February 7, 2024

February 7: Heavenly Happiness

God Rejoices in His Chosen People.
No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate.  But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married.--Isaiah 62:4, NIV

IF WE ARE FAITHFUL and obedient, God will delight is us, and bless us as His own chosen peculiar people.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, 693.

The Lord has joined His people to Himself by a solemn covenant, He promising to be their God, and they pledging themselves to be His and His alone.  He declares: "I will betroth thee unto Me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies."  Hosea 2:19.  And, again: "I am married unto you."  Jeremiah 3:14.  And Paul employs the same figure in the New Testament when he says: "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."  2 Corinthians 11:2.--The Great Controversy, 381.

                         For as a young man marries a young woman,
                                    so shall your builder marry you,
                         and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
                                    so shall your God rejoice over you.
                                                                                 --Isaiah 62:5, NRSV

                                                  Husbands, love your wives,
                                    just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
                                                                     --Ephesians 5:25, NRSV