Hallelu Yah.

I feel like I have SO many thoughts about this chapter, but they're all really disjointed and scattered, so hopefully I can make something somewhat coherent here.

Since Emily's post about the blood flowing out of the wine press, I feel like all the blood metaphors have stuck out to me so much more, and they are so powerful!

First there's the whole Ezekiel 16 image of our blood - "I said to you, while you were still in your blood: 'Live!'" While we were still in our blood. That image is SO strong in my mind - the image of me squirming around on the ground in the muck and grossness of blood. And it's not just normal blood either, but it's messy, disgusting blood left over from birth. I'm helpless, I'm dirty, I'm exposed. That's where I find myself when the God of the universe passes by. And He says to me 'Live'? Really?!

And in the internal conversation of my mind, He says, Yes, Pearl. Really.

And then there's this image of my triumphant King, that just continues to floor me over and over again: "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God."

Honestly, I just keep reading that section over and over again. The contrast between the filth of my blood and the absolute purity of His blood is so stark.

And then the obvious comparisons between Babylon the harlot in chapters 17 and 18 and rebellious Israel the harlot in Ezekiel 16 were a little too blatant for comfort. At least Babylon gets paid for her rebellion. I'm paying my lovers for the privilege of betraying my betrothed. Really?!

But even then, He doesn't forget His covenant.

I feel like I've pretty much been a mess of raging insecurities this week, and the old lovers look so appealing, or familiar at the very least. But I have to keep coming back to the image of the white rider, the Faithful and True. [side note: Gandalf, anyone?] Hallelujah for the blood of the Lamb!