I am going to give you a few more things that I feel will be helpful to see the full scope of this subject. I want you to see the various references to the bridal imagery in both the Old and New Testament. While I am not going to quote all the scriptures it would not hurt for you to look them up at home and read them for your self.
First thing I want you to notice is the Gospels portray both Jesus and John the Baptist as using the bride image in referring to the Messianic community (Matt. 9:14-15, 22:1-14; 25:1-13; Mark 2:18-20; Luke 5:33-35; Luke 12: 35-40; Luke 14: 15-24; John 2:1-11) (John 3:25-30). Paul and, John also adapted it to their particular designs (II Cor 11:2, 3; Rom. 7:1-6; Rev 19:6-9; 21:2, 9; 22:17). Regardless of the slighting of the bride image in contemporary thought, its importance to the early church is apparent.
Even in the Old Testament we find scripture that supports this Bridal imagery in theology. The Hebrew prophets regarded Yahweh not only as the father and king of the chosen people, and Thus entitled to perfect obedience and loyalty on their part, but they conceived of Him as a husband married to Israel. Isaiah, speaking to his nation, says:“Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. 5 For your Maker is your husband the LORD Almighty is his name the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. 6 The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit a wife who married young, only to be rejected," says your God” (Isaiah 54:4-6). Jeremiah too makes use of similar language in the following: “Return, O backsliding children, saith Yahweh; for I am a husband unto you” (Jer_3:14). It is perfectly natural that New Testament writers should have regarded Christ's relation to His church under the same figure. Paul in 2 Cor says: “I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ” (Jer_11:2); see also (Mat 9:15; Joh 3:29; Rev 19:7). Any unfaithfulness or sin on the part of Israel was regarded as spiritual adultery, which necessarily broke off the spiritual ties, and divorced the nation from God (Isa_1:21; Eze_16:22; Rev_2:22).
"In that day," declares the LORD, you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master. ' 17 I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked. 18 In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety. 19 I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. 20 I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD”(Hosea 2:16-20)
The book of Hosea shows Gods love for us through the life of Hosea, and shows that even though Israel is unfaithful, God will still call them back to him self. The name it self shows what the book is all about and also point inadvertently to Christ, something I find very interesting and by no means a coincidence. The name (הושׁע, hōshēa‛ Septuagint ̓Ωσηέ, Ōsēé; ), probably meaning “help,” seems to have been not uncommon, being derived from the verb from which we have the frequently recurring word “salvation.” Hosea as a Husband was not only help for her, he was her salvation in that he bought her back with a high price and placed her once again back to his side. Is that not what Christ did on the Cross of Calvery did He not pay a high price for an adolterus people? Is He not our salvation? As we go on in this subject I will discuss futher about this wonderful book of the bible. But for now it is sufficaint for us to realize that this book speaks directly to the point of salvation.
This brings up one last point, when we look at the books of the bible we see a trend. Genesis we see the Marriage of Adam and Eve, Isaac, and Jacob. Ruth we see the marriage of Ruth to Boaz a ancestor to King David, and humanly speaking Jesus. We have Ester, a woman who is married to the King. We see Song of Solomon, a love poem to Solomon’s Bride. Hosea as previously mention who is to marry a harlot, and remarry her after her harlotry after paying a high price for her.
I hope that these past two blogs have made it abundantly clear that this subject of marriage is so intertwined with salvation and Gods relationship with mankind. That it is impossible to ignore the bridal imagery any longer. I hope that you have a hunger as I did three years ago as I watched that DVD, to learn more about this subject of the Bride of Christ.
When I post my next blog I will be discussing the historical Jewish marriage ceremony, If we are to understand any thing about various verses in the bible dealing with the bridal imagery we must understand the jewish context in which it was written. It will be used as the ground work of further discussions.
If you would like to veiw the DVD by Ray Vander Laan called the "True Easter Story" and "The True Christmas Story" follow the link below. While it does not go into much detail it is enough that I beilve it will wet your appitite for more as it did mine.
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