两边紧贴墙壁矗立着两块一模一样的高耸墓碑：一块是新教丈夫的墓碑，另一块是他的天主教妻子的墓碑。十九世纪的文化规则要求他们被埋葬在不同的墓地。然而，他们不会接受自己的命运。他们不同寻常的墓碑高到足以超过围栏，因此在顶部只有一两英尺的空气将他们分开。在每块墓碑的顶部，一只雕刻的手臂伸向对方，彼此紧握着对方的手。这对夫妇拒绝分开，即使死后也是如此。
雅歌解释了爱情的力量。所罗门说：“爱情如死般坚强，嫉妒如坟墓般不屈不挠”（8:6）。真爱是强大而热烈的。“它像烈火一样燃烧”（第 6 节）。真爱永不屈服，不会沉默，也不会被摧毁。所罗门写道：“爱情，众水不能熄灭。江河不能冲走”（第 7 节）。“上帝就是爱”（约翰一书 4:16）。我们最强烈的爱只是他对我们热烈的爱的破碎反映。他是任何真诚的爱、任何坚定的爱的最终源泉。
反思和祈祷：你是如何体验上帝强烈的爱的？他是如何向你展示他强烈的爱的？
亲爱的上帝，我需要你的爱，这种爱比死亡更强大，比邪恶更强大，比我的缺点更强大。感谢你强大的爱。