God's Having a Wedding and We're in It!

Isaiah 62:1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. 2 The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. 3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. 5 For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. (NRSV)

God loves His people. And this love cannot be hidden. At least on God's part. When it comes to us, we're not as vocal or as showy as God. As far as God is concerned, for many a PDA is out of the question. (Public Display of Affection). Yet, God declares in this passage that God will not be silent, and God will not rest until Israel is vindicated. Israel, in spite of her unfaithfulness to God, would be shown as an example of one found worthy and found righteous and as a result a new name will come from the mouth of God for her. Her beauty would shine before all nations as a shiny crown. No longer would people believe that she was forgotten or abandoned, now she will be a bride, the bride of God; for such is the love of God for God's people.

As we follow the texts recommended by the Lectionary, the theme for this coming Sunday is God's celebration over God's people. Yesterday, we looked at feasts and celebrations that accompany those and today the idea of a wedding and the celebration that that should be for all people. Unlike flawed or costly weddings here on earth, Isaiah is talking about the eternal relationship God desires with us. God's dream is to be in a fully committed, never abandoned, two-way relationship, thus what God did through Jesus Christ and Jesus' purpose and ministry on the earth.

God will have a marriage as the scriptures point out, and we that love the Lord will be included, but there's much to do. Like the hurried stress of an earthly bride-to-be, so should be hurrying in our work in getting people invited and in this new relationship with God. Such is God's love for us and so should our love be towards God and God's people.

PRAYER: God of love, thank You for the images of You love that we see through Your word. As you shared with the Psalmist and through Isaiah, may we share with others, tales of that great love You have for all, so that all may come and believe and be a part of this celebration. Make us ready. Make us worthy. We pray in Christ Jesus, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde