CHAPTER 40
LOVES
(loved by an act of the will, to kiss, be tender, benevolence, charity, dear, fond of, personally attached, have affection, like, friend, lover, loved morally, socially, sexually or otherwise)
God of Love
BRIDEGROOM
HUSBAND (master, owner, man, fellow)
LOVER (have affection for, like, friend)
Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Deuteronomy 4:37 And because he loved your fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought you out of Egypt; in his sight with his mighty power;
Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a holy people to the LORD your God: the LORD your God has chosen you to be a special people to himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn to your fathers, has the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 10:15 Only the LORD had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. 18 He executes the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loves the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.
Deuteronomy 23:5 Nevertheless the LORD your God would not hearken to Balaam; but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because the LORD your God loved you.
Deuteronomy 33:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir to them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. 3 Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in your hand: and they sat down at your feet; every one shall receive of your words. 12. And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
2 Chronicles 2:11. Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD has loved his people, he has made you king over them.
2 Chronicles 9:8 Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you to set you on his throne, to be king for the LORD your God: because your God loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore he made you king over them, to do judgment and justice.
Psalms 11:7 For the righteous LORD loves righteousness; his countenance beholds the upright.
Psalms 37:28 For the LORD loves judgment, and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved forever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
Psalms 45:11 So shall the king greatly desire your beauty: for he is your Lord; and worship him.
Psalms 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Psalms 87:2 The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Psalms 146:8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind: the LORD raises them that are bowed down: the LORD loves the righteous:
Proverbs 15:9. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but he loves him that follows after righteousness.
Song of Solomon 1:4 Draw me, we will run after you: the king has brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in you, we will remember your love more than wine: the upright love you.
Song of Solomon 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. 6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand does embrace me. 9 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he stands behind our wall, he looks forth at the windows, gazing himself through the lattice. 10 My beloved spoke, and said to me, Rise, my love, my fair one, and come away. 11 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; 12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land; 13 The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. 14. O my dove, that are in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see your countenance, let me hear your voice; for sweet is your voice, and your countenance is comely.
Isaiah 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but you have in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for you have cast all my sins behind your back.
Isaiah 43:3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior: I gave Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba for you. 4 Since you have been precious in my sight, you have been honorable, and I have loved you: therefore will I give men for you, and people for your life.
Isaiah 48:14 All you, assemble yourselves, and hear; who among them has declared these things? The LORD has loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.
Isaiah 54:4 Fear not; for you shall not be ashamed: neither be you confounded; for you shall not be put to shame: for you shall forget the shame of your youth, and shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more. 5 For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6. For the LORD has called you as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when you were refused, says your God.
Isaiah 62:4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall your land any more be termed Desolate: but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah: for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. 5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you: and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
Jeremiah 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, says the LORD; for I am married to you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD appeared of old to me, saying, I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you.
Ezekiel 16:8 Now when I passed by you, and looked upon you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: yea, I swore to you, and entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord GOD, and you became mine. 9 Then I washed you with water; yea, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil. 10 I clothed you also with embroidered work, and shod you with badgers' skin, and I girded you with fine linen, and I covered you with silk. 11 I decked you also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon your hands, and a chain on your neck. 12 And I put a jewel in your nose, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head. 13 Thus were you decked with gold and silver; and your raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and embroidered work; you did eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and you were exceeding beautiful, and you did prosper into a kingdom. 14 And your renown went forth among the nations for your beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon you, says the Lord GOD.
Hosea 2:19 And I will betroth you to me forever; yea, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies. 20 I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness: and you shall know the LORD.
Hosea 11:1. When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid food before them.
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over you with singing.
Malachi 1:2 I have loved you, says the LORD. Yet you say, In what have you loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? says the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 5:43. You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love them who love you, what reward have you? do not even the tax collectors the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you more than others? do not even the tax collectors so? 48 Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 25:1. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him.
Mark 2:18. And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say to him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples fast not? 19 And Jesus said to them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then they shall fast in those days.
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack: go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mark 12:6 Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, he sent him also last to them, saying, They will reverence my son. 7 But those vine-dressers said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 29 He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
John 5:20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that himself does: and he will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
John 10:17 Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.
John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
John 13:1. Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God, and was going to God; 4 He rose from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 34 A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 14:21 He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him. 23 Jesus answered and said to him, If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our abode with him. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
John 15:9. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue you in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 12 This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
John 16:27 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God.
John 17:23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me. 24. Father, I will that they also, whom you have given to me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which you have given to me: for you did love me before the foundation of the world. 26 And I have declared to them your name, and will declare it: that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.
John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said to his mother, Woman, behold your son! 27 Then said he to the disciple, Behold your mother! And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
Romans 5:5 And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us. 6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet perhaps for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 7:1. Know you not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband is dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she is married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband is dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit to God.
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 35 What shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 But, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Romans 15:30. Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
1 Corinthians 13:4. Love suffers long, and is kind; love envies not; love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; 6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8. Love never fails: [These verses describe the love that God has for us. In fact, replace the word love with God is _____________ towards me.]
2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live to themselves, but to him who died for them, and rose again.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or by necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his craftiness, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2 Corinthians 13:11. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all..
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Ephesians 1:4 According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Ephesians 2:4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) 6 And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Philippians 2:1. If there is therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 Fulfill you my joy, that you be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
2 Thessalonians 2:13. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 16. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, who has loved us, and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.
1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit;
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.
1 John 2:5 But whoever keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: by this we know that we are in him. 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 3:1. Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not. 16 By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But he who has this world's good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1 John 4:7. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is from God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. 8 He that loves not knows not God; for God is love. 9 In this was revealed the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. 17. In this is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loves God love his brother also.
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. To him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And has made us kings and priests to God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God.
Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 9. And there came to me one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
The depth of God's love for us is amazing. though we were weak, hateful enemies , His love motivated Him to send Jesus, His only Son, to die in our place to raise us up to be able to love Him. that should motivate us to love Him and love others.
God has chosen the most intimate of relationships to describe our relationship with Him. Let's let the magnitude of the possibilities of this grip our hearts. Just as earthly couples have to put effort into maintaining their relationships, we, too, must dedicate ourselves to make or love of God our highest priority.
Cross References: 1 Kin. 10:9, Ps. 33:5, 99:4, Mt. 9:14-15, Jn. 20:2, Rom. 9:13
See Also: Beloved, Calls, Father, Giver, Good, Grace, Habitation, I AM, Joy, Lord, Mercy, Reconciler, Shepherd
Hymns: AND CAN IT BE THAT I SHOULD GAIN; JESUS LOVES EVEN ME; JESUS LOVES ME; LOVE DIVINE; LOVE LIFTED ME; NOW I BELONG TO JESUS; O HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME; OH THE DEEP, DEEP LOVE OF JESUS; M SAVIOUR IS LOVE; SWEETER AS THE YEARS GO BY; THE LOVE OF GOD; MY SAVIOUR'S LOVE; SUCH LOVE; I'VE FOUND A FRIEND; HOW CAN I HELP BUT LOVE HIM; O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO; LOVE DIVINE; IT'S JUST LIKE HIS GREAT LOVE; LOVE FOUND A WAY; JESUS LOVES ME
Choruses: AMAZING LOVE; HOW GREAT IS YOUR LOVE; HOW GREAT IS YOUR LOVE; THINK ABOUT HIS LOVE; YOU LOVE; YOU STEADFASTLOVE
Study and Application Questions