The Marriage Ceremony

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

 Wedding Ceremony takes place in Bridal Chamber or Chuppah made from tree father planted.  The Chupph represents the covering of protection the groom provides for his bride as with Boaz & Ruth “spread your covering over me”. Top also represents the covering of YHVH in his heavens and his covenantal Tabernacle covering over us.  As we obey his commands, he promises to be with us in our wilderness experiences as He was with the children of Israel.  He will be a shade during the burning heat of the day or a flaming covering by night.  He will deliver, provide, protect, and give safety.  He as God The Father has been a groom as well.

Bride circles or dances around the groom 3-7 times  This custom is based on Jeremiah 31 where it says that a woman shall encompass a man.  The woman surrounds a man so that his eyes will be solely on her.  At times the mothers may even parade around the groom with her covenanting to support her in this endeavor.  The Holy Spirit always walks with us encouraging & strengthening, and enabling us to be set apart only for the groom and attractive to the groom.

The giving of the Ring. When she finishes circling she stands at the right hand side of the groom. At this point in time, she is given a gold ring to be worn on her right forefinger that signifies the authority of her husband. When she points and directs, she does so as if he were there making the decisions.  “

Rabbi gives 7 blessings of rejoicing similar to the 7 days of rejoicing that are spent during the feast of Tabernacles

2nd cup of Wine They drink again from the 2 cup of wine, sealing their covenant.  This is a cup of suffering and rejoicing. Now if we are children, then we are heirs...of God and co-heirs with the Messiah, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:17

Consummation The couple disappears into the bridal chamber.  The groomsman attending awaits outside the door for the groom to appear & show proof of virginity, saying “It is finished.” The friend who attends the bidegroom waits and listens for him and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.”  John3:29 They rejoice for the proof in the linen sheets.  “let us rejoice and be glad for the wedding of the Lamb has come.”  And I saw heaven opened and and He was clothed in a robe dipped in Blood and His name is the Word of God.  Rev.19:7,8,11,13

The Happy couple spend  7 days in a Bridal Chamber, while guests feast outside.

A Call for the Bride to the Wedding

FEAST OF TRUMPETS AND DAY OF ATONEMENT
                 Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets)

 Friends of the Bride wait with her during the expected time.  They must be ready at any moment for the Bridegroom’s appearance.  Jesus tells of the 10 virgins waiting with the Bride. 10 denotes a minyon (What you need for leadership to make a decision for the group of God’s people—the congregation.  5 of them had enough oil, 5 did not.  We as god’s people: Leadership & congregation must be ready with the double infilling of God’s Holy Spirit as we wait the return of our bridegroom. Mat 25:6

Groom comes in the middle of night with sounding trumpets.  Jesus will come some day for his Bride during the dark of night.  Behold I come as a thief in the night. Rev.16:15 in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump,  1 Cor. 15:52 and gather together his elect from the four winds of the earth. Mat 24:3J

Bridegroom comes riding on a White Horse and does a war dance.  Jesus will one day come for us his Bride on a white horse and will wage war on her behalf.  “And behold a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True and in righteousness he judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and from his mouth comes a sharp sword so that he might smite the nations.”  Rev 19:11,12,15

Yom Kippur Day of Atonement
Day of Nuptials

Bride & Groom fast on Wedding Day

Bride wears a headdress of Gold shaped in the form of the walls of Jerusalem (We are the Jerusalem  - the city not forsaken  Isaiah 62: 1-3 and coming down out of Heaven prepared as bride a beautifully dressed for her husband.” Rev. 21:2) and Groom wears a floral wreath celebrating their royalty.   Though Jesus wore a crown of thorns He will return crowned with many crowns in glory as our King of kings.  Rev. 19:12 

                 

Groom is dressed in a white robe representing the high priest who has made intercession for any digressions the he or she the bride has made in the interim. Jesus is the High priest of a better covenant one that is written on our hearts/minds. Hebrew 9

Bride too is dressed in white and approaches.  “And to her it was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. Rev 19:8

 Groom lifts veil to confirm it is his wife.  This  custom is based on the mistake of Jacob with Leah.  We as the bride who have been beholding Him with the veil of the 10 coins—10 commandments over our eyes can say about our bridegroom, “Now we see  darkly... then we shall see him face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know even as I am known.” 1 Cor. 13:12

The Growing Season of Love

During the Interim (in the feasts it’s the Summer Growing Season)

                 
 Bride undergoes a Mikvah (Baptism) to wash  and cleanse herself in preparation for His appearing. Just like that bride,  we need to wash and cleanse ourselves in the word of God.  “Just as the Messiah loved the church (called out ones) and gave himself up for her to make her holy.” Eph. 5:25,26

Bride soaks herself in the oil fragrances like Esther did before the day of her wedding; spikenard is a common oil for this purpose.  Song of Sol.. 1:12 “While the king was at table my perfume spread its fragrance.” Fragrances are likened to prayers and we need to be in prayer for such a time as this.  “They had golden bowls, full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. We too need to be constantly soaking in the oil of the holy Spirit as we await his return.  “But you have an anointing from the Holy one”  that we may recognize the spirit of the antichrist. 1 John 2:20

Tempatations may come from one who wants to sway the Brides heart from her beloved but she must remain faithful as she awaits his return.  The veil of 10 coins before her eyes reminds her of her covenant with him.  “I have promised you to one husband even the Messiah. so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.  Bu I am afraid … that your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to the Messiah.”  2 Cor.11:2

Groom provides material for the Bride to make her dress. “He has clothed me with the garments of deliverance, safety, preservation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  Isaiah 61:10  They will walk with me dressed in white, for they are worthy.  Rev. 3:4b

Father of Groom sends Wedding attire for the guests.  It is considered disrespectful not to wear clothing and the guest will be expelled from the wedding services. Keep in mind the parable with the wedding guest that didn’t come properly attired and was cast inot the outer darkness. Mat. 22:11-13  “Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him so that he may not go naked, and be shamefully exposed. Rev. 16:15

BETROTHAL

 COVENANT

                  Behold days are coming declares the LORD when I will make a new (root of this word means to renew, restore or recreate) Covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers… which they broke although I was a husband to them,: declares the LORD.  I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31:31 (As a side note, each of our hearts has 2 parts each shaped like a covenant stone.  One of the sides is attached to the lungs where the breath is pulled into the chamber and provides life to the rest of the body enabling it to perform all its needed functions.   So too the breath of God the Holy Spirit can be pulled into our spiritual heart to enable us to perform all the preconditions of the temain and the obligations of the Ketubah—the covenant.) 

Temain: Similar to Covenant but not signed by witnesses.  It is the dialogue between parties almost as a prenuptial agreement listing terms and conditions to protect bride and make sure provision are made for the new family’s future together. It also lists approximate wedding time.  As believers we often quote Deuteronomy– Chapter 28 as our lists of promised blessings.   But actually the lists for blessings or cursings are conditions: “If” you do this then I will do this.  We can not expect the blessings without having done the provisional “ifs” to get those blessings.  You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Messiah, he does not belong to Messiah. Romans 8:9-18

THE PROPOSAL: As in the Passover Sanctification cup (set apart One) & Redemption Cup (the purchased One) Groom lifts a cup of wine and offers her a drink.  If she drinks she accepts the proposal.  Luke 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant (unprecedented, unused) in my blood, which is shed for you.  Every time we drink the communion cup we are accepting the marriage proposal .

Mohar:—Bride Price: likewise fulfilled in Passover. This is the price given to the father of Bride.  This is My body which is given for you :do this in remembrance of me. Luke 22:21 Jesus gave his body broken and battered as the bride price. Gifts reflect your love for your bride an the value you place on her.

Chalizah: (“If there is a reason why these two should not be joined in marriage, speak now or forever hold you peace.”) Would be claimants to the bride give the potential groom some article of clothing. This releases the bride from being claimed by them for whatever reason but especially in cases of her inheritance rights from a previous relationship or marriage covenant( in the case of Boaz & Ruth it was a shoe) Spiritually, because we the Bride broke off our covenant relationship with our former husband the one true God and prostituted ourselves to another religious system (Hosea), the claim from that religious system had to be absolved. The Roman empire  had incorporated all religious systems. So when the Roman soldiers provided Jesus with a scepter, crown of thorns, & red & purple robe (Mat 27:28 ), they effectively gave up all rights to the bride.  Now, the Roman religious system & all of its pagan affiliates has abrogated its legal rights to the  Bride as wife because of her prior spiritual prostitution.  (I don’t want her you can have her.)

Kinyan: an article of clothing given to Groom by friends of Groom that obligates him to fulfill his commitment of the ketubah (marriage covenant) he will be signing shortly. This article can be a handkerchief. Human friends of the groom gave an Alabaster jar of Ointment, tomb, and Linen wrapping.

2 Witnesses: these witnesses observe the Kinyan and sign the Ketubah verifying the validity of the transaction. Jesus’ disciples (male & female) constitute 2 witnesses from the 2 houses of Israel: Judah (Jews-Mary Magdalene) & Northern Kingdom (John& Peter from Galilee area of the Northern kingdom of Israel). As witnesses of these events and authors of the New Testament they effectively and literally sign the Covenant. 

The Ketubah: Sealing —signing the Marriage Covenant: (fashioned after the  event of Moses at Mount Sinai and  the giving of the first Covenant the Torah which took place at the Feast of Pentecost ) The Ketubah outlines their agreement and is their actual vows: i.e. Groom’s Responsibility to provide food, clothing and other conjugal rights, names bride/wife as heir to the estate should something happen to him.  The Ketubah is as binding as marriage but without the intercourse.  It is read aloud for all to hear (just like Moses did when he received the Torah at the  Mountain.)  Bride keeps the covenant and is instructed to keep it with her since there is no relationship if it is lost or destroyed.   Kessef:10 silver coins are given the bride as proof of their covenant for all to see. No one can take them from her not even to pay a debt.  It is proof of their covenant.  Loss of even 1 of the coins jeopardizes their covenant. These coins are sewn into veil that is worn before her eyes. 10 coins remind us of the 10 commandments which if only one is broken makes you guilty of breaking them all and jeopardizing covenant privileges. In Luke 15 Jesus references the Jewish tradition of the woman losing the one coin & rejoicing when it is found but in James 1 we have the principle outlined.

Mattan  - Golden Gifts:  Golden jewelry and precious jewels are given to the Bride as a sign and seal of his commitment just like the gifts Jesus gives us : the Holy spirit and the fruit of the Spirit.   “And you also were included in the Messiah when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your deliverance, safety, and preservation.  Having believed you were marked in Him with a seal the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the releasing of those who are God’s possession to the praise of His Glory.” Eph. 1:13,14. Ephesians 5, Romans 12 etc.  But the evidence of the Spirit is love joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self control...Our sign of commitment also occurred at the feast of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given out.

Groom smashes Clay Jar:  This was incorporated in remembrance of the destroyed Temple IN 70 AD.  Yet Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in 3 days.” John 2:19– 21 Jesus allowed his body to be crushed on our behalf and when he returns for his Bride He will crush the nations and will  “shatter them like earthenware.” Psalm 2

Groom leaves to prepare a place for Bride,  John 14:2 “I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and take you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” These are the actual words the groom uses when he leaves. “Jesus left his bride and  ascended to heaven.”

A LIFE TIME of LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT BRIDE

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT BRIDE

 Imagine with me for just a moment- a new father and his excitement as He holds up his new born son.  We are in a time long ago and far away, as they say, and in a modest home not to wealthy not that poor.  We are among those who have “crossed over”- the Hebrews. It is the custom at this juncture for the father having made acquaintance with his newly arrived son to make accommodations for his future.  He goes out and plants a tree.  It is probably from this tradition that we get the story of the Giving Tree. The following is a quick synopsis of some of these neat traditions and perspectives with accompanying verses.  Please enjoy.

                

                 FATHER plants tree at birth of Son.   The pain of childbirth is over. “To grant those ...in Zion… a mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor” Is 60:3

                  FATHER uses this “Giving Tree” for a Bridal Chamber as an addition to his own home or mansion.  “Let not your hearts be troubled…; believe in God, believe also in Me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you” John 14:1

                  FATHER seeks a Bride for his son, a woman who will be his baby girl as well. He looks for traits that show she will honor him and respect him.  Is.66:2 “But to this one will l look, to the one who is humble and contrite of spirit and who trembles at my word.

2 Chron. 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him.” She is after all marrying into a Royal family and a family of priests. In turn He will support her, defend her, protect her and give her princess status.  She will be His baby princess girl. FATHER chooses the bride and finds out the Bride Price . 
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people,  a royal priest hood, a holy nation a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises  of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 
Col 3:12 “And so as those who have been chosen of God; holy and beloved Put on the heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” 
 FATHER then tells son of the perspective bride and the price to be paid the Father of the Bride.

NOT JUST CHOREOGRAPHY -NOT JUST A DANCE

NOT JUST CHOREOGRAPHY -NOT JUST A DANCE

“YOU HAVE KEPT THE GOOD WINE UNTIL NOW”  (John 2:10)

Let the priest, who minister before the LORD, weep between the temple porch and the altar.  Let them say. “Spare your people, O LORD.  Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations.  Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”  Then the LORD...will take pity on his people. The LORD will reply to them “I am sending you grain, new wine and oil, the vats will overflow with wine and oil. And afterward I will pour out my spirit on all people.  Joel 2

 

How can we dancers minister in the priestly fashion? How can we be vats full of the good wine that has been saved until now and also be a conduit for God to pour out His spirit on all flesh?  Part of this is obvious in the context of this parable.  We as dancing priests need to be intercessors first and foremost.  We need to see the sin that is rampantly overtaking the people and interceding for them.  When we are filled with the LORD’s compassion then can we be the conduits He so desperately wants to use.  But to help us understand more fully the good wine let us look as the wine making process and a story found in 1 Kings 21 that corresponds with the problems that always seem to besiege a dance team.

Naboth’s Vineyard. Naboth (נבות):  In the original proto Hebrew the name Naboth (tfbn) points to a house of life secured by the cross- covenant house of life). Naboth represents a believer in Yeshua.  He is a dwelling place of life.   He is further described as a Jezreelite (יזרעאלי).  In the original proto Hebrew the term Jezreelite (ilaorzi), refers to a Strong weapon for the use of the exalted head, for the use of the eye that sees all, for the use of the sacrificed strong authority. Here we have a picture of the believer as the weapon of Elloheim-the trinity-for His purposes.  In the Biblical story, Naboth is the original owner of the land. He is allotted by God as the caretaker of the family’s inheritance, which has been made into a vineyard.

To establish a grapevine takes constant attention.  The grape vine is very sensitive to sunlight and moisture needs. The caretaker of the vineyard is the provider of the nutrients for the soil. After all, what goes into the grapevine is what will come out of the grapes. This process of caring for the vineyard takes his full concentration.  It is his heart felt full focus.

Along with growing the vine, nurturing the grapes is vitally important. In a Vineyard, clusters of Grapes are grown to be plump and juicy.  If they are harvested to soon or not under the right conditions, they will not have the full juice or the sweetness. If they are not harvested in due season, they will be dried or rotten. The grapes themselves are easily damaged, when handled. When the crop is ready for harvesting, the caretaker is responsible to hand over the grapes to those who make the wine in the best condition possible.  The wine is made for its flavor, refreshment and joy value. The juices are cultured together over time to provide a release of inhibitions so joy and freedom can be experienced.

How does this relate to the believer dancing for the LORD and especially a dance team?  On a personal perspective , we dancers are the Naboths-the vineyard care takers.  Our lives are the vineyards.  The Grapevine is the LORD and we are his branches.  If we stay connected to him we’ll be absorbing from Him the love joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness we need to have good fruit.   The fruit in His hand squeezed out is the dance that will bring refreshment and release for those who are watching.  On a broader sense, for a dance team, the dance team leader is Naboth.  The leader is responsible to fill the vineyard with the sunshine of love, joy, peace and patience etc.  He is to put into the ground nutrients of courtesy, respect 

and honor.  So then the fruit will be filled with these choice clusters that when squeezed in the Master’s hand will bring the new best wine saved for these latter day out pouring of Elloheim’s spirit.

                 The leader is responsible to guard the vineyard from foxes that will destroy the delicate fruit hanging from the branches.  He is to guard the lives of those dancers; their souls are easily wounded.  Dancers are fighting the good faith; interceding and worshipping.  The dancers need to be able to trust the caregiver will be there for them and will always have their best interest in mind.  He or she will be an impartial caregiver.  He will not defer to one grapevine branch over another; but will look at each one- its gifting and abilities, placing that vine in the spot best suited for its needs.  When the caregiver does this, he cultivates fruit for the Winemaker which He then can use to create the best wine. Everyone then can say with the host of the wedding, “You have saved the best wine for now.”

The Biblical story does not end there however.  Ahab, the king of Israel, wanted Naboth’s vineyard.  Now Ahab as the king was the leader, the pastor, the caregiver of Israel.  He was to guard the individuals under his care: protect them and their property.  Yet his name in proto Hebrew (bea) actually relates to “revealing the heart of the strong home.”  You see at the very core of Ahab was not the heart of a caregiver for others but of one who cares only about his own personal home.  He was only about himself, not the people he was given authority to guard and lead.

His wife Jezebel (lbzia) in the story is responsible for Naboth losing his life and vineyard.  In the proto Hebrew the name Jezebel indicates “a strong arm wielding weapon for the authority of the house.”  As opposed to Naboth the Jezreelite, who was a covenanted house of life-a weapon in the LORDS hands for His purposes; Jezebel, though she had the potential to be a weapon wielded for God’s glory, was only about wielding a weapon for her own personal house.  She too only was about herself.  To get what she wanted she sent accusers to set up and establish a witness against Naboth.  She wanted only to lie, steal, dominate, kill and destroy.

These were Naboth’s leaders.  They wanted to take over Naboth’s vineyard purportedly to change even its purpose that the God given authorities (family inheritance) had directed it to be used for.  No longer was the land to be used for a vineyard creating wine for refreshment and joy.  Ahab supposedly wanted it for a vegetable garden only for himself.  Really?  Ahab allowed his wife to lie.  It would not be beyond him to lie as well, would it?  It is more than likely he too wanted the wine, but not to share for other’s refreshment within the community - only for his own uses and his own glory.

“The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”

This whole story speaks for us to be careful caregivers that are like Naboth-a covenant house of life, a weapon wielded for God’s glory not our own.  In a believer’s covenant house of life should be full vats of good wine and oil out of which flow wine and oil for all around, pouring out God’s Spirit on all flesh.  Yet a vineyard caretaker under a self motivated wrongful authority takes the risk of being accused, and attacked.  The intent of that authority will generally be to dominate or destroy the caretaker, so that the wine producing vineyard would be under their control and manipulation. They want to allow the wine out only for their own selfish glory and power.  If they can’t control the caretaker then they will attack to down trod, devastate and demolish so that he will not be existent at all.

Be careful of who you dance along side of as well.  Good wine can go sour and fine oil can go rancid. If you mix your good wine with sour wine your wine will become sour as well.  If you mix your fine oil with those whose oil is rancid your oil too will be rancid.  Your dancing will be compromised and your anointing polluted.  You run the risk of becoming as they are.  You will start doing things for vain glory and out of wrong motivations.  So keep the story of Naboth in mind as you consider your gifting of dancing unto the LORD.  First off Look well to your own ways, then consider who you place yourself under and who you dance with.  May the LORD dwell with you richly and fill your covenant house with all good things so that your vats overfly with the Spirit from on high to bring release for the captive and joy for the despairing.

May the LORD say of us, “I have kept the Good Wine until now.”