June is traditionally wedding season and love is in the air! Weddings are a time of excitement and anticipation. We have new beginnings and the bringing together of families.
I have a nephew recently engaged. It is fun to watch his excitement as they prepare for their life together. His fiancée is temporarily overseas and each communication between them must be savored. God uses such a picture of bride and bridegroom to describe our relationship with Him.
In ancient Jewish marriage custom, when a father had selected an appropriate bride for his son, they would go together to the young girl’s father and negotiate a bride price. When the amount was agreed to, and they had sealed the promise with a cup of wine, the son would return home with his father in order to prepare a place for her. He would add a room onto the family abode. Once the father approved the room, the son would return and collect his bride. Only the father could authorize the son’s return. The bride would have no exact foreknowledge of his coming, other than probable rumor of the room nearing completion.
Our Father God has arranged the engagement of His Son. Jesus has paid the costly bride price and is now preparing a place. We eagerly await His return for us. Do we pore over His love letter until His arrival? Reading and re-reading each precious note? Savoring each sentence from our beloved? Only the Father knows the exact time of His return, but our anticipation grows steadily. My heart devours eagerly the Words that He has given us. Yes, I want to know my bridegroom more fully and to be prepared. But I also delight in His every Word because, as the betrothed, I am confident my Bridegroom loves me.
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