Perfect Fall Wedding

Preface

The metaphor of marriage is perhaps the most important for understanding Holy Scriptures. The historical context of Jewish marriage lends further light in appreciation of the illustrations related to the advent of the Messiah, His death and ultimate return. I suggest that the theme of His return is the most grand of chapters in the unfolding chronicles of God’s eternal agenda for mankind. A man decides on marriage. When he has concluded plans for a union with his father and family, he begins with writing a contract and agreement in which a bride price is arranged to seal his proposal. He would then leave his father’s house for the home of the bride’s family to present the proposal and contract price for acceptance. Once agreement is reached, the bride price paid—the couple are engaged and the bride is set apart—sanctified for the bridegroom. The Jewish tradition is that the groom and bride will drink from a cup of wine accompanied with special betrothal prayers. Special gifts are given to the bride and after this the groom returns to prepare a home—a befitting residence that the proposed family will live. The bride is then to prepare herself to be legally married and joined to her husband. She is expected to keep herself apart from other suitors, cleansed by special baths and adorned and her wedding trousseau appropriately put together. In public she puts on a veil to symbolising to onlookers that she is betrothed. When the accommodation is ready, the groom’s father inspects it and will be satisfied before he sends his son to go for the bride. Typically, this happens at night, when he, the best man and a lighted procession  leave the father’s house to the home of the family of the bride. Though the bride is always expecting her groom to come for her, she would not know the exact timing—and would keep her lamp, veil and personal effects for the marriage beside her bed; her bridesmaids were also on alert for the return of the Bridegroom and there were signs that would let them know that the groom was near. The groom’s arrival is announced with a shout and the blowing of a trumpet . . . the time to go to her new home has now come. Now there is to be no further delay for the joyful procession to the new place prepared. On arrival, they find wedding guests assembled already as the bride and groom enter the bridal chamber . . . festivities last for days to honour the new husband and wife . . . the veil is now removed.

The concept of marriage is a special tradition protected by God Himself. We are in times when these customs are being distorted both in process and even in more deliberate ways by satanic intelligence intent on devastating the preparation of the saints. This book is a little contribution by the special grace of God . . . like a little lamp to help the final preparations of the chosen damsel—for whom a price and covenant has been agreed. Let agents of hell and the alien spectator or professor shun the pages of this book as they will only be offended when they discover that their judgment approaches and soon their own chapter will be eventually compelled to a sad closure. The word of God is the legal document and none of its contents will be allowed to fail. The bride price is the Blood of Jesus Christ—a most precious, unparalleled and expensive dowry. The entire story of the marriage and sequence of events as well as detailed conditions and arrangements are elaborately detailed for all who care to discover them afresh—in the Holy Bible. This book may not offer new information to the mature believer and like all other saints on this part of eternity, I admit to only seeing in small part of the grand mosaic of the Almighty Creator. I do not pretend to any new original revelation nor claim any special expertise for I can only at best be a voice amongst many better qualified and sanctified vessels. I also understand and warn that I can only give to the reader what God has uniquely equipped me to do in writing this book and continue to wait on God for His progressive dealings. Still I do pray the words in this book will awaken a renewed freshness and interest to further reflect on important truths of which perhaps a few have only blurred thoughts. Indeed, it was the lucidity of these realities that sustained the early saints in their worst trials. I urge you to keep this book and reread it when persecution, tempests and fires challenge your identity in Christ.