SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 62
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. [Isaiah 62:5]
Isaiah is painting a word picture that describes the love, joy and celebration that people will experience when God finally sets things right.
He uses an amazing illustration – the joy of a bridegroom on his wedding night!
As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. [Isaiah 62:5]
It almost seems disrespectful to attribute such “rejoicing” to God.
Does this fit with your idea of God, can you imagine God “rejoicing” like this?
At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom… The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ [Matthew 25:1,5-6]
Jesus uses the same analogy, only here he does it from the point of view of the wedding party – the “maids of honour” or virgins.
Some of them are eager, excited and prepared for the moment, the others are careless, reckless, unprepared.
Where do we fit into this picture – are we the eager or the careless ones?
What stands out for me is the joy and celebration that is presented here.
This is no subdued get-together, this is a boisterous, fun celebration in the best way possible.
No wine is necessary, they are intoxicated with joy and love!
And not just us, but God too – and that idea intrigues me – God singing, laughing, embracing!
The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. [Zephaniah 3:17]
This makes me think back to the garden, where we read of God coming to the garden to enjoy a walk with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day [Genesis 3:8].
We will go for walks with God?
He will sing and laugh and celebrate with us?
The atmosphere will be like a wedding celebration?
Wow… mazel tof and la’chaim!
PRAYER:
Lord, I do look forward to the day when I can see You, and walk with You in the garden. I am eager for Your arrival, so that the celebrations can begin!
Restoration. walking and talking with God. The Lord God takes delight in His people. He rejoices over us. Wow! What a day that will be!
Never again will the enemy overcome. But the people will enjoy the work of their hands and praise God for all what He has done because we are in His courts – His sanctuary. Remove the stumbling blocks. Raise His banner high! Our Saviour comes and His rule will be complete. The people will be called redeemed since they have been bought by His blood. A fitting timely passage during this Advent season.
The Lord reigns and He will come to claim His own. Therefore also on this day I can go forward in the joy of my God who gives me strength
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for You
Verse 2:
It is you, Lord
Who came to save
The heart and soul
of every man.
It is you Lord
Who knows my weakness,
Who gives me strength,
With thine own hand.
Verse 3:
Lead Me on Lord
From temptation,
Purify me
From within.
Fill my heart with
Your holy spirit,
Take away
All my sin.