Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":
It’s been a sublime truth only dimly comprehended and kept in the background for millennia: the divine Son of God loves the corporate body of “Israel” as one man loves one woman. It surfaces in the Bible occasionally.
There is Ezekiel 16 that details Israel’s “life” from abandonment as a baby at birth to Christ’s adoption of “her” and His loving upbringing of her; then the paternal love metamorphoses into conjugal love as she becomes a stunningly beautiful woman. All the centuries of Israel’s existence from Jacob to Ezekiel are the life span of one woman personified. Her infidelity is powerfully portrayed.
Then there is Hosea: the poor man is captive to the love he has for this lady Gomer. (She must have been somebody to attract all those men and still keep the love of Hosea!) He can’t help himself—that’s the nature of the love that “is as powerful as death ... Water cannot put it out, no flood can drown it” (S. S. 8:6, 7). The prophet is driven back to that one woman in spite of her repeated addiction for infidelity. At last her heart of hearts is won for him and her conjugal love becomes also the holy “reverence” for a husband that Paul describes in Ephesians (5:33) that a manly husband unwittingly inspires. The tragic sounding plot ends in the major key.
And Jesus also cannot help Himself: He loves His bride-to-be. He must describe His second coming as a Bridegroom coming to a wedding (Matt. 25:1-13).
Finally, at the end of the last book of the Bible, the Revelator describes the climax of the cosmic Day of Atonement as a love alienation finally resolved. The very dilatory bride is conscience-driven to “make herself ready” to recompense the faithful love of her long-disappointed Bridegroom (19:7, 8).
It’s a New Covenant story; now it’s time for us to be concerned that our Savior receive His reward. That’s what’s back of the Day of Atonement.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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