雅歌最終章-大水不能淹沒的愛(歌8章)

求你將我放在你心上如印記、帶在你臂上如戳記．因為愛情如死之堅強．嫉恨如陰間之殘忍．所發的電光、是火焰的電光、是耶和華的烈焰。愛情、眾水不能息滅、大水也不能淹沒．若有人拿家中所有的財寶要換愛情、就全被藐視。(歌 8：6-7)

這兩節經文是雅歌全卷的最高點，是雅歌最終章所要表達的重點與結論。

主內在會堂舉辦的婚禮，最令我感動的，是祝詩中若有唱到關於哥林多前書十三章的愛的真諦時，唱到最後一個凡事「凡事忍耐」，當下心中總是非常激動，使眼淚不自覺流下。

在「愛的十二個原則」中，凡事忍耐的「忍耐」，希臘文原意是「軍隊堅守陣地，直到全數陣亡」的意思，有「至死不渝」之意。對於剛走入婚姻的新人而言，還未談及將要一起過的幸福快樂的婚姻生活，就先講到「只有死可以將你我分離」的宣示，真的很令人感動。當一對夫婦就是連死都想要永遠再一起了，人生還有甚麼好計較的？連死都不分離，婚姻中怎麼還可能有離婚的選項？但是這樣的愛，只有在真理當中才有機會尋覓得到。

如同談及基督與教會的愛，也是以「捨己」為愛的基礎，就是那願意為對方犧牲生命的愛。

你們作丈夫的、要愛你們的妻子、正如基督愛教會、為教會捨己。(弗 5：25)

雅歌這裡的「求你將我放在你心上如印記、帶在你臂上如戳記．」是表明「你的心裡只能有我，就像是印記印在心上；你的臂章上也只能有我，讓人看見這戳記就知道你是我的人，不可以有想要有愛你的念頭。」之意。「愛情如死之堅強．嫉恨如陰間之殘忍。」其中的「死」與「陰間」都是不歸路，一旦進入，就不能回頭，也不可能回頭。就像愛情一樣，與干擾愛情所產生的嫉恨一樣，是沒得商量的。

早上林永福執事主領總會早禱會，提到他前些日子在北埔教會協助靈恩佈道會，遇到一位林弟兄，接待他吃早餐時不忘掏出隨身的福音傳單一一發送。林執事覺得好奇，問他為何如此辛勞？他說：「主耶穌如此愛我，我就是為他做牛做馬都甘願。」

話鋒一轉，林弟兄說：「有一次我發傳單給吃早餐的一位女士，他二話不說將它丟在地上。」因為對方穿裙子，林弟兄就說：「你介意我彎下腰撿在你腳下的傳單嗎？」這位女士就用腳用力往後踢，這時林弟兄就準備要撿起來，因為他覺得還可以給其他的人。這時旁邊一位女士看見了，就跟他說：「你把傳單給我。」因為這另一位女士被林弟兄的動作感動了。然後這位女士默默地找到三峽教會慕道，深深被這份信仰所吸引，於是接受洗禮，成為我們的姊妹。

後來這位姊妹感念當初給他傳單的林弟兄，打電話來總會詢問這位林弟兄是哪個教會的，想當面謝謝他。總會查到原來是北埔教會的。這位林弟兄也感謝神，因為藉著這張傳單又救了一個人。

真愛，就不會去計較自己為他做了甚麼，即使是要因此被羞辱，仍甘之如飴。愛，也使人不再有自我的任何堅持，而願意全心全意去愛對方，去做對方真心喜悅的一切事。

今天讀完雅歌全卷了，我們的感受如何？回想起初認識真神耶穌基督的時候，當時那濃烈的愛，今天是否依然持續？既然愛祂，那麼我們又為祂做了甚麼？

巴不得你像我的兄弟、像喫我母親奶的兄弟．我在外頭遇見你、就與你親嘴．誰也不輕看我。(歌 8：1)

By Isaiah Kao

The Final Chapter of Song of Songs — Love That Many Waters Cannot Quench (Song of  Songs 8)

“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.

Many waters cannot quench love,

Nor will rivers flood over it;

If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love,

It would be utterly despised.” (Song of Songs 8:6–7, NASB 2020)

These two verses are the highest point of the entire Song of Songs. They are the main theme and conclusion of the final chapter.

At weddings held in the church, what often moves me the most is when the hymn includes the teaching about love from 1 Corinthians 13. When it reaches the last phrase, “endures all things,” my heart is always deeply stirred, and tears come without realizing it.

Among the “twelve principles of love,” the word “endures” originally means “a soldier holding his position until all have fallen.” It carries the meaning of being "faithful to death". For newlyweds, before even speaking about a happy married life, they first declare that “only death can separate us.” This is truly moving. If a couple desires to be together even in death, what is there left to argue about in life? If even death cannot separate them, how could divorce ever be an option? Yet such love can only be found within the truth.

In the same way, when speaking of the love between Christ and the church, the foundation is “self-sacrifice”, a love willing to give one’s life for the other.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25, NASB 2020)

Here in Song of Songs, “Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm,” means: “Your heart should belong only to me, like a seal imprinted upon it; and on your arm, there should also be only me, so that when others see this mark, they know you belong to me, and no one should even think of loving you.” “Love is as strong as death, jealousy as severe as Sheol.” Both “death” and “Sheol” are one-way paths, once entered, there is no return. In the same way, love, and the jealousy that arises from anything that interferes with it, allow no compromise.

This morning, Deacon Lin Yongfu led the General Assembly morning prayer session. He mentioned that recently, while assisting in a Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation at Beipu Church, he met a brother Lin. While hosting him for breakfast, this brother did not forget to take out gospel tracts and hand them out one by one. Deacon Lin was curious and asked why he worked so hard. He replied, “The Lord Jesus loves me so much; I am willing to serve Him like an ox or a horse.”

Then he shared, “Once, I gave a tract to a lady eating breakfast. Without a word, she threw it on the ground.” Since she was wearing a skirt, Brother Lin asked, “Would you mind if I bend down to pick up the tract at your feet?” The lady kicked it away strongly. Brother Lin still prepared to pick it up, thinking he could give it to someone else. At that moment, another woman nearby saw this and said, “Give me the tract.” She was moved by his action. Later, she quietly went to Sanxia Church to seek the truth. Deeply attracted by this faith, she received baptism and became our sister.

Later, this sister, grateful to Brother Lin who had given her the tract, called the General Assembly to find out which church he belonged to so she could thank him in person. They found out he was from Beipu Church. Brother Lin also gave thanks to God, because through this tract, another soul was saved.

True love does not keep account of what one has done. Even if it brings humiliation, it is still willingly accepted. Love also causes a person to let go of all self-insistence and be willing to wholeheartedly love the other, doing everything that truly pleases them.

Today, after finishing the entire Song of Songs, how do we feel? When we think back to when we first came to know the true God, Jesus Christ, is that deep love still present today? Since we love Him, what have we done for Him?

“Oh that you were like a brother to me,

Who nursed at my mother’s breasts.

If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you;

No one would despise me, either.” (Song of Songs 8:1, NASB 2020)