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Traditionally, in Biblical days, a Jewish suitor would visit the home of a potential
bride with gifts for her father. He would present to him a betrothal
contract, a skin of wine, and his best financial offering.
The father would inspect the gifts and, if he
approved, he would then call his daughter. If the gifts were acceptable
to her, the bride-to -be drank the wine, and a trumpet would sound to
announce their betrothal.
The couple would always be companioned by a
chaperone, for they were not permitted to be alone during the year of
betrothal.
The bridegroom was busy during this time
preparing a place, a "chupah", or honeymoon bed in his
father's house. The bridegroom did not know the exact date of his
wedding, for he could not claim his bride until his father approved his
son's preparations.
After his father granted approval, a second
trumpet sounded to announce the coming of the groom. He presented the
marriage contract to the father of his intended bride. At that time, he
was free to take her from her father's house. He would take her to his
father's house, where his father was waiting to receive them. The
groom's father would take the hand of the bride and place it in his
son's. She became his wife in this act of presentation.
Then the bridegroom would take her to the place
he had prepared for them. She would be introduced to all his
friends that had heard the trumpet and had come to celebrate the
marriage at the marriage feast.
Meanwhile, while the bridegroom tarried, the
bride kept herself in constant readiness. She did not want the arrival
of her bridegroom to catch her unaware, and unprepared to meet him.
There would be times she left a lamp burning
with an extra jar of oil on hand. She did not want the bridegroom to
come in the night and find her slumbering.
The Church of born-again, blood-bought
Christians is the betrothed
bride
of Christ, bought with His precious blood. 1 Corinthians
6:20..."For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in
your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
God the Father approved and accepted our
Bridegroom's best offer paid for our redemption. We became the bride of
Christ when we accepted God's Son, the Groom, and His love for us.
In this present age, we are waiting for our
Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. After He had offered His offering to the
Father, He returned to His Father's house to prepare everything for our
arrival. John 14:2-3..." In my Father's house are many mansions: if
it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive
you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
Every time we take the communion cup and drink
the wine, we proclaim our wedding vows to our beloved Jesus. We
should all eagerly keep our lamps burning brightly. Matthew
5:14-16..." Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an
hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a
bushel, but on a candlestick; nor it giveth light unto all that are in
the house. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."
Christians should always strive to be ready,
for we do not know when our bridegroom is coming. We do not want to be
caught unprepared and unaware. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:2..."
For I am jealous over you with godly jealously; for I have espoused you
to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to
Christ."
Christ loved the Church and gave Himself
willingly for it. In Ephesians 5:26-27 He says that..." He might
sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He
might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or
wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without
blemish."
Think about it! Will we, as the
blood-bought bride of Christ, truly be ready should the trumpet sound
His coming? Are we joyfully anticipating the day we will see Him,
and be with Him? The Bible says we know not the hour or the day, God
help us to not be caught unaware and with our lamps dim, and our jar of
oil empty!
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