As the Bridegroom rejoices... (Isaiah 62)
Between now & the end of the year we will be setting before us a selection of passages that speak of Jesus as a Bridegroom. In the gospels both John the Baptist (John 3:29) & Jesus Himself (Mt 9:15) use the image of a Bridegroom, but the description is rooted in a theme that runs throughout the Bible. For October we’ll be considering the prophet Isaiah speaking of a new name and covenant relationship for the desolate people of God, Israel, and what it reveals to us about the nature and affections of Jesus.
“You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah (My Delight is in her), and your land Beulah (Married); For the Lord delights in you, And your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.”
— Isaiah 62:4-5
In these verses, there are two ways that God is like a bridegroom, in the way He delights in His people and in the way he rejoices over His people.
“For the Lord delights in you”
The Lord’s delight speaks of an inward revelation of His deepest nature & His affections. His betrothal is not unto some arranged marriage, or some functional arrangement, but it’s an expression of His desire! The manifestation of His love is first about who He is & what He is like, we are only like a Bride because He is like a Bridegroom. He has redeemed us for the same reason He created us, not because He owed us anything but of His sheer goodness and love, and as a manifestation of the affections of His heart as a Bridegroom. Even when we are forsaken and desolate, in our weakness and sin, He looks upon us with loving delight.
“So shall your God rejoice over you.”
God’s rejoicing speaks of an outward & public revelation of His glory in an exalted Bride. His covenant with us is not a private affair, He is not a secret lover but He is as a rightful spouse! The manifestation of His affections are not intended to be the elite reserve of a few enlightened believers, it is supposed to be a radiant sign of His love and His glory that transforms the desolate to the beloved in the sight of the nations. It speaks of singing and giving voice to His love in the hearing of others. He wants us to share in His delight and in His rejoicing - giving voice to love in song - not just as a private devotional reality but as a public, prophetic and missionary activity.
The revelation of His love is so easy to agree with outwardly, but an essential part of the bridal message is whether we’ve really taken this to heart inwardly! Repeat this passage throughout the month and ask Him to reveal it to your heart still more and more (in the way that only He can do!)