Advent Dec 5 - Lk 1:25-27
Reproach
{bgw| Lk:125-27 }} Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on [me], to take away my reproach among men. 26 ¶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused [espoused] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name [was] Mary.
The Hebrew word for 'reproach' is 'charaph' חרף. It is translated as 'betrothed' in Le 19:20. Notice how the reproach passed from Elizabeth to Mary.
John was the last of the Old Testament prophets. His mother Elizabeth, represents the first bride, Israel, whom God called a prostitute. Mary represents the second bride, the virgin. Both women are part of the prostitute/virgin theme. Elizabeth was "righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." yet she had reproach. Mary too was faithful, but her name means 'rebellious' and she would bare the reproach of being pregnant without a husband.
The reproach of the bride in the world is established with Sarai being expelled by the Pharaoh, Sarah was expelled by Abimelech, and Israel being expelled from Egypt.
The reproach of the Hebrews is passed to the church.
▸ ± Lu 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
▸ ± 1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
▸ ± Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
