Seal’s fammous song “Love’s Divine” is often misunderstood. I had always assumed it was about romantic affection. And then today, while listening to it, it suddenly struck me that it is in fact a powerful spiritual song about divine love (“love divine“) and has nothing to do with romamtic affection. The beginning of the song is clearly about someone who has walked away from their faith (“I lost all of my belief”) and comes to the realization that he has been stupidly blind. He asks for forgivness and the divine love that will truly enable him to know who he is – the pinnacle of creation made in the image of God (“Please forgive me, now I see that I’ve been blind. Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name”). The song is a potent rendition about coming back to faith and power of divine love. The offical video (linked above) makes it clear this is a spiritual song about the power of divine love. Although the song, sung beautifully with Seal’s sikly voice does not explicity mention it, is only the love of Christ that has this kind of transformative power. The love between a husband and wife is a gift and an echo of the transcendent love of God.

Love’s Divine
Seal

Then the rainstorm came over me
And I felt my spirit break
I had lost all of my belief, you see
And realized my mistake
But time threw a prayer to me
And all around me became still

I need love, love’s divine
Please forgive me, now I see that I’ve been blind
Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name

Through the rainstorm came sanctuary
And I felt my spirit fly
I had found all of my reality
I realize what it takes

‘Cause I need love, love’s divine
Please forgive me, now I see that I’ve been blind
Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name

Oh I, don’t bend (don’t bend), don’t break (don’t break)
Show me how to live and promise me you won’t forsake
‘Cause love can help me know my name

Well, I try to say there’s nothing wrong
But inside I felt me lying all along
But the message here was plain to see
Believe me

‘Cause I need love, love’s divine
Please forgive me, now I see that I’ve been blind
Give me love, love is what I need to help me know my name

Oh I, don’t bend (don’t bend), don’t break (don’t break)
Show me how to live and promise me you won’t forsake
‘Cause love can help me know my name

Love can help me know my name