The Marriage Metaphor Between God and Israel

2076 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Reflection on the book of Isaiah

God uses his relationship with Israel as a comparison for the meaning of biblical marriage as He designed it. As we know from Genesis 2, the first marriage here on earth was between Adam and Eve. God did not think it was good for man (Adam) to be alone and created woman (Eve) to help him. But Adam and Eve disobeyed God and were not only unable to display God’s intent of perfect marriage, but they have also made way for sin and death to enter the world. God decides to create a new picture of marriage between Him and His chose people Israel. The book of Isaiah is a great resource in the Old Testament for a look into the design of marriage.
Isaiah 54:5 shows us God’s grace to the nation of Israel. “For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the Lord of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth.” God is the Husband of Israel just as Adam is the Husband of Eve. Even came from Adam just as Israel came from God (Husband=maker). The nation of Israel began as a virgin and became the harlot who was eventually conquered by Babylon. In Isaiah, God builds up His nation, His love, His bride; and clothes her (Isaiah 61:10) with righteousness. Israel then chooses to pull away from her bridegroom and falls away from Him.
God finds Israel and She becomes His Queen. In Exodus 19 God Brings his people out of Slavery and “proposes” to them (v 1-6) by proclaiming that if She will obey His voice and keep His covenant, She will be a special treasure, a holy nation and a royal priesthood. In verses 7-9 Israel accepts and must begin preparing for Her wedding! The ten commandments as we know them are later given to the bride as Her marriage covenant. There are several trials in this ma...

... middle of paper ...

...s who are destined to ascend Jerusalem; though sullied as the tents of Kedar, I will be immaculate as the draperies of Him to Whom peace belongs.
NASB: (8) “If you yourself do not know, Most beautiful among women, Go forth on the trail of the flock And pasture your young goats By the tents of the shepherds.”
Allegory: (8) 4If you know not where to graze, O fairest of nations, follow the footsteps of sheep your fore fathers who traced a straight, unswerving path after My Torah. Then you can graze your tender kids even among the dwellings of foreign shepherds ().
After reading some of this translation, I believe Song of Songs should be interpreted as an allegory of the beautiful and complex relationship between God and His Bride.

Works Cited

1 Siddur Eitz Chaim / The Complete ArtScroll Siddur (Brooklyn, NY; Mesorah Publications, ltd.; 1985) 328, 329.

Show More
Related

  • Shall We Gather At The River Analysis

    481 Words  | 1 Pages

    For example, one line, “Soon our pilgrimage will cease; Soon our happy hearts will quiver, with the melody of peace,” which is saying that one day we will die, and you can’t stop that. “Lay we every burden down; Grace our spirits will deliver, and provide a robe and a crown,” also reveals that you should appreciate what we’ve had, and what was given to us. This song is telling you, in every line, that you can’t live forever, but appreciate what you have, while you

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Bernard's 'Song Of Songs'

    1311 Words  | 3 Pages

    Bernard using his allegorical approach, helped others understand his way on what his sermons on the “Song of Songs” and creating metaphors on different situations pertaining to God and also the importance of love in knowing service to God were all about. Bernard assists to break down and examine what the “Song of Songs” title and meaning is, the interpretations of the kisses and the indication of the progression on the souls, him dividing up the classes of the four spirits, and identifying and explaining more in depth the Bride being the soul and the Bridegroom being the Holy Spirit.

    Read More

  • High Holy Days, By Jane Shore

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    In “High Holy Days” by Jane Shore the idea of innocent youth awakening from a slumber for the first time is conveyed at a rate of infinite constancy from beginning to end. At the poem opens the tone of the speaker is childish and picayune. Throughout the eloquent stanzas filled with reminisces of the speaker, the tone becomes passionate and valiant. The writer, Jane Shore, awakens the speaker to her reality as a Jewish woman living in a world that does not condone her religion.

    Read More

  • Depression in Mormon Women

    2597 Words  | 6 Pages

    Thompson, Will L. “Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel.” Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of

    Read More

  • Black Bart

    755 Words  | 2 Pages

    When the posse arrived later, all they found was a waybill with the above verse painstakingly written on its back, each line in a different hand.

    Read More

  • Bible Passage Ephesian 1:15-23

    1193 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Expositor's Bible Commentary---Revised: 8-Volume Old Testament Set." Expositor's Bible Commentary---Revised: 8-Volume Old Testament Set. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2014.

    Read More

  • Sacrifice within the Israelite Religion

    1594 Words  | 4 Pages

    The primary religious rituals of Israelite religion involved sacrifices and offerings. The ritual system within the Israelite cult evolved around gifts and offerings that were presented before Yahweh. In examining the book of Leviticus, the sacrificial system of the Israelites can be identified. It is this sacrificial system that was handed down by God through Moses that allowed the people of Israel to cross over the gap between their own weaknesses and corruption to the expectations presented by God. Sacrifices symbolized an acknowledgement of guilt and a need for divine grace and forgiveness.

    Read More

  • Everlasting Covenant: Isaiah 24: 1-5

    1493 Words  | 3 Pages

    God does not enter into any relationship without entering into a covenant. A covenant must consist of a relationship between humankind and God; and, it is eternal, which is why it is called an everlasting covenant. The everlasting covenant can only be broken if man fails to maintain an intimate and personal relationship with God or chooses separation from God through sin, as was the case with Israel. Their hearts had strayed and many sins entered their lives. It was not God who divorced Israel, but Israel’s sins broke the everlasting covenant with God that produced a temporary separation from Him. However, in His loving mercy, He had a plan of salvation that would involve not only Israel but, all of humankind with an everlasting covenant that would reconcile those who desired to be in a relationship with Him. This section will discuss the identity and significance of the everlasting covenant to show that God was faithful to keep His promise of the everlasting covenant

    Read More

  • The Book of Judges: Humanity’s Recurrent Nature Exemplified

    642 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...im in their nation. Israel had consistently fallen into idolatry, and they were unable to break the cycle. Despite years of enslavement in Israel, and entire decades lost because of disobedience, their nature was never changed.

    Read More

  • Liberty Bell

    3362 Words  | 7 Pages

    Around the crown: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will      toward men - Luke, chapter II, verse 14."

    Read More

  • Essay On The Cherokee Indians

    1279 Words  | 3 Pages

    Marriage is looked at as a lifelong venture. If a man wants to marry a certain woman he has to ask both his and her parents for their permission. If both parents agree then a priest is told. On the morning of the ceremony the priest prays asking for a sign as to whether a couple should marry or not. To get the sign that he is looking for he holds two roots in his hand. If the roots moved together in his hand then it was okay for a couple to marry. But if the roots did not move or moved together and one died then the marriage would be forbidden. When the roots came together with no problem, the ceremony went on. The priest prayed over the couple and warned them about being unfaithful because if they did then they would go to a “bad place” when they died. Divorce did happen but was a rare occurrence. All that had to be done was the dividing of blankets. Once a couple is married they can focus on having children.

    Read More

  • The Bible: The History Of The Bible

    1418 Words  | 3 Pages

    Israel goes back to god’s covenant with Abraham around 2000B.C. (Genesis 12) God had already chosen them to be in his plan from the beginning because of His love for them and the unconditional covenant with Abraham. His plan was to use Israel as His means to love and bless everyone. Israel was the smallest in numbers among all nations. (Deuteronomy

    Read More

  • The Crucible by Arthur Miller

    1634 Words  | 4 Pages

    Whatever abomination you have done. Give me all of it now, for I dare not be taken unaware

    Read More

  • Proverbs Essay

    1499 Words  | 3 Pages

    Clifford, Richard J., A Commentary by… Proverbs, The Old Testament Library.      Editorial Advisory Board; James L. Mays, Carol A. Newsom, David I.      Petersen. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, 1999.

    Read More

  • The Development of Marriage

    999 Words  | 2 Pages

    God intended for us to be united with the opposite sex since the beginning of time. The book of Genesis tells us: "God created man in his image, He created him in the image of God, man and woman, He created them. God saw what he had done and said, "This is good, it is not good that man should be alone."(McLachlan 5). Marriage is inherently good and pleasing to God. It was part of God's original plan for mankind. It is also shown that Jesus held marriage in great esteem, for it was at a wedding where he performed his first public miracle. Furthermore, it is Jesus who raises Marriage to a Sacrament of the New Law. Our Lord is also the one who told us that divorce was wrong. He says, "What God has joined together, no human being must separate."(Matrimony 1).

    Read More

More about The Marriage Metaphor Between God and Israel

Open Document