Day 28 – Our Marriage Supper
Day 28 – Our Marriage Supper
Our Marriage Supper, Preparing for the Marriage
The ancient Jewish concept of preparing for Marriage, rather than putting all your energy in a wedding makes so much sense. If only we did that today! We would have beautiful pure and grateful brides rather than “Bridezilla and her Mummy”. The marriage supper would be one of gratitude and honor rather than self-centered competition.
Think of it! Sarah was trained to be a Woman of Valor
Hannah, Jacob’s family maid, had been with Sarah for 7 years. Jacob’s father Ariel chose Hannah at a very young age, to be trained in all aspects of his family and business so that Hannah could teach the future wife of their yet unborn eldest son, how to be a “Proverbs 31 Woman” – in the Hebrew, “eshet chayil” – A woman of Valor; strength, efficiency, and wealth.
How different our families would be and even our own marriages if we had given time and effort to prepare for our married life. To learn the skills needed to run a household and support our husband in his business efforts. To be a shrewd business woman ourselves and with our husband’s resources bring profit to our homes. And more importantly to understand we are accountable for our actions and live our lives as the Bride of Christ.
One principle Ariel wanted to become part of his family DNA is the mindset of wealth rather than poverty. Ariel knew his family was called by God to be a source of provision for their village. His eldest son and daughter-in-law would carry that vision on.
A Wealthy mindset has a goal of giving.
A Poverty mindset is one of survival, holding on to all one has.
One hot mama!
Ancient Jewish custom also prepared the bride for a sexual relationship as well. I don’t know about you but my sexual training was limited to a brief conversation with my parents – which I was horrified to have, and a film strip at school on a woman’s monthly cycle.
Today sexual training comes through television and movies and video games and peers. It is so sad that one of the gifts God has given us to enjoy in marriage is not given it’s proper place in training. There must be a better way!
30 Days of Honor Our Marriage Supper
- What if we taught biblical sexuality, purity and passion?
- What if we were set free to love our husbands with our bodies and feel good about it?
- What if we were taught sex was a spiritual experience, not something lewd and dirty?
- What if we were taught to please each other freely?
Everyone should have a godly “Kallah”
Hannah was Sarah’s “Kallah”; responsible to teach Jacob’s future wife how to be a woman of Passion; to freely give and receive the love of lovers in the Song of Songs. Ariel and his wife wanted their future son to enjoy a marriage of honor, industry, joy and passion. It was a big job for Hannah and she was well compensated for her work.
Ancient Jewish marriage customs were a business agreement sealed with sexual fulfillment and freedom. The Old Testament laid out requirements for purity, the woman’s monthly cycle, birth control, reproduction and sexual enjoyment.
The Kallah (marriage counselor) was a vital part of the marriage betrothal, teaching the Kallot (future bride) how to give and receive the “love of lovers” in the song of Solomon. The Kallah taught how to find a proper balance between deep friendship and passionate love-making; at the same time making sure the bride fulfilled the many requirements of Jewish law. (2)
The Kallot (bride to be) and the Kallah (teacher) met together for education in all matters of sexual intimacy. Instruction included sexual freedom in marriage, planning pregnancies and planning the honeymoon around her menstrual cycle.
Jacob, like all Jewish men, had memorized the Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) by the time he was 12 and the rest of the Old Testament by the time he was 15, including Proverbs 31, 10-31. The head of the household sang Proverbs 31:10-31 to his wife and daughters, sisters, mothers and friends at every Sabbath dinner.
These ancient customs are interesting and seem so right, don’t they?
But wait..there is more significance in Sarah and Jacob’s wedding feast. Remember when Sarah was betrothed to Jacob. She wore a veil to signify to the public that she was betrothed, “bought with a price.” Only her husband could remove her veil in public. Jacob not only removed her veil, he placed a crown on her head, showing that she was the queen of his heart.
The Bible tells us that we have a veil over our hearts that only our groom, Jesus, can remove. When we go to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb there will be great rejoicing as the bride of Christ is revealed.
Revelation 4:9-11 shows the 24 elders who sit around the throne of God cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus.
9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,
11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
There will also be a time of judgement.
Just as Ariel read of all Sarah’s accomplishments and skills, from the book of the Bride, God’s books will be opened. First God will check to see if our name is written in the Lamb’s book of Life.
This book is only for those who have come into covenant with Jesus Christ and received his sacrifice on the cross as payment for their sin. Other “christian” words for this are “saved, born again, give your life to Christ”. Let me ask you a very simple question…”Is your name written in that book?” It can be! Jesus, your groom has paid the price. Just speak simply to God and receive his covenant.
You can pray this prayer or any prayer from your heart to God, letting Him know you want to belong to Him.
Heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus died on the cross and paid the penalty for my sin. I receive his sacrifice and accept your covenant offer. I give you authority my life. I accept a new identity as “bought with a price”, the precious blood of Jesus. I am not my own, I belong to you. I give you all of myself and receive all that you have for me. In Jesus Name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer for the first time, please let me know! Also, go back to the beginning of the 30 Days of Honor. It will all have new meaning for you.
Every person whose name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will stand before God and judged by our works. Those works that were worthless will be burned by fire and blown away. Those that remain will be our reward. Revelations says that the 24 elders threw their crowns in gratitude at the feet of Jesus Christ. Like Sarah, when we arrive to that great feast we will know without a doubt that if it weren’t for Jesus we would not be there.
The Bible also tells us that our groom will give us a white stone with a secret name written on it.
Revelation 2:17
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”
What does this “new name” mean? The website “Got Questions” gave this answer.
The best theory regarding the meaning of the white stone probably has to do with the ancient Roman custom of awarding white stones to the victors of athletic games. The winner of a contest was awarded a white stone with his name inscribed on it. This served as his “ticket” to a special awards banquet. According to this view, Jesus promises the overcomers entrance to the eternal victory celebration in heaven. The “new name” most likely refers to the Holy Spirit’s work of conforming believers to the holiness of Christ (see Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:10). (3)
God’s Special Name gives you His Value
I think of the significance of a secret name between lovers. The enemy of your soul tries to give you names of “unworthy”, “rejected”, “abandoned”, “abused”. But your groom, the lover of your soul has a name for you that reveals you as a “Woman of Valor”, dearly loved.
Our Marriage Supper
After our 7-Year honeymoon with our groom, Jesus Christ, in His father’s house, we will sit at his table for the Marriage Supper of The Lamb. There we will rejoice with all the saints of the ages. What an amazing time that will be.
Who would you like to sit next to?
- You could sit next to Noah and ask him how he was able to feed all those animals on the ark?
- Maybe you would like to sit by David and find out how it felt to stand before Goliath.
- Wouldn’t it be incredible to hear Moses first-hand account of the parting of the red sea?
- Would you prefer a conversation with Mary to learn what it was like to be told you were expecting the Savior of the universe?
The Bible tells us that during our 7-Year honeymoon we will be feasting with our groom, getting to know our heavenly father and the rest of the “Bride of Christ”. The Holy Spirit will be there. It will be a joyous celebration.
But not so on the earth. With the Holy Spirit removed there will be no more drawing to God, no more conviction of sin. The Bible says “the man of lawlessness” will be unrestrained and evil will prevail. Also during that time God will release judgement on the earth, giving mankind one more chance to respond to God through judgement rather than the grace and love we now enjoy. It will be a terrible and tragic time on earth while the Bride rejoices in heaven. Even more tragic is that every living person throughout eternity is wanted by God. He desires for all to come to Christ, none to perish.
John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
The Future of The Bride of Christ
At the end of the 7-Year honeymoon we will join Christ as he rides to completely and finally defeat the works of satan and put a stop to evil. He will then set up his reign on earth for 1,000 years of peace and perfect government; because Jesus will be the ruler; the government will be upon His shoulders.
I do not have the education or the affinity to write about the future of the Bride. I appreciate the writings of Dr. Renald Showers (4) and give you this link for further study on the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
http://www.ifca.org/home/140001498/140001500/VOICE97-JanFeb.pdf
Dr. Showers presently is on the staff of the Church Ministries Division of the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc, and teaches in the Institute of Biblical Studies of that ministry.
Are you ready to walk fully in your calling as the Bride of Christ? Dancing Through Life
Resources
(1) https://rachelheldevans.com/blog/3-things-you-might-not-know-about-proverbs-31
(2) http://courses.yoatzot.org/kallahcompanion/samplelesson.php
(3) https://www.gotquestions.org/white-stone-new-name.html
(4) http://www.ifca.org/home/140001498/140001500/VOICE97-JanFeb.pdf
The post Day 28 – Our Marriage Supper appeared on 30 Days of Honor, from The Wellness Workshop
About the Author: Celeste Davis, is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ with a heart to walk fully in Covenant with Him. As Founder of The Wellness Workshop, Celeste’s passion is to teach women and impact their families to “Be Nourished” as opposed to dieting or trying different life strategies. We nourish our bodies with God-Made Food, our Souls with God-Made Relationships and our Spirits with the Word of God and Prayer. More Info about Celeste.
