In Song of Solomon 2:4, the Shulammite declares that her beloved has placed a banner over her; and this banner is love. In context, we see a woman who was considered beautiful by this future husband, so he brought her before friends and others (1:12, 2:4a). She demurely says she is but the Rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys, or lily among thorns (2:1-2). She sees herself as a sunburnt maiden (1:5-6) but is reassured when her future husband compliments her true beauty (1:8-10, 15-17) and puts his banner of love over her (2:4).
 
Oh, the beauty of true love! True love looks deeper than the skin. True love looks within the person. It reminds me of the statements made about God. For example, "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). The Holy Spirit said, "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do" (Heb. 4:13). When we remember that "God is love" (1 Jn. 4:8), then we understand even more how God has the ability to look upon the inward person.
 
What causes two people to live a life together for decades? Love (Eph. 5:22-33)! What is the motivation for a person to stay with another despite disease, disability, dementia, until separated by death? Love! True love causes us to see beyond the flesh, beyond the coif, beyond the "painted up and powdered up" person at work or on a date. True love says I will accept this person regardless of what the outward "package" looks like or what might happen to it through the years! Ladies, there is a reason God wants "the hidden man of the heart" to be revealed to others, and part of the reason is that "the hidden man of the heart" is "of great price" in God's sight (1 Pet. 3:4). Ladies, this what your spouse truly loves and not what the outside looks like!
 
Long after the world has dismissed someone, the one who truly loves is still there! Matthew 22:39 means much more to us when we realize this passage applies in our homes, among those we have known for years, as well as among the strangers we meet for a few seconds one day and never see again. Love looks deeper than the skin. How "deeply" do you look at a person?
 
Look again at Song of Solomon 2:4 for a spiritual application. The "banner" over the Shulammite was love because this man loved his future bride. He loved her so deeply that his loved wrapped or covered her! Thus it is with God! His love surrounds us, as well. Think about it -- All of us have sinned and have been stained by it (Rom. 3:23; Isa. 1:18-19). Yet, when God looks upon us, He looks in love (Jn. 3:16). Because He loves us, He made a way by which we can be free from sin (Rom. 5:6-8; Matt. 20:28, 26:28; Acts 2:38).
 
At the same time, love cannot be forced! The Shulammite and her beloved loved each other freely. Thus it is with God. He loves us freely and wants us to do the same (Matt. 11:18-20; Rev. 22:14; etc.). His banner of love covers us; will we accept it? Will we tell others about this love? Indeed, "the greatest" is love (1 Cor. 13:13), and this passage gives us a glimpse as to why!

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Jarrod M. Jacobs