I Remember the Unfailing Devotion of Your Youth [Jeremiah 2:1]

Jer 2:2 "'I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown.

Once again, Holy Spirit has inspired a prophet to use the concept of a bride to teach the relationship of God to humanity. Contrary to some contemporary opinions, marriage is a relationship that can only be defined by the relationship of a man and a woman within marriage. That, admittedly circular reasoning, is a definition that has meaning in the same way that the word "circle" or the word "rectangle" have meanings that cannot be interchanged just because both use lines and define interior space apart for exterior space. To use the cliche, in the Garden of Eden, God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve nor Samantha and Eve. There is a relationship of a character that only a man and woman can have that seems to be more symbolic of a God-humanity relationship than any other type of relationship. And the young prophet is instructed to once again use that specific symbolism.

A young couple came to me a while back for premarital counseling. We had an initial introductory meeting where I reviewed with them the types of subjects I deal with through the pre-marital counseling sessions. There was an initial questionnaire that neither of them could finish. They chose not to continue with another session. I found out later that they were uncomfortable with the fact that the counseling would include spending time on sexuality within marriage – which also meant covering their attitudes and experience on sexuality. The fact that the top three stated problems in marriage resulting in divorce include religion, money, and sex, apparently was not relevant to their "desire" for premarital counseling. The fact that a minister of the Gospel, a preacher, a Spirit-filled preacher with the Gift of Knowledge functioning, was going to talk of sexuality and the difficult issues connected, made them uncomfortable and threatened. One of the early questions in any pre-marital counseling has to be sexual activity outside of the current relationship and I was already aware of issues that would have to come up. Besides, there is always the potential of un-confessed sin that the other would need to know about.

Why do we have the concept of marriage and a marriage license? If the definition of marriage is changed to mean something else, whatever it is that marriage now is that is between a man and a woman will have to be given yet another term because it is unique and different from simple cohabitation or perverted cohabitation. For the young couple who were afraid of sexuality in counseling, anything else they wanted to do in their starry-eyed, "we’re in love," hormone-driven state of mind, they quite honestly could do without a license. The license is for potential procreative activity between a man and a woman. From the beginning, it was one living spouse at a time for the purpose of creating a family, not the serial polygamy we practice in our society. Jesus said that – not me.

Mark 10:4-9 They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away."

5 "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. 6 "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 7'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

We have the abstract spiritual concept of "one flesh." We have the spiritual concept of God "joining together." When this event happens, how can it be undone? Can annulment make any sense? And when a man decides to join himself with a woman outside of matrimony, in that act they are "joined" in the eyes of God. This is sin as defined by God. How many times does it need to be said? Sexual activity outside of marriage is sin. That is why pre-marital sex must be dealt with during pre-marital counseling because there are all sorts of issues that the couple must deal with and work out. All sin is forgivable by God. That is what Jesus said. Unfortunately, people in a marriage that has a history of extramarital or premarital sex have difficulties that are hard to overcome even when Christians are supposed to be able to forgive. It takes work – a deliberate effort. Frequently supernatural intervention.

Let’s state it again – let’s define it again. In spite of what school and Hollywood media promote:

– Marriage is between a man and a woman.

– Marriage is intended to be monogamous in that it is the relationship between one living man and one living woman.

– Marriage is the "joining" of a man and woman to each other whereby they become ONE being; and as God wills, certain babies are formed in the womb by Him.

– Adultery is sexual relations with someone other than your spouse. There is a commandment about that which makes it sin.

– Fornication is sexual activity outside of marriage – married or not. It too, is sin. And reparations are required.

For our modern young people who are just "living together" – how stupid do you think God is? He is the one keeping records. And there is a wage to that sexual sin that you will pay for later. That is a promise of God.

1 Cor 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Prov 7:6-27 At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice. 7 I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment. 8 He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house 9 at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.

10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. 11(She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; 12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) 13 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:

14 "I have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows. 15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! 16 I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18 Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love! 19 My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. 20 He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon."

21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. 22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose 23 till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.

24 Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. 25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. 26 Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. 27 Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.

Let’s deal with definitions here. Apparently, a seductress, a vamp, a woman who is all to willing to "live" with a man, is "like a prostitute" even if she doesn’t get paid. A man "lacks judgment" and "it will cost him his life." Her house – where they are "living" together – "is a highway to the grave leading down to the chambers of death." Is it wise to tempt God?

THE LOVE OF YOUR BRIDAL DAYS – YOUR BETROTHAL

Jer 2:2 "'I remember the unfailing devotion of your youth, the love of your bridal days,

God is talking about His relationship with Israel and specifically Jerusalem and He uses the symbolism of the "love of your bridal days." That is the symbolism that Holy Spirit uses consistently in the Old Testament and the New Testament. The church is declared to be the bride of Christ. The unfaithfulness of Israel is declared to be adultery in the eyes of God. Song of Solomon is frequently interpreted as the relationship of God to his loved ones. Hosea shows the level of effort God goes to in order to redeem His bride – he bought his adulterous wife from slavery.

The way to get close to understanding the love of God for each of us it to try to understand the young love and devotion we have for our spouse – or at least that we should have. When we don’t have the experience of that history and devotion in marriage, we don’t have one of the basic understandings of the love of God. How much does God love you? How much do you love God? Part of your example should be in your marriage. The Apostle Paul continues to expand this type of analogy.

1 Cor 7:1-5 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. 2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer . Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

This chapter is basic premarital counseling. It tells how a man and a woman are to relate to each other and much to the dismay of the young couple previously cited, this has to do with sexuality. That marital joining is important to Paul also.

We have recently heard a teacher state that Jesus is the only groom whose bride refuses to talk to Him. That is in reference to prayer and companionship. It is hard for a man to understand how to be a "bride" as the church and yet, that is what God is requiring us as men to understand. Our example is our own bride. How a bride treats her husband is the example the groom learns on how he is to treat the groom of the church. The apostle Paul and Solomon taught some shocking and blushing things. And because our media society can’t read and understand scripture, Dr. Laura restates some things in her book. Reports are that many women refuse to even consider reading her book and some men who read it suddenly recognize what they have been missing in their marriage. She says what Paul and Solomon teach so clearly. "Remember, men are simple creatures and very dependent upon their wives for acceptance, approval, and affection. When those 3 A’s are restored, all is well in their world." [pg 30, The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands, Dr. Laura Schlessinger.] This is a basic relationship of a bride to her groom. This may be the simplest understanding of how the church is to relate to her groom, Jesus Christ. Scripture says it, but in our society and religious structure, we don’t seem to get it. And our marriages don’t teach us when we have supposedly "Christian" singles living together and husbands and wives who refuse to truly live together.

What does Jesus need from His church, His bride? He needs our acceptance. He needs our approval. He needs our affection – the church needs to be joined with Him and not in adulterous with the world.

There is a compound responsibility here. Both husband and wife are involved as the living example of what the relationship to God must be like. If your personal example or experience is perverted, how can you understand the relationship between Jesus and the church?

Eph 5:22-33 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church , his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church , without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church - 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery-but I am talking about Christ and the church . 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

A PROFOUND MYSTERY: CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.

Jer 2:2 "'I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown.

"How as a bride you loved me." ""For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery-but I am talking about Christ and the church. "

ACCEPTANCE

Jesus needs our acceptance. This is basic. This actually is a need of His. We teach that God is self-sufficient and is in need of nothing. That is true, but then why did God so love the world? Why did He say in His word,

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish , but that all should come to repentance.

[KJV]

He wants us. He needs us to accept Him.

APPROVAL

As any other groom, Jesus needs our approval. He needs the approval of the church. What kind of approval? What does approval mean, anyway?

The Gospel according to Webster defines "approve" as: 1. to sanction; consent to; confirm. 2. To be favorable toward; think or declare to be good, satisfactory, etc.

The groom of the church needs to be approved by the church. This is basic. A young Jeremiah is asked, "Do you see what apostate Israel did?" What did they do? What Hosea was talking about. What Jeremiah continues to talk about. What all the prophets talk about. Even what Moses had warned them not to do. And then how did the Jews treat the Son of God? Did they approve His miracles? Did they approve His preaching and teaching? And how today does the church "sanction, consent to, confirm, be favorable to, and declare to be good?" How does the church generally treat His Gifts of the Spirit? Does the bride approve the groom and the groom’s way of doing things? We seem to always have our own ways. Paul teaches the church is like the bride and Jesus died for that bride.

AFFECTION

This is the difficult one. Jeremiah says, "how as a bride you loved me." Paul says, "the two become one flesh – a profound mystery – talking about Christ and the church."

"A young man lacking judgment with a prostitute" does not fit this imagery. That is wrong.

"Living together" does not fit this imagery. That must not be right, either

"Polygamy" in any form does not seem to fit well either.

And perversion in "marriage" doesn’t fit either because the basic premise of the definition of marriage is for the purpose of procreation – marriage makes babies. Christ and the church make babies – more and more Christians.

Because of our love of Jesus, we can become joined with Jesus and He will cause the increase in the church.

Maybe our own examples of marriage are faulty. Maybe there has been sin in the past. But Jesus is willing to heal the broken hearted. Jesus heals marriages. I believe He does that so there are examples of His great love for the church. Maybe like Israel, we have forgotten what a marriage is supposed to be so we have forgotten what our relationship with Jesus is supposed to be. But like Hosea, he has purchased us – His bride – again.

Three things the bride-groom needs: acceptance, approval, and affection.

Today is the day of acceptance. Whatever the sin is, Jesus forgives it if you accept Him.

"Into my heart, Into my heart, come into my heart Lord Jesus. Come in today. Come in to stay, Come into my heart, Lord Jesus." Did you pray that song?

Today is the day of approval. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in you heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Do you approve?

Today is the day of affection. Whom do you love? And do you show it? Look at the challenge to Peter.

John 21:15-17 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"

He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

Jer 2:2 "'I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown.