17这神圣的罗曼史一再地启示在整本旧约里。……神好几次说到祂自己是丈夫，祂的子民是祂的妻子（赛五四5，六二5，耶二2，三1、14，三一32，结十六8，二三5，何二7、19）。……申言者多次说到神是丈夫，祂的子民是祂的妻子。按人说，我们对神总是有宗教的想法，以为祂是全能的，觉得非敬拜祂不可。但你们已婚的弟兄们期待妻子这样对待你们么？假定你的妻子以为你是伟人、是巨人，崇敬地就近你，向你鞠躬、下跪敬拜，你会怎么说？你会说，“蠢太太，我不需要这样的敬拜者。我需要亲爱的妻子拥抱我，亲吻我。你只要吻我一下，我就会飘飘然。”我们的神当然是全能的神；我们是祂所造的人，必须敬拜祂。许多经文都说到这样敬拜神。然而，在以赛亚书、耶利米书、以西结书和何西阿书里，神渴望成为丈夫，你没有念过么？古时神的子民建造圣殿，并建立一套有祭司体系和祭物的完整敬拜制度。有一天神进来，并借着以赛亚说，“我厌烦这个。我厌倦你们的祭物。我要你们爱我。我是你们的丈夫，你们必须作我的妻子。我要过婚姻生活。我很孤单，我需要你们。我所拣选的人，我需要你们作我的妻子。” 17This holy romance is repeatedly revealed throughout the Old Testament… Several times…God referred to Himself as the Husband and to His people as His wife (Isa. 54:5; 62:5; Jer. 2:2; 3:1, 14; 31:32; Ezek. 16:8; 23:5; Hosea 2:7, 19)…Many times the prophets spoke of God as the Husband and of His people as His wife. Humanly speaking, we always think of God in a religious way as the Almighty, feeling compelled to worship Him. But do you married brothers expect this from your wives? Suppose your wife thought of you as a big body, as a giant, approaching you adoringly, bowing herself, and kneeling down to worship you. What would you say? You would say, “Silly wife, I don’t need such a worshipper. I need a dear wife to embrace me and kiss me. If you will simply give me a little kiss, I will soar in the air.” Our God certainly is the almighty God, and, as His creatures, we must worship Him. Many verses speak about worshipping God in this way. However, have you never read in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Hosea that God desires to be a husband? In ancient times God’s people built the temple and established a system of worship complete with priesthood and sacrifices. One day God intervened and spoke through Isaiah saying, “I am tired of this. I am weary with your sacrifices. I want you to love Me. I am your Husband, and you must be My wife. I want to have a marriage life. I am lonely. I need you. I need you, My chosen people, to be My wife.”