BEULAH LAND
Intro:
1. "Beulah" means "married".
2. Here is a prophesy that Israel would no longer be forsaken, but would be taken in by God as one marries a wife.
3. The symbol of God as husband and His people as His bride is seen throughout the Bible.
I. Israel Was God's Wife.
A. We see Israel as God's bride in O. T. (Isaiah 54:4-8)
B. But Israel forgot and did not obey Him. (Jer. 2:32; 3:11-14)
C. The book of Hosea symbolizes this troubled marriage between God and His people.
1. Hosea was directed to take "a wife of harlotry". (Hos. 1:2) He was to take a wife who was
"a typical daughter of the age, who after marriage was so influenced by her surroundings and environment
that she became immoral." (Hailey, p. 136)
2. Hosea had a terrible experience with his wife, Gomer. She became unfaithful and turned away to other men.
3. The point of the book is that Hosea's experience was parallel to God's experience. God had taken Israel as
a wife, but she went after other gods.
4. We also see that Hosea loved Gomer even though she was unfaithful and was always willing to restore her
to his house, if she would turn back. Again a parallel with God and Israel.
II. The Church Is The Bride Of Christ.
A. We are dead to the law so that we can be married to Christ. (Rom. 7:4)
B. The church then must prepare itself for husband. (2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 19:7-9; 21:2,9 ff)
C. Christ's love for the church is seen in the New Testament. (Eph. 5:23-27,32)
1. By the price He paid for it. (Acts 20:28)
2. By His care for it. (John 10:11,15; Eph. 4:11-12)
3. By His willingness to save it. (Eph. 5:23)
III. There Are Certain Responsibilities That Follow As A Result Of Our Being The Bride Of Christ.
A. We must love God.
1. This is greatest commandment. (Matt. 22:36-38)
2. Must love Him in order to be known by Him. (1 Cor. 8:3)
3. To love Him is to keep His commandments. (John 14:15; 1 John 5:2-3; 2 John 6)
B. We must be in subjection to Him. (James 4:7)
1. This requires obedience. (Rom. 6:16-18; 2 Cor. 10:3-6; Heb. 5:9
2. This requires a proper attitude of heart. (Col. 3:12-14; James 4:6-10)
C. We must be faithful to Him.
1. Faithfulness will be rewarded. (Rev. 2:10)
2. God is displeased with those who turn from Him and can do nothing for them as long as they remain so.
(Heb. 10:26-29; 2 Pet. 2:20-22)
3. But He always loves the wayward and is always willing to accept them back. (cf. Luke 15:21-24)
Concl:
1. As Christians we are married to Christ.
2. We should always strive to be faithful to Him and not turn away from Him.
3. If we do turn from Him, He is always willing to receive us again, if we but turn back to Him.