Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.
The bride's plea in verse 6 ends with a claim about love itself: floods cannot put it out, and no money can buy it. Commentators read this as the love of Christ, tested at the cross, and they ask what it asks back from us.
The Setting of the Song
These words close the Song. One writer sets them in the day when Israel returns to her Messiah, and reads both halves of the verse as one answer:
William KellyThen the prayer will be answered. Zion will be set as a seal on Messiah's heart and arm. How strong and jealous His love — and there is the answer to it in that day. Death and the grave only proved His love. The flame of the LORD tested it. Waters and floods could not quench it. It cannot be bought, and it is above all price, so that all a man can give is utterly despised beside it.
The Waters That Could Not Quench It
The "many waters" and "floods" are not left as poetry. One writer takes them to the cross, where love went under the water and came up unchanged:
Hamilton SmithNothing can quench divine love. The Lord Jesus faced the "many waters," but they could not quench His love. He faced the "floods," but they could not drown His love. At the cross "the floods lifted up their voice." Divine love proved mightier than the noise of many waters… All the billows and waves of God passed over Him (Jonah 2:3), but His love never passed from Him. His love has triumphed, and His love abides.
Love Against Death
Verse 6 sets love beside death. One writer asks where we can find love like this, and gives only one answer:
Andrew MillerWhere shall we find love like this? Only in the heart of Jesus. What takes such a hold as death? What keeps it like the grave? What is so unsparing as the fierce flame? There is nothing to compare with love… When love and death met in fearful conflict on the cross, love triumphed, and death was forever defeated.
Beyond All Price
The second half of the verse moves from strength to price. A man may offer everything he owns for love and get only contempt. One writer sets what Christ gave up beside what He gave, then turns the question back on us:
Hamilton SmithLove cannot be bought. It is true that Christ gave up, as it were, the "substance of His house." He gave up kingdoms and thrones and crowns. But He gave more — He "gave Himself," and in giving Himself He proved His love… And in response to this great love He looks for love. Nothing but love from our hearts will satisfy the love of His heart. We may offer the work of our hands, our silver and our gold, our acts of charity, even our bodies to be burned. But if there is no love, it will be utterly despised.
It matters who first said this. One writer comments on Mary, who poured costly perfume over Jesus. He notes that the man who wrote these words could afford to test them:
William KellyThe love that prompted it was of God, and this is above all price. "If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised." These are the words of the man who knew, better than anyone, how empty human love is. He had the greatest wealth ever given to the head of any house.
How Love Is Kindled in Us
Love cannot be bought, and it cannot be worked up in us either. One writer says what to do when your love for Christ feels cold:
VariousIf He had only given all His possessions it would have been a wonderful gift. But He has not only given all that He has — He has given Himself, and all that He is, for us and to us… So never try to fan up the flame of your flickering love for Him by your own effort. It cannot be done that way. Instead, dwell on His intense, eternal and unchanging love for you, and you will find it warms your affections for Him.
When Your Own Love Runs Cold
One writer turns this into three exchanges to make when you fail Him:
J. T. MawsonWhen you have to mourn the coldness of your love, think of His love that the many waters could not quench. When you have to confess your forgetfulness and unfaithfulness, give thanks that He cannot forget, and that He loves His own to the end. When your selfishness and reserve fill you with shame, bless His name that He held back nothing, but sold all that He had, and gave Himself for you.
Summary
- Tested — the waters and floods were real. Christ went under them at the cross, and His love came up unchanged.
- Triumphant — love and death met in conflict at the cross; love won and death lost.
- Unbought — He gave up thrones, then gave Himself; no fortune offered in return can touch a love of that order.
- Unsatisfied by less — He looks for love back, and works, money and charity without it are worthless to Him.
- Answering — cold affection is not warmed by effort but by dwelling on the love that could not be quenched.