Set me as a seal upon your heart,
    as a seal upon your arm,
for love is strong as death,
    passion fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
    a raging flame.
Many waters cannot quench love,
    neither can floods drown it.
-Song of Songs 8:6-7a

Valentines Day is brought to you this year by Seal.

As a seal.

Did you see the Superbowl ad? It was kind of bizarre, and kind of funny. It certainly didn’t make me crave a Baja Blast, but I guess it got my attention.

This weird version of “Kiss from a Rose” was a little shot of romance where I didn’t expect it. It reminded me of another seal. It also pops up in a romantic setting, and in an equally unlikely place:

The Bible.

Song of Songs (also known as Song as Solomon) is not a theology book. It doesn’t really have anything to do with Israel or even God!

But there, tucked into the Old Testament, is this book of love poetry. It is a passionate declaration of eternal love between two people. Honestly, since it’s not your typical Sunday morning material, I usually skip right past it.

But there is one famous passage that’s hard to ignore.

“Set me as a seal upon your heart. As a seal on your arm.” The woman speaking here is offering more than a Hallmark card or a box of candy. She is offering something permanent.

You know what a seal is, right? In this context it is like a signet ring, pressed into wax. It was an official, authoritative mark used for documents and agreements. It implied ownership, identity, and permanence.

In effect, she is declaring a deep, fierce love, and an unbreakable bond. This whole passage is filled with such passionate imagery that it puts your average pop song to shame.

When I read these words, I’m stirred to remember the depth of love I feel for my partner. Maybe instead of getting her just a “kiss” and a “rose” this year, I’ll read her this instead. Or maybe I’ll try to find my own words to express my eternal love.

That’s all. Happy Valentines Day, if you plan to celebrate it. Regardless, I hope you’ll bask this weekend in all the Love that flows through your life.

You’ve just read a devotion about a seal, a seal, and Seal. If you’re looking for love in all the weird places…

This seals the deal.

Have a great week,

Mitch