Can you see the look on the face of the bride in the picture above? What delight and expectancy!!! Oh that we as the bride of Christ would live everyday with such expectancy and delight for our promised, one-day-to-return Groom!

Yesterday morning, we kicked off our Easter series "betrothal with God" by considering how "God planned a wedding." We took a look at the Jewish customs for betrothal and marriage. Here they are in case you missed it or in case you wanted to read through them again:

1. A Jewish man would approach the girl of his choice with a legally binding contract/covenant. If accepted, it was a fully binding agreement on both parties.

2. The contract would include the price (dowry) that that man was willing to pay for his bride. The more he would pay, the more it would show his love for his bride.

3. The contract was sealed when the man and woman would break bread and drink wine together. Some form of benediction would be given symbolizing that the covenant relationship between the two had been  established.  At this time they were considered "married."

4. The groom also left a gift for the bride-to-be as his pledge that he would fulfill his promise of marriage. They were now espoused. That is, they were "betrothed" or "engaged" to be married to each other, which was as binding as marriage. Thus, unfaithfulness on the part of either the bride or the groom was legally viewed as adultery at this point.

5. The man/groom would then leave the girl at her home and would depart to go to his home, usually his father’s house. There he would prepare a home for them which would also serve as the bridal chamber in which they would honeymoon.

6. The length of time before the groom returned to get his bride was usually a year. The actual timing of his return was up to his father. When the father said it was time, the groom would return for his bride.

7. While the groom was away, the bride prepared herself for their marriage.  She would keep herself veiled in public, a symbol that she belonged to another and was set apart and bought with a price.

8. Custom was the she was to have an oil lamp ready for her departure, as the groom was to come for her at night.

9. When the time came, the groom would leave his father's house in a torchlit procession and go to fetch his bride. Since the bride did not know the exact timing of the groom's coming, the groom's arrival was preceded by a loud shout to give her a few moments to arise, trim her lamp, and gather her things. Then, the groom would get her and bring her back to his father's house and the place he had prepared for her.

10. The groom and his bride would return to his father's house, where the wedding party and guests would escort them to the chamber. There the groom and his bride would consummate the marriage for the first time and the wedding feast (marriage supper) would take place.

WOW! If you are even slightly familiar with the Scriptures and the teachings of Jesus, then you most certainly connected the betrothal customs with various assertions and metaphors that Christ made. So amazing this Groom of ours that He would love us enough to make us His bride!!!

We read through Ephesians 1:3-12 processing this long-range, before-time-began plan that God had to bring us into love relationship with Himself through His beloved Son. Powerful Scripture. Just meditate this week on this one verse from that passage:

5 Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) [Ephesians 1:5, The Message]

As you are reading the Scriptures this week, take some time to read through Hosea 2. As you converse with and listen to the Holy Spirit, process the following questions:

• what does this Scripture teach us about God and His love for us?
• what does this Scripture teach us about people?
• what does this Scripture teach us about loving God and loving people?
• do i believe that God truly delights in and desires me enough to still marry me even though i tend to be an unfaithful bride?

I love you guys! And a I am very excited to walk through this metaphor together as we reflect on the life and resurrection and intention of our Groom. We are His bride. May we realize that He and He alone can make us beautiful, and may we remember to make Him and Him alone known. What Good News to the lonely and broken that they have a loving Groom who will return to marry them.

-jason