THE RAINBOW OF DIVINE LOVE
Seven Virtues, One Perfect Bond
A Scriptural Meditation on the Father of Lights, the Rainbow Covenant, and the Development of Christian Character
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights." — James 1:17, KJV
THE FATHER OF LIGHTS
The Apostle John declares a truth of extraordinary simplicity and depth:
"God is love." — 1 John 4:8
And again:
"God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." — 1 John 1:5
Here we find two wonderful descriptions of Yahweh's character: LOVE and LIGHT.
Consider the beautiful phenomenon of sunlight passing through droplets of water. What appears to our eyes as white light is dispersed into a magnificent spectrum of colors, producing the rainbow.
The light has not become something foreign to itself. Rather, its component colors have been made visible.
Might this natural phenomenon provide a fitting illustration of the spiritual qualities proceeding from Yahweh, the Father of lights?
We believe it offers a beautiful subject for meditation.
THE RAINBOW COVENANT
Following the great Flood, Yahweh established His covenant with Noah and every living creature.
Genesis 9:13:
"I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth."
The rainbow was given as a visible sign of Yahweh's promise that a flood would never again destroy all flesh.
It stands as a testimony to His faithfulness and covenant mercy.
And there is another remarkable connection.
Revelation 4:3 describes a rainbow surrounding the heavenly throne.
Ezekiel 1:28 compares the radiance of Yahweh's glory to the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds.
Thus, both the earthly covenant and the heavenly throne are associated with this beautiful appearance.
Scripture does not assign individual spiritual virtues to the colors of the rainbow. Nevertheless, the rainbow provides a meaningful illustration through which we may contemplate the harmonious qualities of divine love.
SEVEN VIRTUES AND ONE PERFECT BOND
The Apostle Peter provides a particularly striking passage concerning the development of Christian character.
2 Peter 1:5–7:
"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."
Notice carefully!
Peter identifies seven qualities preceding love, which stands at the culmination of his instruction.
We may illustrate these seven qualities using the seven traditional colors of the rainbow:
🔴 RED — FAITH
The foundation of our confidence in Yahweh and His promises.
"Without faith it is impossible to please him." — Hebrews 11:6
🟠ORANGE — VIRTUE
Moral excellence, courage in righteousness, and the determination to do what is pleasing to God.
See 2 Peter 1:5 and Philippians 4:8.
🟡 YELLOW — KNOWLEDGE
The illuminating understanding of divine truth, obtained through diligent searching of the Scriptures.
"The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." — Psalm 119:130
🟢 GREEN — TEMPERANCE
Self-control, spiritual discipline, and the restraint of fleshly impulses.
"Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things." — 1 Corinthians 9:25
🔵 BLUE — PATIENCE
Steadfast endurance under trial, preserving faithfulness through adversity.
"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." — James 1:3
🟣 INDIGO — GODLINESS
Reverence toward Yahweh expressed through faithful conduct and devotion.
See 1 Timothy 4:8.
🟪 VIOLET — BROTHERLY KINDNESS
Tender affection toward our brethren, expressed through compassion, service, and mutual care.
"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love." — Romans 12:10
LOVE — THE PURE WHITE LIGHT
Here we arrive at the crowning thought.
Love is not merely another color to be added to the rainbow.
In our illustration, LOVE is represented by the pure white light from which all seven colors proceed.
Yahweh Himself is the source of every good and perfect gift.
And as His Spirit operates upon the hearts of His children, the qualities of His loving character are cultivated within them.
Peter's progression culminates in love, while Paul identifies love as the bond that unites Christian character.
Colossians 3:14:
"And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."
And again:
1 Corinthians 13:13:
"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
Without love, the remaining virtues cannot accomplish their highest spiritual purpose.
Knowledge without love may become pride.
Courage without love may become harshness.
Discipline without love may become severity.
Even faith, however extraordinary, cannot substitute for love.
1 Corinthians 13:2:
"And though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."
Thus, love governs, harmonizes, and gives proper direction to every other Christian quality.
THE WATER OF LIFE AND THE LIGHT OF TRUTH
Our illustration becomes even more meaningful when we consider the relationship between light and water.
The natural rainbow appears when sunlight interacts with droplets of water through refraction, internal reflection, and dispersion.
Scripture likewise associates both light and water with divine life and truth.
Psalm 36:9:
"For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light."
John 17:17:
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
And in the closing chapter of Revelation, John beholds:
Revelation 22:1:
"A pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb."
What a wonderful combination of scriptural images!
Light from the Father of lights.
Life-giving water proceeding from the heavenly throne.
Truth sanctifying those who receive it.
And the many beautiful qualities of Christian character, cultivated through the operation of Yahweh's Spirit.
We do not suggest that these passages establish a literal correspondence between the rainbow's colors and Peter's virtues. Rather, together they provide the foundation for a beautiful spiritual illustration.
ONE SPIRIT — ONE FRUIT
The Apostle Paul provides another important confirmation of the unity of Christian character.
Galatians 5:22–23 describes:
"The fruit of the Spirit..."
Notice that the word is FRUIT, singular, not fruits.
Paul then identifies love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
These qualities are distinguishable, yet collectively described as the fruit of the Spirit.
Just as the rainbow presents many colors belonging to one spectrum, the Spirit produces a harmonious development of Christian character.
The virtues do not compete with one another.
They complement one another.
They strengthen one another.
And love gives them their proper unity.
THE CROWNING LESSON
When the seven colors of light are recombined in their proper proportions, they may produce white light once more.
What a fitting illustration of Christian character brought into harmony under the governing principle of divine love!
Peter writes:
2 Peter 1:8:
"For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
The Christian's purpose is not merely to possess knowledge, exercise courage, or demonstrate endurance as separate accomplishments.
It is to develop a harmonious character reflecting the loving qualities of our Heavenly Father, following the perfect example of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
And so our meditation returns to its beginning:
YAHWEH IS LOVE.
He is the Father of lights, the fountain of life, and the source of every good and perfect gift.
The rainbow of His covenant reminds us of His faithfulness and mercy.
And its beautiful spectrum may serve as an illustration of the virtues developed through His Spirit.
Seven virtues.
One harmonious character.
One perfect bond — LOVE.
"We love him, because he first loved us." — 1 John 4:19
To Yahweh be the glory, through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ!
HaliluYah! Amen and amen!
