"For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake, I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. 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." (Isa. 62:1-5)
"Your Maker is your husband." That's how God inspired Isaiah to describe His relationship with His people. In the prophetic books, God used a lot of metaphors to describe that relationship, but this one is the most prominent. He is the Husband of His people, the Lover of the beloved, the Bridegroom who delights in His bride. Like a smitten man who cherishes his sweetheart, God cherishes us.
God could have described His love for His people in the form of a fact sheet or a news report. He could have simply inspired the prophets to write, "God loves you and He wants what's best for you." But somehow that just wasn't descriptive enough. When God speaks, He often uses pictures. And in Scripture, the picture of God's love is very often a husband's love for the woman of his dreams.
We should be ecstatic that God used such a picture. "Love" can mean a world of things, from our superficial feelings about preferences and pastimes to our deepest emotions of passion and purpose. "Love" by itself wouldn't tell us much about God's desire for us. But the love of a bridegroom, a husband, a suitor - that's exhilarating. That sky-high feeling of budding affection as it develops into deep, consuming passion is a feeling we all understand. This picture tells us that God's love for us isn't an obligation. It thrills Him.
Have you ever tried to imagine God rejoicing over you? Have you ever envisioned Him as madly, deeply taken with you? If the imagery of the prophets means anything at all, God's love isn't calculated and formal. It's wild and wonderful. His affection is like that of a groom for his bride; it sends Him soaring.
If you think about that, it will send you soaring too. People who have found their true love are on an emotional high, completely absorbed with each other. God wants that kind of relationship. Let yourself fall in love with the One who loves you deeply.
"Romance is at the heart of the universe and is the key to all existence." - Paul Billheimer
