“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you. how many times I yearned to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were unwilling.” (Matthew 23:37 NIV)
In editing my novel, Daybreak From On High, I came to the chapter about when Jonathan (the protagonist) went to consult with the Pharisee, Nicodemus. Jon heard him speaking about his visit to Jesus (Yeshua) secretly at night. The Pharisee related what Jesus said to him. The last thing was the quote from Matthew, comparing how He and a mother hen are alike, to convey His love for the children of Israel. This simile is one of the many found in scripture. One might say the Bible is the best ‘writers’ guide’ to simile and metaphor.
The way God and His Son Jesus, love Jerusalem as His Chosen People includes all who believe in Jesus and His teaching. We are Jerusalem, the people of God. It is awesome ! However Matthew 23:38-39 is a warning : Look, your house will be abandoned and desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say. ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. There is so much to unpack here. Its far, far above my understanding.
What did come to mind in writing this post, was a simile: Writing Daybreak for seven years is like the Israelites spending forty years in the desert. On the other hand, probably not a real simile, but I now know how imperfect the novel really was. Perhaps, like those Israelites, it humbled me. We both needed time.
Each of us is a work in progress. To God a day is like a thousand years: His love far above our love.
DJ Pasternak, Author 