Mona Burton Posted September 17, 2020 Report Share Posted September 17, 2020 On 3/2/2006 at 1:21 AM, Pastor Ralph said: Q4. In what sense was God the Husband of Israel? What is the New Testament extension of this metaphor? What causes God to be jealous? God was the Husband of Israel in that He made a covenant with that nation, as a husband would with his wife, to love, protect, defend, and to have pleasure in her. But only if she remained faithful. She was not allowed to have any other lover; no other gods, neither to worship nor to bow down to them, for she had a jealous Husband. Instead, Israel was to be committed to Him only, "...for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. The New Testament extension of this metaphor is the Church as the bride of Christ. God looks on the worship of idols and other gods as spiritual adultery and would have none of it with Israel. His command to them was, "You shall have no other gods before Me ... for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Edwards Posted April 9, 2021 Report Share Posted April 9, 2021 (edited) God is the husband of Israel because of His unfathomable love. I remember reading-church father Origen's commentary on the Song of Solomon back in college. Origen wrote eloquently of the tender love of Yahweh for His people. Prophet Ezekiel writes with tender words of Yahweh's compassion for Israel when he described Israel as abandoned baby with its umbilical cord still attached. The words of my favorite Prophet Ezekiel aptly describe the bridal love of God for His sheep. His visions, sermons and prophetic words are so rich ! Prophet Hosea also describes this constant unfathomable love of God. Apostle Paul had such a vision for the Mystical Body of Christ ! He believed so enthusiastically that he had a role of preparing the Church of God for the Parousia--Second Advent. He repeatedly stated in his epistles that we are to walk in holiness due to the one, holy and unrepeatable sacrifice on the Cross. What causes God to be jealous is when believers end up like the Laodicean church in Revelation. Lukewarmness-spiritual acedia--sets in ! Little by little, terrible compromises with world, the flesh and the devil occur. What tragic turn of events when professional clergy and church workers spend time on ungodly websites, read trashy books and engage in useless banter. Oh how God was jealous when He saw the idol in the Temple (Ezekiel 8 + 9). We can just grasp of the anguish that was in Prophet Ezekiel's heart when he had that vision. A heavenly bridal love scorned by his own people ! Edited April 9, 2021 by Jonathan Edwards correcting a sentence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dove81 Posted March 14 Report Share Posted March 14 Q4. In what sense was God the Husband of Israel? God protected them and defended them. He sustained and provided for them. They completely depended on Him to lead them through the wilderness. He made the decisions that best suited them. What is the New Testament extension of this metaphor? The Church is no the bride of Christ with Jesus being the bridegroom. What causes God to be jealous? When we put everything before Him. We start to worship creations instead of the creator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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