Gays and Lesbians.

"Sing, O barren one who did not bear, burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor!

For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children of her who is married, says the  Lord."  Isaiah 54:1 (NRSV)

"For your Maker is you husband, the Lord of hosts is his name." Isaiah 54:5 (NRSV)

"For thus says the Lord: To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant,

I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters:

I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off."  Isaiah 56:4.5 (NRSV)   

In these enigmatic passages from Isaiah God is addressing those who do not marry - the barren woman and the eunuch.

The word eunuch was used to refer to any male who did not marry.

So here God is pledging His promise to gays and lesbians.

Far from being banned from God's House they form a special relationship with God Himself.

Like the Berdache of the American Indians homosexuals have a spiritual function.

Their children are God's children - the whole of humanity.

And their husband is God Himself.

 

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

Photo Credit: Raphael Perez Israeli Artist Flickr via Compfight cc