The barren woman is the New Jerusalem which up until that time had no children. After Christ’s death and resurrection is when the New Jerusalem began to “have children” as in those converted. The children of the New Jerusalem consist of both Jews and Gentiles that were converted and saved by Christ.
THANK YOU and that makes PERFECT sense, CB!
Ultimately true (Gal 4:27)- but are you telling me that New Jerusalem had a shame of her youth? was married in her youth and rejected? New Jerusalem is spotless. New Jerusalem was not rejected by YHWH. There must be more in Gal 4:27.
The Barren woman is the House of Israel (as distinct from the House of Judah), referring to the northern Kingdom. BOTH were married to YHWH, but the Northern tribes were divorced:
And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
Nonetheless, promises specific to the house of Isreal (all of Hosea particularly) must be fulfilled. They are the ones called lo ammi 'not my people'. They are the ones who are to be passed through the nations as seed. They are rejected of YHWH entirely... though in the place where they were rejected HE SWEARS they will one day be called the Sons of YHWH. He promises that one day he will marry her again.
But the law states explicitly that a man can take back a woman out of divorcement ONLY if she has not slept with another during the time of divorcement (which Israel certainly DID). So how does YHWH honor His promise to take her back without breaking His Law (which He will never do)?
Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Somebody had to die to end the marriage vow. Then a new marriage vow could be arranged. Rachel weeps for her children because they are not - Benjamin and Joseph - Joseph of the coat of many colors (races?) Joseph whose children were not of a Hebrew mother - Joseph whose strength was in the land of Egypt before they were told to 'come out of her'. But Joseph (and most of Benjamin) were carried away - How many children do you think Rachel has by now?
@smvoice:
What started this conversation was your suggestion that most of the Church is gentile - It is said that the most prolific seed found in Asia and Europe is the seed of Ghengis Khan, and that in but a handful of centuries in comparison to the seed of the House of Israel... And that by one man in comparison to the nation of men hauled away thousands of years ago, and dispersed throughout the nations. But YHWH SWORE he would not even let ONE seed of the House of Israel escape his view.
When the Jews rejected the Annointed One, YHWH SWORE to take the covenant from them and give it to lo ammi - Give it to 'Not my People' It is she who inherits the gentiles, both by conversion to the Covenant, and very likely by actual bloodline. Do not forget who is grafted unto whom. Replacement theology leaves it's mark on Christendom, even to this day.
Who then is the Bride? Exactly who you think she is, but with a depth that is not understood. There is not one thing for the Jew and one thing for the Gentile, but rather, by now, the Jew and the Gentile are one thing.
And that is but a tiny touch on what one will find if one can distinguish the difference between Israel and Judah, and the Whole House of Israel (both together). I don't think one can even begin to understand the prophets without that distinction. Look now to whom Yeshua sent His disciples...