017. Bosom

Bosom

(Isaiah 40:11) In the East people usually carry within a fold of their robe things that could not be carried in the hand. Isaiah tells us that the Savior will carry the lambs in His bosom. Lazarus is spoken of as in Abraham’s bosom. We get the idea of a banquet. Lazarus, an ulcerated and crippled beggar, who had lain at the rich man’s gate, contented with the scraps thrown out to him, was translated to a feast, and he had the most intimate place among all the guests, reclining on the host’s bosom. Christ is in the bosom of the Father; that is, He possesses the closest intimacy with the Father. The Jews reclined at meals. By this arrangement, the head of one person was brought almost into the bosom of the person who lay above him, and the guests were arranged so as to bring the most honored nearest to the host. The dinner bed was used by the Romans as well as by Jews. It had couches built around it. Each man, in order to feed himself, lay nearly flat on his breast, and stretched out his hands toward the table; but afterwards, when his hunger was satisfied, he turned on his left side, leaning on his elbow. Each person was provided with a cushion or bolster on which to support the upper part of his body on a raised position; as the left arm soon became weary. The lower part of his body was extended diagonally, with the feet outwards. We can see how the woman who was a sinner might come behind Christ and bathe his feet with tears and anoint them. (Luke 7:37-38)