husband

 This week we begin worship with:

Isaiah 54:7-8

For a brief moment I deserted you,

    but with great compassion I will gather you.

In overflowing anger for a moment

    I hid my face from you,

but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”

    says the Lord, your Redeemer.

This is not the "brief moment" when you were overlooked for a promotion, or when your stock pick did not work out, or your date for the prom backed out.

This is an epic God-sized moment, when He cast off Israel because she forsook His covenant with her (Ezekiel 16).  Chosen and cared for from birth (Ezekiel 16:5-7), Israel took her place among the nations, but trusted in her own beauty and prostituted herself (Ezekiel 16:14-15).

But after this "brief moment", God calls her back:

Isaiah 54:4-6

“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;

    be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;

for you will forget the shame of your youth,

    and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.

For your Maker is your husband,

    the Lord of hosts is his name;

and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,

    the God of the whole earth he is called.

For the Lord has called you

    like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,

like a wife of youth when she is cast off,

    says your God.

He calls her back to a renewed covenant that is eternal:

Isaiah 54:9-10

“This is like the days of Noah to me:

    as I swore that the waters of Noah

    should no more go over the earth,

so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you,

    and will not rebuke you.

For the mountains may depart

    and the hills be removed,

but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,

    and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”

    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.