A lady came to our meditation meeting who was totally insecure. Even during the meditation sesssion, she was so ill-at-ease that she could not remain still for the brief time allotted. It seemed that the source of her anxiety was a fear of God. She feared she could not serve him as she ought.
I assured her that she was not just a servant, but a bride. She was to see herself, not as a slave at the feet of her master, but as a spouse in the arms of her beloved. With this in mind, how could she ever feel insecure?
This is the heart of God’s covenant and the ground of our confidence.
The people of Israel continually reminded themselves that the Lord never fails to keep covenant with them.
Psalm 130 runs:
To highlight this Bridgroom/Bridal relationship, the same Psalm speaks of the dowry that is given with the marriage. It is the very Promised Land itself--a land flowing with wine and milk and honey. -- “I am giving you a land, Canaan, your appointed heritage.”
My friend at the meditation group got the idea. She told me that it influenced her whole approach to the Eucharist. Whenever she heard the words of consecration: “This is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.” she knew that she was truly loved, even to the shedding of blood.” I reminded her how those who made covenant with each other would sometimes make a cut on the wrist and allow their bloods to intermingle and that we Christians are sealed in the Blood of the Lord.
And when she heard what the Psalm has to say about the Promised Land being the marriage dowry given by the Lord, she felt secure. She saw her Holy Communion as the inheritance, that would lead her to complete security and peace. She knew now that she was indeed the Bride of the Lord and that she could live out of his unfailing promise and provision.
I assured her that she was not just a servant, but a bride. She was to see herself, not as a slave at the feet of her master, but as a spouse in the arms of her beloved. With this in mind, how could she ever feel insecure?
This is the heart of God’s covenant and the ground of our confidence.
The people of Israel continually reminded themselves that the Lord never fails to keep covenant with them.
Psalm 130 runs:
He remembers his covenant forever,
his promise for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he sword to Isaac.
his promise for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he sword to Isaac.
To highlight this Bridgroom/Bridal relationship, the same Psalm speaks of the dowry that is given with the marriage. It is the very Promised Land itself--a land flowing with wine and milk and honey. -- “I am giving you a land, Canaan, your appointed heritage.”
My friend at the meditation group got the idea. She told me that it influenced her whole approach to the Eucharist. Whenever she heard the words of consecration: “This is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.” she knew that she was truly loved, even to the shedding of blood.” I reminded her how those who made covenant with each other would sometimes make a cut on the wrist and allow their bloods to intermingle and that we Christians are sealed in the Blood of the Lord.
And when she heard what the Psalm has to say about the Promised Land being the marriage dowry given by the Lord, she felt secure. She saw her Holy Communion as the inheritance, that would lead her to complete security and peace. She knew now that she was indeed the Bride of the Lord and that she could live out of his unfailing promise and provision.
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