Love Better Than Wine (Song 1:2)

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for your love is better than wine” (vs2).

Christ’s love is better than everything the world can give, which is why we SEEK Him and love Him supremely. If His love were not better, then we wouldn’t have the motivation to pursue Him here. We’d have the duty, perhaps, but not the pleasure… and duty WITHOUT pleasure isn’t the way of God - “Looking unto Jesus the Leader and Perfection of faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God” (Heb 12:2). He says, “Come unto me”, not merely because He is Lord, but because He is enjoyable, too. He says, “Believe”, not merely because it is RIGHT, but also to obtain GOOD things from God. He says, “Obey”, not merely because He has authority and we ought obey, but we’ll be rewarded.  Thus, the goodness of God’s love in Christ is a joy that makes us seek after God in Christ. He is the high of my life, the joy of my heart, and He is the Only One who gives peace.

If the world could give peace, then I’d love the world, but it cannot; it can only deceive me to destruction  - “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season“ (Heb 11:25). But, since Christ gives JOY and gladness, I pursue after Him to have what I so desire. It is GOOD to seek your pleasure, knowing it’s in God. It is right to desire happiness in obedience to Christ. Thus, to love my neighbor, because Christ commands, is the path of peace, and I will do it, because Christ’s love… what I get back from loving… is better than wine… what I get from sin.

Earthly wine isn’t bad, but Christ’s love is better than the proper things of this world. In fact, earthly joy is enjoyed as we honor Christ - “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God“, not forbidden by scripture, “and prayer“, and conscience faith in Christ as I partake of it before God (1 Tim 4:4).  We experience the best this world has to offer as we walk in the love of God, enjoying temperance, and being thankful to God, rather than idolatrous.  Christ’s love changes bad into good, cleanses the conscience, and brings forth fruit; it is better than what the world gives because it is sanctifying and pleasurable; it is safe, secure, thrilling, and it lasts unto eternal life; it is the way of preparation for heaven, and it is the best foretaste we have down here.