Jerusalem has its beginnings as a pagan city, and it is portrayed as a newborn infant abandoned to die, never even having her umbilical cord cut or being washed. God in His mercy, speaks life over the baby wallowing in her blood. She grows to maturity, and He brings her into a marriage covenant, lavishing her with beautiful clothes and jewelry and fine food. God made Jerusalem His city with a beautiful temple, finely arrayed with the best cloths, gold, silver, all the finest, a place for Him to dwell with His people whom He loves. Sadly she trusts in her beauty and takes other lovers. Israel was not faithful to God. Idolatry and alliances with pagan nations besought her. The text goes into great detail in the extent of her infidelity and how she would undergo the consequences and be full of shame, but that is not the end of the story. In the end, He keeps covenant with her, making it an everlasting covenant, and He declares forgiveness.
In chapter 17, there is another metaphor, this time eagles to refer to Babylon and Egypt and a cedar to refer to Judah. Nebuchadnezzar took the top of the cedar and replaced it with a vine (the installation of the puppet king Zedekiah). The king sought help from Egypt, which led to his destruction. The best part of the chapter is the end, beginning in verse 22 when God says He Himself will take a sprig and set it up, up on a high mountain, to bear branches and fruit, where every kind of bird can dwell. That's Jesus!
I know that chapter 16 is primarily referring to Jerusalem, but I cannot help but think of us individually, hopeless without Christ, how He comes to us and breathes life into us that we might live, how He clothes us as royalty, how He makes us His own, the bride of Christ, and how no matter what, once we are entered into covenant with Him, He keeps it! And in chapter 17, I see that every kind of bird nests in His branches. Praise God that people all over the world can come to Jesus! There's room at the cross!
No comments:
Post a Comment