GOD’S UNFAITHFUL WIFE

Author-Raymond C Ortlund Jr. Publisher-IVP Apollos ISBN-0-8308-2614-9          

The subtitle of this book is ‘A Biblical Theology of Spiritual Adultery.’  It is one of a series of monographs that seek to address key issues in the discipline of biblical theology.  This book is a creative attempt to help Christians understand their bibles better.  It traces out a theme that has been largely overlooked in our day and is both scholarly and pastoral in its approach.  Technical jargon is avoided where possible although there are many footnotes leading the reader to other literature as they desire to pursue this subject.  Is God the husband of His covenant people Israel and Christ the Bridegroom of His church?  Does this relationship of marriage between God and His people link the scriptures together,and is it an underlying theme?  The book looks at these things, focusing upon the personal nature of God’s covenantal love for His people and shows the tragedy of spiritual adultery when the hearts of God’s old testament people turned away from Him to other lovers.  A reading of this book will help to enrich our view of marriage whilst not being the main substance of its thesis.  God being husband of His people carries with it such privilege for His bride and such responsibility also.  The intimacy of relationship and the covenant security are such enriching results of marriage that to turn from our Husbandly God to other things and to commit spiritual whoredom with them is seen not only to be dreadful sin, but folly which brings the most tragic ramifications.  This book should help us to think more clearly and to love more deeply.  Idolatry is pervasive in our society, both in the world and in the church, the temptation to follow the idols is powerful, this book does not expose the idols, it does not deal with what they are but it specifically lays bare the constant danger of idolatry to which we are subject.  A careful reading of this book will lead us to a necessary and bold reform so that God might be glorified in His church and His church be the happier

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