My wedding day, though over seventeen years ago, feels like yesterday. Interestingly, while I recall a supportive collection of friends and family surrounding us on our special day, their presence faded into the background as the doors opened and Jennifer walked toward me from the back of that East Texas chapel.
On that day, she became mine, and I became hers.
Weddings memorialize marriage and portray God’s mysterious relationship with His people. In fact, in the Old Testament, God describes His relationship with the ancient people of Israel in terms of marriage.
In Ezekiel 16:8, God said to His people, “…I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine,” declares the Lord God.”
It was a sacred moment into which the prophet let his readers enter. God initiates, and God commits to this fledging people. Without God, they would have no name and dilute into the countless other pagan nations at that time. One would expect their response to be perpetual gratitude, but sadly, it was not.
They did not stay faithful to God. In fact, in Ezekiel 16 alone, the prophet indicts them twenty times for playing the “harlot.” The consequences of these actions were a covenant curse, as spelled out in Lev. 26 and Deut. 28.
Thus God said, in response to the prophet’s indictment of unfaithfulness, that He would “gather all [Jerusalem’s] lovers against [her] and expose [her] nakedness to them” (Ezek. 16:37).
It is a complete turn of events from that day of matrimony. What was once a covering became a shame and a return to their previous state. Hopeless and guilty, the only thing these disobedient people can do is return to God and trust in His commitment to the covenant He made with them.
Thus, the prophet declares, “I [God] will establish My covenant with you [Jerusalem], and you shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezek. 16:62).
Glory, God’s promise stands despite Israel’s failure. However, they would not return, so God would send One who would remain faithful to Him.
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
- Like the Israelites of old, we have played the “harlot” with our false loves—pleasure, power, and prestige.
- God’s moral law exposes our guilt. “If you have looked at a woman lustfully, you have committed adultery in your heart.”
- Christ remained faithful, so we have hope through faith in Him. Now, through Christ, anyone exposed to their sinful nakedness can have the covering of God and the commitment of His covenant.
Our God keeps covenant. So, we run to Him. Amen.
— September 14, 2022