I don’t envy bible translators. Not only are they trying to map ancient languages into readable, modern text, but they are also often trying to connect our modern mindset to ancient images. That works well enough when God’s people are likened to a flock, or to a bride. We get that — we’re sheep under the care of a shepherd, we’re betrothed being readied for a wedding day. Those symbols pretty easily communicate a somewhat time-transcendent image of what the people of God are like. But this morning, I’m taken a little aback as the chosen people of God are likened to underwear. (Did that get your attention?)

For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the LORD, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.

(Jeremiah 13:11 ESV)

Okay, so only the CSB translates it as “underwear.” But being likened to a loincloth does not quite meld with my western worldview either.

Be honest, describing the church — a people, a name, a praise, and a glory — as the bride plays a lot better for our modern mindset than does a loincloth. Call me a special people abiding in the Vine (John 15) and I kind of get it, but a belt bound about the waist of God? Go ahead and hail the church as the beautiful bride (Eph. 5), but also as a great girdle (KJV)? Hmm . . .

Do a bit of reading on the loincloth and you can start imagining some of the connections perhaps intended. For example, the ancient Jewish world would have regarded the loins as the seat of strongest desires and affections, much as we would refer to the heart. Thus, a loincloth speaks, as one commentator says, of “nearness and dearness.” Also, in the ancient world, apparently loincloths might be decked out to indicate one’s greatness, crafted with decorative pendants hung from the belt. More study, more noodling, and there’s probably more connections which could be suggested.

But the intended connection is clear from the text. Just as a loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so the people of God were made to cling to the LORD.

God chose a people to be near Him, to cleave to Him, to closely pursue Him. They would be His people and He would be in their midst. They would be called by Him to Him, and they would be placed near to His heart, embraced at the depths of His innermost desire and affection. (Chew on that for a bit).

While the image of being underwear (thanx again for that picture, CSB) is somewhat jarring, and maybe even uncomfortable this morning, the implications of being brought into such a potentially intimate relationship with God is overwhelming. How near to His heart does He long His people to be? Pretty near!

And, for what purpose?

. . . that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory . . .

A people drawn near that they would be named as His people, for His praise, and for His glory. Not because of who we are, but because of what He’s done. Not because of what we’ve done, but because of who He is (thanx for that lyric, Casting Crowns).

Who am I? Someone created, and then, by God’s sovereign determination and provision, re-created and brought near — oh, so very near — to the heart of God.

Only by His grace. Only for His glory.