Shut up and Show up! or the role of a bridegroom and husband in the bible and today
I received the following forwarded mail, and just want to share it with you all.
June the world over is known as the "wedding month." This custom dates back to Roman times when they worshiped Juno- the goddess of marriage, and so marrying in June was deemed as a special union or a lucky union. It was also superstition and pretty much the thought of that time that it was a good month for the wife to conceive; as it would mean that the child would be born before the harvest, and thus she would be then able to work the harvest when it came. Anyway, the majority of the brides today choose June in which to wed. Here in the states, the beginning of the month is usually marked with a well-renowned bridal store sale in New York where one may find a vast array of bridal gowns, at huge percentages off. It (this sale) has now become somewhat of a spectacle for the news media as: thousands of women line the streets early in the morning to get in at the opening of the doors; many remove their shoes, wear sneakers, and shorts all in anticipation for the "ready-set-go" moment. They race, grapple, throw, pounce, pull, grab, push, yell, and clamp down on as much dresses as they could possibly hold in one hand, and usually they are accompanied by some friend or family member who is doing the same on the other end. These "brides-to-be" pull any dress from the rack regardless of whether it is their size or not (that will be decided later when they get a moment to try it on)- just to get the "deal of a lifetime." Usually, immediately after the fracas, some woman steps up sweaty and with hair in a fray (so much for the "blushing bride"- these gals are plain ferocious), to be interviewed by the throng of media surrounding the store- looking like a pit-bull after a fight, with a giddy smile on her face, pleased with herself and the dress that she has nabbed. I wonder what her poor husband-to-be must think of her now... but I digress.
I gave you a contemporary visual of just how far we have come in the "world of all things marriage." These ladies went through all of this for just "the promise" of a marriage- fully expecting it to occur. Much thought, time, and preparation goes through a bride's mind to make that day/her day absolutely special, ensuring that memories will be built and cherished forever. The "groom" of today-well... he just basically sits and waits. Truth be told, he has basically been relegated to "just shut up and show up" status, with his bride running to and fro with the preparations. The world has even coined and now jokes about this phenomenon by calling it/them "bridezilla (literally the bride from hell)." After all it is her day...or is it?
I took a very quick look at some of the "grooms" in the Bible and at their fulfillment in having to secure their respective wives. These were very proactive men and each had a function:
1) Adam- first marriage. Ordained by God. God created the earth first and then Adam to "cultivate" it (Gen 2). Adam was working and doing his Father's business even before Eve arrived on the scene. Cultivation was his "ministry," his occupation, his job. There are several meanings for the word 'cultivate" but of course I want to pull out those most applicable:
WEBSTER COLLEGE DICTIONARY: 3) to promote or improve the growth of a (plant or crop) by labor and attention. 5) to develop or improve by education or training... (other) to promote; to devote oneself; to foster; to seek an acquaintance or friendship....
When God brought Eve to Adam, He knew that she would be in good hands. Adam had already begun "cultivating" the land and earth. He (Adam) already knew how to promote and improve the growth of a thing and watch it blossom under his care. He already knew how to devote himself to the care of an "Eden" and how to foster and ensure that it was fitting and proper and excellent in all its ways for the Master's use and glory! He already knew how it was to seek and make an acquaintance with a friend and nurture that relationship because he had already had the perfect role-model in God, Himself. Eve was the sole benefactor of all that he had learned from the Father and she was a benefactor of God's Grace in giving. Just as he (Adam) cultivated the Paradise that was Eden, he had the awesome and tremendous task in cultivating, promoting, nurturing, and developing Eve.
2) Isaac (Gen 24)- in this instance the Bible focuses more on the "behind the scenes" rather than the courtship itself. I think that this particular story is one of the more romantic depictions found in the Bible because it shows the absolute Sovereignty of God in choosing a mate. In a nutshell, "it was the father (Abraham) who orchestrated behind the scenes" for the perfect bride for his son." Nowhere does it state that Isaac knew that Abraham was seeking a wife for him. But what IS clear is that Abraham knew what he didn't want for a wife of his son. What impresses me most about this story (yes I am a romantic at heart) is when Rebecca first saw "her man" he was off by himself, in the field walking, in meditation (Gen 24:63). Meditation in the Bible refers to the "musings and deep thoughts of God and His word" in men's hearts and minds. Notice that he (Isaac) was not out carousing with the female help or out drinking with the boys. No...he was in deep meditation- stilling his mind and body with purpose.
3) Jacob (Gen 29-31)- long story short- cheated out of marrying his first choice (Rachel) by his father-in-law into marrying her sister (Leah), and ended up working a total of 20 years to finally get what was his and promised to him from the onset.
4) Boaz- another truly romantic read. Boaz was a well established, rich, with a great reputation, take-charge kind of guy with an added bonus of being single. There is so much going on in this story for me to do it justice with these little "blurbs," of information. To summarize: Boaz "watched from behind the scenes and waited." He saw something that he wanted and instead of being crass, rude, or sexually revolting to this "bride-to-be..." he watched and he waited (Ruth 2:5 & 8 & 14-16). In any event, Boaz eventually went to a next of kin- who had all legal rights and positional rights to Ruth per the customs of the day, and eventually "redeemed" her to himself. He watched and waited for an opportune time to pull her out of obscurity with an unknown future, married her, and placed her in a position of elevation. He became her "redeemer" so much so that the women in the town sung praises to them (Naomi, Ruth, Boaz, and the child she bore Obed- patriarch of David, and in the lineage of Jesus (Ruth 4)).
This list could go on for there are so many "grooms" that we can learn from in the Bible, but that would take pages of email. However there is one "Groom" that encompasses all of the attributes and even more so above.
*For 33-years He nurtured, cultivated, promoted, and developed His "Bride," and continues to this day (John 15:1-5 & Heb 10:1-10).
* The Father has carefully chosen the Groom's Bride (John 3:16-21; 15:16; 1 Corinth 3 & 7:20-24; 2 Corinth 3:1-6; Gal 4:1-7).
*This Groom so loved and longs for the day that He finally possesses her that He was tempted beyond temptation- the devil did not even trust or use his demons for this assignment-no he wanted this One for himself (Mat 4:1-11 & Mark 1:12-13). He was spat upon, chastised, betrayed, maligned, denied, rejected, beaten, laughed at, mocked, scourged, and crucified- all for His Bride, all on a "promise" of a glorious future wedding. He did not curse, fight back, or flee- for He beheld a day when His Bride would be standing before His Father- pure, beautiful and splendidly arrayed, and undefiled- without spot or blemish, and anxiously awaiting His magnificent return (I Corinth 5:8 & II Corinth 3:4-18). Does He recognize her? Does she Him?
We are His Bride, the Bride is the Church- not a building but a people (Eph 4), you and me. Only when we realize, value, and accept the "proposal" of what was given through God's eyes can the Church of today truly begin to dress and prepare to receive Him our Groom. Are we like the brides mentioned at the beginning of this series so focused on the dress, savings, rehearsals, shoes, bling, the ring, the honeymoon- all the trappings of the "day-the supposedly biggest day of our lives," that we are yelling at our Groom to "just shut up and show up?!!" Is the Church so caught up in "putting on a show," strutting about and blinging that it has totally negated or forgotten its calls to repentance, holiness, purity, sanctification, and living without spot, blemish, or defilement? Are we offering our Groom a "swine instead of a pearl?" I have heard within the last 3-5 years more messages about prosperity than I could stomach, as well as us "Christians" claiming and demanding our "pimp in the sky" for what WE DESERVE out of Babylon (the world's system). Sadly, and on the opposite end of the spectrum I have heard little to no teachings at all recently as to salvation, the souls of those who are perishing, and God's love and mercy for my brothers and sisters who are bound in sin and dying in the millions.
My Precious Groom who was already bruised and bloodied is watching "His Bride's" white gown being defiled and soiled with false doctrines and perversions- from within, thus prolonging His return. He stands and waits yet again- for He knows what He has already done. He has completed His sacrifice, proposal, and sealed it with a most precious and priceless "ring..." that of the Holy Spirit! So...He waits for us- His Bride:
-the one He has cultivated,
-the one who was chosen through the Sovereignty of His Father,
-the one for whom He gave His all,
-the one in which He redeemed, (Eph 1:3-14)
He does not want some "arm/eye candy." Our Lord wants to recognize her and she Him. He wants the Bride that has devoted her entire life in preparing for the moment of His return (Rev 19:7-9 & 21:7-9). He wants something for which He can be proud of and stand before His Holy Daddy/Abba/Father - He wants so badly to declare and as Paul so greatly articulated in Ephesians 5:25-31 New Century Version:
25 Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it26 to make it belong to God. Christ used the word to make the church clean by washing it with water.27 He died so that he could give the church to himself like a bride in all her beauty. He died so that the church could be pure and without fault, with no evil or sin or any other wrong thing in it.28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies. The man who loves his wife loves himself.29 No one ever hates his own body, but feeds and takes care of it. And that is what Christ does for the church,30 because we are parts of his body.31 The Scripture says, "So a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one body."[a]32 That secret is very important—I am talking about Christ and the church.33 But each one of you must love his wife as he loves himself, and a wife must respect her husband.
He wants His Bride back...oh and HE WILL SHOW UP
June the world over is known as the "wedding month." This custom dates back to Roman times when they worshiped Juno- the goddess of marriage, and so marrying in June was deemed as a special union or a lucky union. It was also superstition and pretty much the thought of that time that it was a good month for the wife to conceive; as it would mean that the child would be born before the harvest, and thus she would be then able to work the harvest when it came. Anyway, the majority of the brides today choose June in which to wed. Here in the states, the beginning of the month is usually marked with a well-renowned bridal store sale in New York where one may find a vast array of bridal gowns, at huge percentages off. It (this sale) has now become somewhat of a spectacle for the news media as: thousands of women line the streets early in the morning to get in at the opening of the doors; many remove their shoes, wear sneakers, and shorts all in anticipation for the "ready-set-go" moment. They race, grapple, throw, pounce, pull, grab, push, yell, and clamp down on as much dresses as they could possibly hold in one hand, and usually they are accompanied by some friend or family member who is doing the same on the other end. These "brides-to-be" pull any dress from the rack regardless of whether it is their size or not (that will be decided later when they get a moment to try it on)- just to get the "deal of a lifetime." Usually, immediately after the fracas, some woman steps up sweaty and with hair in a fray (so much for the "blushing bride"- these gals are plain ferocious), to be interviewed by the throng of media surrounding the store- looking like a pit-bull after a fight, with a giddy smile on her face, pleased with herself and the dress that she has nabbed. I wonder what her poor husband-to-be must think of her now... but I digress.
I gave you a contemporary visual of just how far we have come in the "world of all things marriage." These ladies went through all of this for just "the promise" of a marriage- fully expecting it to occur. Much thought, time, and preparation goes through a bride's mind to make that day/her day absolutely special, ensuring that memories will be built and cherished forever. The "groom" of today-well... he just basically sits and waits. Truth be told, he has basically been relegated to "just shut up and show up" status, with his bride running to and fro with the preparations. The world has even coined and now jokes about this phenomenon by calling it/them "bridezilla (literally the bride from hell)." After all it is her day...or is it?
I took a very quick look at some of the "grooms" in the Bible and at their fulfillment in having to secure their respective wives. These were very proactive men and each had a function:
1) Adam- first marriage. Ordained by God. God created the earth first and then Adam to "cultivate" it (Gen 2). Adam was working and doing his Father's business even before Eve arrived on the scene. Cultivation was his "ministry," his occupation, his job. There are several meanings for the word 'cultivate" but of course I want to pull out those most applicable:
WEBSTER COLLEGE DICTIONARY: 3) to promote or improve the growth of a (plant or crop) by labor and attention. 5) to develop or improve by education or training... (other) to promote; to devote oneself; to foster; to seek an acquaintance or friendship....
When God brought Eve to Adam, He knew that she would be in good hands. Adam had already begun "cultivating" the land and earth. He (Adam) already knew how to promote and improve the growth of a thing and watch it blossom under his care. He already knew how to devote himself to the care of an "Eden" and how to foster and ensure that it was fitting and proper and excellent in all its ways for the Master's use and glory! He already knew how it was to seek and make an acquaintance with a friend and nurture that relationship because he had already had the perfect role-model in God, Himself. Eve was the sole benefactor of all that he had learned from the Father and she was a benefactor of God's Grace in giving. Just as he (Adam) cultivated the Paradise that was Eden, he had the awesome and tremendous task in cultivating, promoting, nurturing, and developing Eve.
2) Isaac (Gen 24)- in this instance the Bible focuses more on the "behind the scenes" rather than the courtship itself. I think that this particular story is one of the more romantic depictions found in the Bible because it shows the absolute Sovereignty of God in choosing a mate. In a nutshell, "it was the father (Abraham) who orchestrated behind the scenes" for the perfect bride for his son." Nowhere does it state that Isaac knew that Abraham was seeking a wife for him. But what IS clear is that Abraham knew what he didn't want for a wife of his son. What impresses me most about this story (yes I am a romantic at heart) is when Rebecca first saw "her man" he was off by himself, in the field walking, in meditation (Gen 24:63). Meditation in the Bible refers to the "musings and deep thoughts of God and His word" in men's hearts and minds. Notice that he (Isaac) was not out carousing with the female help or out drinking with the boys. No...he was in deep meditation- stilling his mind and body with purpose.
3) Jacob (Gen 29-31)- long story short- cheated out of marrying his first choice (Rachel) by his father-in-law into marrying her sister (Leah), and ended up working a total of 20 years to finally get what was his and promised to him from the onset.
4) Boaz- another truly romantic read. Boaz was a well established, rich, with a great reputation, take-charge kind of guy with an added bonus of being single. There is so much going on in this story for me to do it justice with these little "blurbs," of information. To summarize: Boaz "watched from behind the scenes and waited." He saw something that he wanted and instead of being crass, rude, or sexually revolting to this "bride-to-be..." he watched and he waited (Ruth 2:5 & 8 & 14-16). In any event, Boaz eventually went to a next of kin- who had all legal rights and positional rights to Ruth per the customs of the day, and eventually "redeemed" her to himself. He watched and waited for an opportune time to pull her out of obscurity with an unknown future, married her, and placed her in a position of elevation. He became her "redeemer" so much so that the women in the town sung praises to them (Naomi, Ruth, Boaz, and the child she bore Obed- patriarch of David, and in the lineage of Jesus (Ruth 4)).
This list could go on for there are so many "grooms" that we can learn from in the Bible, but that would take pages of email. However there is one "Groom" that encompasses all of the attributes and even more so above.
*For 33-years He nurtured, cultivated, promoted, and developed His "Bride," and continues to this day (John 15:1-5 & Heb 10:1-10).
* The Father has carefully chosen the Groom's Bride (John 3:16-21; 15:16; 1 Corinth 3 & 7:20-24; 2 Corinth 3:1-6; Gal 4:1-7).
*This Groom so loved and longs for the day that He finally possesses her that He was tempted beyond temptation- the devil did not even trust or use his demons for this assignment-no he wanted this One for himself (Mat 4:1-11 & Mark 1:12-13). He was spat upon, chastised, betrayed, maligned, denied, rejected, beaten, laughed at, mocked, scourged, and crucified- all for His Bride, all on a "promise" of a glorious future wedding. He did not curse, fight back, or flee- for He beheld a day when His Bride would be standing before His Father- pure, beautiful and splendidly arrayed, and undefiled- without spot or blemish, and anxiously awaiting His magnificent return (I Corinth 5:8 & II Corinth 3:4-18). Does He recognize her? Does she Him?
We are His Bride, the Bride is the Church- not a building but a people (Eph 4), you and me. Only when we realize, value, and accept the "proposal" of what was given through God's eyes can the Church of today truly begin to dress and prepare to receive Him our Groom. Are we like the brides mentioned at the beginning of this series so focused on the dress, savings, rehearsals, shoes, bling, the ring, the honeymoon- all the trappings of the "day-the supposedly biggest day of our lives," that we are yelling at our Groom to "just shut up and show up?!!" Is the Church so caught up in "putting on a show," strutting about and blinging that it has totally negated or forgotten its calls to repentance, holiness, purity, sanctification, and living without spot, blemish, or defilement? Are we offering our Groom a "swine instead of a pearl?" I have heard within the last 3-5 years more messages about prosperity than I could stomach, as well as us "Christians" claiming and demanding our "pimp in the sky" for what WE DESERVE out of Babylon (the world's system). Sadly, and on the opposite end of the spectrum I have heard little to no teachings at all recently as to salvation, the souls of those who are perishing, and God's love and mercy for my brothers and sisters who are bound in sin and dying in the millions.
My Precious Groom who was already bruised and bloodied is watching "His Bride's" white gown being defiled and soiled with false doctrines and perversions- from within, thus prolonging His return. He stands and waits yet again- for He knows what He has already done. He has completed His sacrifice, proposal, and sealed it with a most precious and priceless "ring..." that of the Holy Spirit! So...He waits for us- His Bride:
-the one He has cultivated,
-the one who was chosen through the Sovereignty of His Father,
-the one for whom He gave His all,
-the one in which He redeemed, (Eph 1:3-14)
He does not want some "arm/eye candy." Our Lord wants to recognize her and she Him. He wants the Bride that has devoted her entire life in preparing for the moment of His return (Rev 19:7-9 & 21:7-9). He wants something for which He can be proud of and stand before His Holy Daddy/Abba/Father - He wants so badly to declare and as Paul so greatly articulated in Ephesians 5:25-31 New Century Version:
25 Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it26 to make it belong to God. Christ used the word to make the church clean by washing it with water.27 He died so that he could give the church to himself like a bride in all her beauty. He died so that the church could be pure and without fault, with no evil or sin or any other wrong thing in it.28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies. The man who loves his wife loves himself.29 No one ever hates his own body, but feeds and takes care of it. And that is what Christ does for the church,30 because we are parts of his body.31 The Scripture says, "So a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one body."[a]32 That secret is very important—I am talking about Christ and the church.33 But each one of you must love his wife as he loves himself, and a wife must respect her husband.
He wants His Bride back...oh and HE WILL SHOW UP
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