DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2013
I AM HIS!
Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD.
And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 34:30,31
My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies. Song of Solomon 2:16
Throughout the Old Testament God professes his love to Israel. He speaks through the prophet Isaiah these words of devotion:
"For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him" (Isaiah 43:3-7).
In the verses in Isaiah we see the powerful ways in which God loves Israel. He loves Israel so much He declares that He is her Saviour and gladly gives "people for thy life."
Again in Deuteronomy we see this marvelous love of God professed to Israel: " For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations" Deuteronomy 7:6-9
So yes, we see God's love declared for Israel throughout the bible, but it is in the lovely Song of Solomon that we most clearly see Israel's intense love declared for her LORD. Indeed, the love is mutual and they both know it. "My beloved is mine, and I am his..." This is the love that God has always desired and commands the blessing upon--mutual love. We love God back. We belong to Him. We adore and treasure Him. We follow His commands. We are in love with Him. We seek Him. We know Him and are filled with Him.
What a heavenly blessing...
