We have been studying the “epithets” for God. As a reminder, the Oxford English Dictionary defines an epithet as “an adjective or phrase expressing a characteristic quality or attribute of the person or thing mentioned.” Last month, we considered the epithet of God as “Shepherd.” This month, we will consider the epithet of God as “Husband.”
In the Church age, we often think of the metaphor of Christ as the Bridegroom and the Church as the bride. However, there are several passages, especially in the Old Testament, that use the epithet of God as “Husband.” This epithet often alludes to the union between God and His people, and it carries strong overtones of covenant.
Ezekiel uses this language of a husband and wife to describe the Jews spiritual unfaithfulness in calling Judah an “Adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband!” Ezekiel 16:32 (ESV). We have also seen the epithet of God as “Husband” in our Wednesday night Bible study on Hosea. In the second chapter of Hosea, after Israel was depicted as the unfaithful wife who would be disciplined, God speaks of His restoration for His wayward people. The Lord proclaims, “And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me ‘My Husband . . . I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD” Hosea 2:16; 19-20 (ESV). Hosea’s contemporary, Isaiah, describes Israel’s failure and restoration with a similar metaphor. He writes,
“For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. For the LORD has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer.” Isaiah 54:5-8 (ESV)
And finally, Jeremiah refers to God as Israel’s “Husband” by using this concept to describe the first covenant that God made with the Jews, while also setting up the promise of a new covenant. He writes, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD” Jeremiah 31:31-32 (ESV).
The Bible’s use of the epithet “husband” for God reminds us of the importance of spiritual faithfulness and devotion in our relationship with God. We are to serve and worship Him alone, as opposed to the idols of this world like money, power, and prestige. The use of God as Husband and His people as wife also reminds us of the strong bond that is intended to be between a literal husband and wife, often emphasized when describing this institution as a covenant. I leave you with this beautiful poem by Lucy Bennett that describes what our covenant relationship with God should look like.
I am the Lord’s. O joy beyond expression,
O sweet response to voice of love divine;
Faith’s joyous “Yes” to the assuring whisper,
“Fear not! I have redeemed thee; thou art mine.”
I am the Lord’s. It is the glad confession,
Wherewith the bride recalls the happy day,
When love’s “I will” accepted him forever,
“The Lord’s,” to love, to honor and obey.
I am the Lord’s. Yet teach me all it meaneth,
All it involves of love and loyalty,
Of holy service, absolute surrender,
And unreserved obedience unto thee.
I am the Lord’s. Yes; body, soul and spirit.
O seal them irrecoverably thine;
As thou, Beloved, in thy grace and fulness
Forever and forevermore art mine
Until next time, this is Pastor Daniel writing, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”