Runaway Bride

 

How sad it must be for Jehovah to see his bride, or at least his fiancé, engaging in relationship with someone or something, Babylon, in contravention to previous commitments to him -- now disloyal, treacherous, insincere.  

In ancient times, when defining Israel's relationship to its God, Hebrew prophets commonly characterize Israel as a woman and Jehovah as her husband within the marriage covenant. Movement, in scripture, of a few people from a land in apostasy to a "promised land" was most generally an effort, led by God through a prophet, to preserve or reestablish some covenant people to continue within that "marriage" covenant.  In ancient times, as reported in scripture, and now in end times as is clear to see, at some point in apostasy covenant blessings, by decree of divine law, turn to covenant curses. "The wickedness of men does not prevent God's will but only keeps them from what they might have received." (T&C 157:40)  Sadly though, it's not just men, us, that are kept from what they might have received. Jehovah too is left with less than what He gave His life for. We have been commanded to "not make unto ourselves any graven image..." (OC Exodus 12:5) but there is one graven image that perhaps we should keep close in mind. It should remind us of His deep love for us, His journey and willingness to descend below all things for us, His sacrifice to redeem us and His promise never to forget us -- "I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands..." (RE 1 Nephi 6:8)  

And though "His People" as a whole have apostatized, however, some few persons among them survive apostasy and eventual destruction, remain faithful and enter into a covenant "marriage" with Him. Called "Zion" or "Daughter of Zion," these survivors represent a higher spiritual category of Jehovah's people. 

"And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Except the Lord of Hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom and we should have been like unto Gomorroh." (OC Isaiah 1:1)

All of this happening right before our very eyes. Belonging to and occurring in our own present. 

Of course, it shouldn't surprise us, Isaiah said that would happen.

Signed

John The-Not-So-Beloved




Some Gileadi commentary







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