Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The custom of arranged marriage
is a most common practice in many cultures around the world.
In our culture, or the lack thereof as the case may be, most look
aghast at the thought that someone other than themselves should
choose the husband or wife that they are to be wed to. Yet one
has to wonder if our practice is the best one when we look
at the high rate of divorce in our culture compared to that
of those cultures who arrange marriages for their children.
The worship of free will, which is rampant in our society, leads
its adherents to equate true love with the exercise of that
will. Yet true love is that which most often comes long after the
period of courtship and the ensuing wedding is over. Mutual love
between spouses is usually the result of commitment and devotion
on the part of one towards the other, rather than a googly-eyed
devotion being the cause of that commitment. In the Eastern culture,
during Bible times, the man was generally much older than the
bride, which he took to be his wife. In many cases, she had
no prior knowledge or contact with him before her marriage
to him. A good example of that can be found in the account of
Rebekah and Isaac. The Lord commanded Hosea to marry
a harlot named Gomer. There is no evidence that Gomer
was ever faithful to Hosea, or that the children that she bore
to him were all indeed the fruit of his loins, but rather likely
the product of her whoredom. She even attributed the sustenance
which was provided by the faithful Hosea as that which her many
so-called lovers gave her. Yet her wickedness and unthankfulness
never in the least deterred Hosea in his desire to fulfill the
purpose of God in manifesting his love to her. The marriage
of the Lord Jesus Christ to his elect bride is an arranged marriage. The bride was never consulted
in this arrangement, but rather he loved her before the foundation
of the world. She has always been the apple
of his eye and the delightful object of his deepest love and
devotion. He is determined to spare no expense in making her
his wife, not only in redeeming her from the bondage and slavery
into which she willingly sold herself, but also in winning
her heart and causing her to love him in return. It was for
this reason that He created the world to manifest His glory in
her redemption. The promise of God to His true
people was that He would write His laws upon their hearts and
give them a knowledge of Himself and His everlasting love for
them. To this end, He has given Himself as a sacrifice and payment
for all of His bride's debts, and taking away her tattered
and stained garments, has clothed her in the finest attire, that
being the robes of His perfect righteousness. He has given her
everything that she could possibly need and has ordered her every
step that she might be brought to a wealthy place. But alas,
she has played the harlot even as Gomer. Yet his love for her
has in no wise been diminished, and her wickedness is but the
backdrop upon which his devotion is displayed. But God commendeth
his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us. In spite of his selflessness
exhibited for her, she has continued on her sinful way, loving darkness
rather than light, and counting the benefits of the goodness
of God as being supplied by her own efforts or the provision
of her many lovers. Yet His love for her is so great
that He would not leave her in her dismal condition. But in
a time known to Him and fulfilling His purpose, He is pleased to
call her out of darkness and into the light. Having made her
alive, He is pleased to send the gospel to her, causing her
to hear it and believe. The worshippers of free will
will tell us that God waits for men to choose Him. Yet the Lord
said, Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained
you that ye should go and bring forth fruit. There is none that
seeketh after God, except that He does first cause them to do
so. And likewise no fruit is borne by any, except that the
Lord should produce it in them by the power and operation of
the Holy Ghost. The Lord does indeed bring His
people by a way that they knew not, nor could any have ever
designed the circuitous route by which the Lord is pleased
to bring His people, in order that He might bestow upon them
the riches of His favor and the manifestation of His grace. He
causes the sin and lewdness of His people to be manifest in
their eyes, and strips them of all reliance in their former
lovers. The Lord will not abandon his bride, but will cause her
to see her folly in contrast to the display of his kindness
to her. He will overcome her proud and stubborn heart, which
would seek out many lovers, and will constrain her unto him in
such manner that she shall now call him her devoted husband. Are you married to Christ or
seeking out many lovers? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.