Paul Trask is standing in for Matt Burton today, and the topic is “The Divine Marriage.”

Paul provides an overarching framework, or “schema,” for understanding and interpreting not only the entire Bible, but for understanding God’s original intent in creation. And that intent was to create a people which would enjoy an intimate “one-flesh” marriage relationship with himself throughout all eternity. In fact, God blessed mankind with the institution of marriage in order to powerfully communicate this ultimate reality.

• Old Testament survey of God’s stormy marriage to Old Covenant Israel
• God’s promise of a coming, better covenant, and corresponding better relationship in Jeremiah 31:31–34
• New Testament survey of God’s inauguration and development of this better New Covenant through Jesus’ torn body and spilt blood (Hebrews 10:19–22)
• Final consummation of God’s eternal marriage to his people, his original intent at the dawn of creation.

“² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” (Rev 21:2–3 NIV)

(Genesis 1–3; John 5:17; Revelation 21:2–3; Jeremiah 31:31–34; Exodus 24:3; Jeremiah 3:6–10; 1 Kings 13:33–34; Luke 22:20; Malachi 3:1, 4:5–6; Matthew 11:14; John 3:27–29; Luke 3:8–9; John 17:11, 20–23; John 14:1–4; Matthew 25:1–10, 27:51; Jeremiah 10:15; Luke 19:41–44, 21:20–22; Deuteronomy 32:26, 35, 41, 43; Revelation 18:20; 2 Peter 3:9; Deuteronomy 22:21; Revelation 16:21; Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 5:6:3; Romans 7:1–4; Colossians 2:13–14; Ephesians 5:21–33; 2 Corinthians 5:16–17; Galatians 3:24–29, 6:16; Revelation 21:2–3; Genesis 2:18)