Submitted by: Achaicus | View Member Profile | View Other Posts
Created: 3/7/2010
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This section assumes that the relationship with God is accepted, and, by unfolding the Jewish traditions of relationships, attempts to understand what is going on now. I pray that in this, you would be drawn closer to Him and see your need more clearly.
Once the cup is accepted the betrothal period is entered into. This is a time of work: the son goes to build the house, and she returns to her family to make the wedding dress.
God's interaction with Adam and Eve right after the fall is a picture of what is to happen. Following the eating of the forbidden fruit the couple's eyes were opened and they knew they were naked. Their efforts were to sew leaves together to form coverings for themselves, but it wasn't enough, for they still hid when God came walking in the garden. Isaiah writes that we "fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away". God came looking for them, gave them a hope and a promise, and, with the first animal sacrifice, made clothing for them out of the skin. That lamb pointed to a savior who's death would cover our filthy rags.
Later the children of Israel also experienced God's willingness to maintain clothing on them. "I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet" Deuteronomy 29:5. Nehemiah, who lead some of the Israelites in return from captivity, in recounting their history from Abraham up to the current day in just 30 verses, specifically mentioned God's care in the wilderness: "You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell (Nehemiah 9:20,21)."
God, from the beginning, clearly sought to show where we are to get our garment from. All of us have tried to fill this need in our lives on our own. It is the human condition. We have tried to fill our own cup, and each moment spent in the wine press has stained our garments. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" Isaiah 1:18.
Jesus said "And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things" Matthew 6:28-32.
"If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you" John 14:14-19. "When the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come" John 16:13. "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" Luke 24:48.
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger. Zephaniah 2:3
He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you; But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
Jesus desires to be a help for every person that wants it, but because he left heavenly glory and became a man with human limits, he only has the power and ability that his father enacts on his behalf. This is why the heavenly Father is sending, in Jesus' name, the Holy Spirit to empower all that come to him. We can say as Isaiah did: I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels (61:10).
