Love Worth Singing About Sermon Series

“Marital Love: A Love That Endures and Delights”

Text: Song of Songs 8:6–7

Introduction

You know… we live in a culture where love is often described with expiration dates.

“As long as it works.”

“As long as I feel it.”

“As long as it’s easy.”

But when you open the pages of Song of Songs, you find a love that’s described very differently. It’s not shallow, it’s not fragile, it’s not temporary. It’s a love that is sealed, strong, and enduring.

Listen to the words from chapter 8, verses 6 and 7:

“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.”

That’s not the language of convenience. That’s the language of covenant.

That’s the language of love that endures.

This morning, as we wrap up our series “Love Worth Singing About,” we’re looking at marital love—the love between husband and wife—not just as a romantic idea, but as a God-designed picture of His covenant faithfulness to us.

Marriage is not simply a contract—it is a covenant. And covenant love is built to last.

Today we look at three aspects of Marital Love – what it is and what it isn’t.

1: Marital Love Is Sealed — A Covenant, Not a Contract

Verse 6 begins with this powerful image:

“Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm.”

In the ancient world, a seal represented ownership and authenticity. A king or noble would melt wax on a document, press his signet ring into it, and that seal became his mark. It declared, “This belongs to me. It carries my authority. It is secure.”

That’s what’s being described here. The seal over the heart speaks of emotional commitment—deep, personal love. The seal on the arm speaks of a love that is visible—love lived out in everyday action.

And that fits beautifully with Genesis 2:24:

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

This is more than a legal arrangement. This is a covenant between two people and God.

Think of that wax seal on a letter. Once it’s sealed, it carries the authority of the sender. It can’t be opened or tampered with without breaking that seal.

Marriage, in God’s design, is meant to carry that same weight of permanence and belonging.

This isn’t a “we’ll see how it goes” kind of love. It’s a “we belong to one another, come what may” kind of love.

That’s why when we stand before God and say “I do,” we’re not just making a promise to each other. We’re making a covenant before the Lord.

2: Marital Love Is Strong — A Love That Stands Firm

The verse continues:

“For love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave.”

That’s some strong language, isn’t it? Love that’s as strong as death. It means love that holds fast. Love that doesn’t let go easily. Love that fights through the storms.

Real covenant love isn’t weak—it’s resilient.

Ephesians 5:25 gives us the model:

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”

That’s not sentimental love. That’s sacrificial love.

A love that bears the weight of real life: sickness and health, joy and sorrow, better and worse.

And wives mirror that love through respect and devotion—a mutual, covenantal bond.

Listen… strong love isn’t about never having problems. It’s about standing together when problems come.

It’s about facing storms as a team—not as enemies.

If your marriage has been through some storms, and you’re still standing together—give God praise for that today. That’s covenant love at work.

Thirdly…

Point 3: Marital Love Is Enduring — Not Quenched by Life’s Storms

And then the lovers declare:

“Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.”

You can almost hear the strength in those words. This love is unquenchable. It’s like a fire that can’t be put out by rising waters.

Every marriage faces challenges.

Financial pressures. Health crises. Parenting struggles. Misunderstandings.

Sometimes it’s not one big storm—it’s a long season of weariness.

But when love is rooted in covenant, those waters may rise, but they do not wash it away.

1 Peter 4:8 reminds us:

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

Enduring love doesn’t mean pretending problems don’t exist. It means working through them with grace.

It means forgiving. It means choosing to stay.

It means remembering the seal—the covenant—when emotions fade and waters rise.

If you’re in a hard season in your marriage right now, let this word give you hope. God’s love is not fragile. And when your love is anchored in His, your marriage can withstand storms too.

Closing:

Marriage was designed to reflect something far greater than itself.

When a husband and wife love each other with sealed, strong, enduring love—the world gets a glimpse of God’s covenant love for His people.

This is why this picture matters so much.

It’s not just about romance—it’s about redemption.

So today, I want to speak to a few groups:

• To the married couples — Remember the seal. Remember the strength. Remember the flame that cannot be quenched. If your marriage is in a good season, give thanks. If it’s in a hard season, hold fast.

• To the singles and young people — Let this remind you of what godly love looks like. Don’t settle for anything less than covenant love.

• To all of us as the church — This love points us to Christ, the Bridegroom, who has sealed us with His Spirit, whose love cannot be quenched, whose covenant will never be broken.

Prayer

“Father, thank You for designing love and marriage to reflect Your faithfulness. Strengthen the marriages in this church. Rekindle the flame where it has grown dim. Remind us of the seal, the strength, and the endurance of Your love. Help us love like You love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”