348. Betrothed to the Lord
Hosea 2:19, 20 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord.
“I promise to be faithful to you until death do us part.” We make such an oath when we commit our lives in marriage. When the Lord makes a promise to us it is forever, not until death, for Christ has destroyed death. He promises to “betroth” Himself to us forever. Betroth = make a commitment to be faithful. We understand, though we don’t always keep, such a marriage vow. We understand God’s betrothal to us, and we are certain He can and will keep His promise.
God betroths us in righteousness. This implies two things: He will be righteous to us and make a promise according to His own righteousness; He will make us righteous by faith in Christ. If both parties are righteous there can be no doubt that the promise will be kept; the oath is inviolable.
God betroths us in judgment. His judgment is perfect and always just. We can count on God’s righteous judgment to be right and to make right what has been wrong. In order to right a wrong the wrong must be judged. If God does not judge all sin He cannot be God. And so God judged all our sin in the innocent Man, Jesus Christ. This true, right, just, and final judgment of sin guarantees the promise of betrothal.
God betroths us in lovingkindness. Faithful love is the hallmark characteristic of the Lord God. “Chesed” is the very essence and nature of God that causes Him to love humanity and be faithful to redeem and save. Chesed both causes God to make a covenant with His people and it causes Him to keep His covenant promises. On the basis of His absolute faithfulness He will be faithful to His chosen Bride.
God betroths us in mercies. God’s mercy toward sinners caused God to send His only Son to die for us and for Christ’s sake to forgive us all our sins. Without mercy we are dead, forever separated from God and from Life. But the Lord is merciful, and therefore forgives absolutely whenever we go astray. Without mercy there is no forgiveness; without forgiveness there is no life; without life there is no eternity in the presence of the everlasting all-loving God.
“Betroth” is an old English word, but it should be used more often. It is a simple promise of faithfulness to another, so that nothing and no one can stop it. The covenant promise cannot be broken. And that’s God’s promise.