Everyone Loves A Love Story

2. I would add the story of Ruth and Naomi that is found in the Old Testament book of Ruth, It is a beautiful love story.

3. I think I will also include the story of Esther as found in the book of Esther.

4. The most erotic love story in the entire Bible is found in The Song of Solomon.

5. While the stories I have chosen are good examples of individual love I must say that the greatest story of love is that of God’s love for His chosen people Israel. The history of this nation that is scattered across the ages and pages of the Bible is mind-boggling. Of the many verses available I call your attention to the words of the Lord from the prophet Hosea. "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. As they called them, so they went from them; they sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to carved images. I taught Ephraim [i.e., Israel] to walk, taking them by their arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck I stooped and fed them" (11:1-4 NIV). I want to add Jeremiah’s words: "The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: ’Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;’" (Jer. 31:3 and see verse 32; and Mal. 1:2 NIV). If God doesn’t change [and He does not]; if the "gifts and calling of God are without repentance" (Rm. 11:29) [and they are not], then it is safe to say that God’s love for His people remains as strong today as ever.

I want to try to illustrate what I consider to be the greatest example of love (outside of God’s love to us through our Lord Jesus Christ) that can be found anywhere in the Bible. My example, my love story, is based upon an actual historical fact. I don’t know the little intricate or intimate details that comprise this story but, using the facts as I have read them, I want to weave a story that is absolutely accurate in its development and outcome. Before I am done you may think I am exaggerating, that I am stretching the truth beyond the constraints of believability. I promise you I will not.

Let’s enter our "time machine" appropriately named The Spirit of Imagination and take a journey back to a land "far, far away" in a time "long, long ago" (to borrow a phrase from the Star Wars series.) To think it, is to be there. We think and find ourselves just outside a large village somewhere in the land of Israel. It is mid-afternoon and the bright summer sun beats unmercifully upon our loosely clad bodies as we slowly move past a shepherd leading his sheep toward pastureland in the nearby hills. Just ahead are eight or ten goats being driven toward the town’s marketplace. Merchant shops are open and are doing a brisk business. We are aware of the sounds of citizens who are haggling for a better price. A donkey approaches from behind. It is loaded with sacks of grain. We move to the right as it passes on the left, it’s owner seeming to be in a hurry. The closer that we move toward the heart of the village we become aware of the sound of many voices just down the road. We see a throng consisting mostly of men who are gathered in a loose semicircle. It is then that we can distinguish one voice above all others. It is the voice of the auctioneer!