God's Pure Bride 07/07/2023
The Bible often speaks of God as husband to His own people (His bride). This is a metaphor which runs throughout the whole Bible. Of course, in the Old Testament, the bride was the nation of Israel as can be seen from this verse from the prophet Isaiah.
For your Maker is your husband,
the LORD of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called. [Isaiah 54:5 ESV]
Isaiah even refers to this relationship in language which sounds very like a wedding.
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. [Isaiah 61:10 ESV]
This word picture or metaphor speaks of commitment on the part of both parties (a covenant relationship - see Jeremiah 31:32). It also suggests intimacy, protection, provision and fruitfulness. Of course, Israel was unfaithful to God and there are many passages dealing with this in the Old Testament but that is not our main focus for today's study.
In the New Testament there is the concept of the church which is never intended to be a building. The New Testament speaks of a large church - a universal congregation or assembly of people of God from all nations and all generations.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, [26] that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, [27] so that he might present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. [Ephesians 5:25-27 ESV]
The church is viewed as the bride of Christ. Look at the way this bride (the universal church) is described:
In splendour
Without spot or wrinkle
Holy and without blemish
It is clear that this is not referring to a church in a locality. Sadly, I have never belonged to a church which has no blemishes - and I am one of these blemishes! However, this metaphor is of a perfect relationship which is referred to as the marriage supper of the Lamb
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready; [Revelation 19:7]
I remember well attending the wedding of my oldest daughter and she and her new husband came down a set of steep steps at the hotel in full view of the assembled guests. Here is how John describes the wedding of the church to the Lamb.
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [Revelation 21:2 ESV]
I am really looking forward to participating in the greatest wedding of all time. Here is how the Scot, Samuel Rutherford, away back in the 17th century, expresses this prospect. He uses the term, 'Immanuel's land' to refer to what you may call 'heaven' or the eternal state.
O I am my Belovèd’s,
And my Belovèd’s mine!
He brings a poor vile sinner
Into His ‘house of wine’;
I stand upon His merit,
I know no other stand,
Not e’en where glory dwelleth
In Immanuel’s land.
The bride eyes not her garment,
But her dear bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory,
But on the King of grace;
Not at the crown He giveth,
But on His piercèd hand;
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Immanuel’s land.
Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash.
Comments