In Solomon’s story of two people pursuing destruction through infidelity there is a quote that most listeners will leave with the characters.
“My husband’s not home; he’s away on business, and he won’t be back for a month.” (Proverbs 7.19)
One easily assumes that the writer was in the process of painting of picture where this part of a verbal dialogue gives texture and color to an increasingly dark and bleak scene. This assumption validates itself as the exchange, colors, and personal self-destruction appears to be an automatic part of every movie made today. While this linkage may be true, several questions remain, begging to be asked rhetorically in your life and mine.
Do you and I realize that God frequently describes his relationship with us in marriage terms? God always plays the role of the husband. You and I are the brides.
Is God’s commitment to us as our husband something real and tangible? In my own experience, I frequently act as if God is a distant, almost non-existent part of my life.
When we cannot sense the Presence on and around us (frequent occurrence) do we metaphorically say to ourselves, and others, that “my husband’s not home; he’s away on business, and he won’t be back for a month”?
Frequently I have found myself behaving as if my husband is away for a long time. He will not notice, I told myself. He will not really worry about these details, I assure my conscience. My lover is away, now is the time to play!
In moments of reflection, I initially thought that my issues were resting with the belief that my actions did not matter. They do, however, that is not the heart of my challenge. There is an illusive question that I find hard to deal with.
Do I believe God is here, right now, in this time and place?
It is easy to believe as I write with the Presence wrapping her arms of acceptance, mercy, and love around me.
Do we look for our husband in every moment? He is here.
