Okay it seems a little weird. I'm not used to thinking of myself as the wife. Makes it hard for me to get a full grasp on the idea of God being my husband. Yet, again and again in the Old Testament God uses that analogy with His people. He talks about His people's abandonment of Him as "whoring after other gods" or prostituting themselves with other gods. He looks at it like adultery, like having an affair with a false god.
The same marriage image is depicted by Paul in Ephesians between Jesus and the Church, Jesus the groom, the Church the bride. Paul goes on to talk about how Jesus models what a husband really is supposed to be and how earthly husbands should learn from Jesus' example how to treat their wives.
The picture that God/Isaiah wants us to see is God's desire for intimacy with His people. He's painting the picture of God's love, protection, provision, restoration and security. Husbands worth their weight in salt always provide a sense of belonging and value and esteem to their wives. God wants to come along side of His people to nurture and care for us, encourage us, lift our spirits, help us stay focused. He wants to woo us and share with us. He wants us to feel alive and enriched. He wants us to experience His constant companionship.
I'm not very effeminate so, as I said, it's hard for me to get a handle on the full implications of God's imagery. I'm used to providing all those things and being all those things to my wife (at least trying to do and be all those things). But I can get a handle on what it means to be alone, rejected, abandoned, devalued, stressed out, ashamed, in trouble and without hope. I can see God as my rescuer and teammate and companion and big brother and mentor and guide.
God, although it's hard for me to picture myself as a wife, it's not hard for me to picture you as my supplier, defender, provider, savior and friend. There's plenty of times I've felt displaced, discouraged, distraught, and on my own. To know you as a friend that sticks closer than a brother, that never lets me down, that's always there to lift me up enriches and empowers my life. It gives me confidence to know that your are always there. Thanks for valuing me. Thanks for standing with me. Thanks for the assurance you provide. Thanks for giving me purpose and meaning and a place of belonging. Thanks for considering me family.
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