Isaiah 54…again
So… it’s that time again, when Isaiah 54 becomes my daily read and my heart becomes drawn to anything even remotely related to love and romance. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s a somewhat bittersweet conflict that occurs within myself every few months or so.
I’m 23 right now and I’ve never dated or had any serious relationships and there are two main reasons for that: 1. I believe that the purpose of dating is to find a potential spouse, so I don’t think it’s something that should be entered in lightly 2. No one I’ve been interested in has actually asked. 23 seems young to be thinking about marriage, I guess, but most people in my church get married/engaged around this time and it sort of makes me feel behind, though I know I’m really not.
Anyway, I feel a strong longing to be loved and to know that someone outside of my family and friends thinks I am beautiful and treasured and precious. I want to be somebody’s princess and somebody’s love. I want someone to be able to see me on my sick days when I look like crap and still think I’m beautiful. I want to be known so deeply that I barely even have to finish my sentences to get my thoughts across.
I was thinking about it earlier and listening to Isaiah 54 and I realized that this is what we have in Christ. Over and over again in Scripture, God uses the metaphor of a Bride and a Bridegroom to describe Christ’s relationship with the Church. In the Old Testament, it’s used to describe God’s relationship with Israel. Read what it says in Isaiah 54: 1-8
“ “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear;
break forth into singing and cry aloud,
you who have not been in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than the children of her who is married,” says the LORD.
“Enlarge the place of your tent,
and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords
and strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left,
and your offspring will possess the nations
and will people the desolate cities.
“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;
be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;
for you will forget the shame of your youth,
and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
For your Maker is your husband,
the LORD of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.
For the LORD has called you
like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off,
says your God.
For a brief moment I deserted you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
In overflowing anger for a moment
I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
says the LORD, your Redeemer.”
During the time this passage was written, a woman had little to no value apart from her ability to bear sons. What I love here is that God says He will be Israel’s husband and protector. He’s saying basically that He will be Israel’s value and worth. He will be Israel’s identity. What I love to is how it describes Israel’s new husband as her Creator and Redeemer. The God who loves me is the One who made me, so He sees me as worse than when I am simply battling a cold. He sees my sin and my anger towards Him and He draws near. His love is eternal and He pours out His compassion on me.
I know that I have been wired to long for and desire marriage and romance and I realize that this desire is meant to draw me closer to God, who is the only Husband and sufficiency that I need.
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