The Marriage of the Lamb

The Marriage of the Lamb

(God’s Marriage Covenant Parallels)

Introduction: In our studies in Jeremiah, what has stood out to you about God? There is a major contrast between God’s relationship with Israel in previous years compared to Jeremiah’s time. What stands out is God’s anger to the point of lacking any mercy or willingness to relent on the judgment about to come.

We might think that God is finally fed up. True. But there is more to it than that. In our Bible studies it is preeminently important that we understand God. 

In this lesson we will go back to the beginning of God’s purpose for his creation as illustrated in his relationship with Israel. Most Christians recognize that Israel’s relationship with God is described as a marriage. But what is often missed is that God is not just using marriage as a comparison to our marriages. The parallels to our marriages go much deeper than that. We begin with how God brought Israel into a marital relationship with him.

  1. All Things Leading to Marriage: Courtship
    1. There are many characteristics a woman seeks in a husband. The most important of these is a man who will lay down his life for her, love her, and nourish, cherish, and provide for her. And especially, she wants a husband who sees her value above all else. These are all the traits God presents to Israel as he prepares to propose a covenant marriage. Thus, in this courtship stage Yahweh introduces himself to Israel so they can “know him,” a term repeatedly used throughout Exodus and Deuteronomy.
    2. Exodus 5:1-2; 9:16 When Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh, his reply was, “Who is Yahweh that I should let Israel go?”  Up to the 8th plague God’s miracles were used so that Pharaoh, the Egyptians, and the whole world would know Yahweh.
    3. However, beginning with the 8th plague Yahweh uses the plagues so that Israel “may know that I am Yahweh” (10:2). You will remember that “Yahweh” is God’s covenantal name, which indicates his faithfulness and also his eternal nature. Yahweh demonstrates his uniqueness above anything else or any being that claims to be a god.
    4. Just before the 10th plague, Yahweh again makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel just as he did with the plagues of hail and darkness. Thus God proclaims, “…that you may know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel” (11:7). God is announcing to Israel the special place they have with him over all the other nations.
    5. Exodus 15:25-27 The Lord begins to tell Israel more of what he will do for them if they will enter a covenant with him: “…for I am Yahweh, your healer.” 
    6. In Exodus 16:6 in preparation for the manna, Moses said, “At evening you shall know that it was Yahweh who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” 
    7. In Exodus 16:12, God proclaims, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am Yahweh your God.” Thus God shows the people he will provide for them.
  2. All Things Leading to Marriage: The Proposal 
    1. Marriage offer: “…will you marry me?” 
    2. Covenant offer: Exodus 19:5, “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” 
  3. All Things Leading to Marriage: Proposal Accepted 
    1. An excited bride today responds, “Yes!” 
    2. Israel responds, “All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.” (Exodus 19:8)
  4. All Things Leading to Marriage: Preparation 
    1. The bride prepares: hair, makeup, dress, jewelry.
    2. Exodus 19:14, “So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments.” 
  5. All Things Leading to Marriage: Presentation 
    1. The bride walks down the aisle toward the groom
    2. Exodus 19:4, “‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.’” 
  6. All Things Leading to Marriage: Vows 
    1. Present day: “…I take you to be my husband…promise to love, honor, and obey you” 
    2. “…love Yahweh your God with all your heart, soul, and might” (Deut. 6:5)
    3. “…what does Yahweh your God require…but to fear Yahweh…” (Deut. 10:32)
    4. “…obey my commandments that I command you today” (Deut. 11:13)
  7. All Things Leading to Marriage: Accepting Vows 
    1. Present day: “I do!”
    2. Exodus 24:3, “Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do.” 
  8. All Things Leading to Marriage: Pronouncement 
    1. Present day: “I now pronounce you husband and wife…”
    2. Deut. 26:17-19, “You have declared today that the LORD is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice. And the LORD has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.” 
  9. All Things Leading to Marriage: Reception 
    1. Present day: A time to enjoy the bounty of life together
    2. “You shall eat there before Yahweh your God and rejoice.” (Deut. 14:26)
  10. The Marriage of Christ to His People 
    1. Ephesians 5:22-33
      1. Submission to our Head
      2. The love Christ has for his bride
      3. Christ, our head, sanctifying and cleansing us (preparing us for the wedding day)
      4. Christ presenting his bride to himself “in splendor, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, holy and without blemish.” 
      5. Therefore, groom (Christ) and his bride leave all others and then cling to one another and become one.
    2. What is the key to clinging (holding fast)? Love and loyalty to Yahweh our Lord. Warning! It is easy to say we love God, but the challenge is to prove it.
      1. James 4:4, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” This is a description of disloyalty, a lack of loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
      2. 1 John 5:1-3 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” 
    3. Ezekiel 16:1-15 Summation of God’s courtship and marriage proposal. 

Conclusion:

  • Now we can understand the anger of the Lord in the days of Jeremiah. It would be no different for us if the same things happened in any of our marriages.
  • Most importantly, we see that God is not giving us a marriage “picture” when he describes our relationship with him. This is a real marriage, much greater than what we experience in our marriages. In fact, it is our marriages that are the “picture.” Our marriage to our Savior is the reality. 

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