Thursday, October 5, 2017

Voices



The prophet Jeremiah describes an amazing transformation that takes place to a desolate wasteland in chapter 33. The transformation is accomplished through "voices". These voices are the voice of mirth (also meaning an ointment used in a banquet), the voice of gladness (as found in a joyful banquet), the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, and the voices of those who will say, "Praise the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for His mercy endures forever." (Jer. 33:11). The Hebrew word for voice is "qowl". It means voice, noise, sound, thunder, proclamation, send out, call aloud, bleating, cry, sing, yell, sound of a multitude, sound of water. These five voices are brought to a place that has been made desolate (laid waste, decayed, drought, destruction, parching heat, dried up, sword, knife, slay, destroyer). There is no life, not even animal life, left in this place (v. 10), however, these voices sound in the desolation.
After the voices sound, not only do inhabitants return to the land, but the LORD brings the fulfillment of a Messianic prophecy of the One who will "execute judgment and righteousness in the earth" (v. 15). In that day, Jerusalem and Judah will be called "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (v. 16). The place transforms from desolation into Messianic kingdom reign.
It might be said that the voices, including that of the bridegroom and bride, precipitated the change. It should also be noted that the voice of the Bridegroom and bride are listed together as a couple, not as separate individuals.
The opposite is also true. The removal of these voices by the LORD caused the desolation in the first place:
"Then I will cause to cease from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. For the land shall be desolate."  Jer. 7:34
"For thus says the LORD God of Israel:" Behold, I will cause to cease from this place, before your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride."  Jer. 16:9
"Moreover, I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones (grinding grain, or prosperity) and the light of the lamp. And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment."  Jer. 25:10-11a
It is interesting that when the LORD destroys the stronghold/city of Mystery Babylon in the Book of Revelation, He also describes it in terms of removing many sounds including the sounds mentioned above: "...the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore."  Rev. 18:22b-23
The term "light of a lamp" brings to mind its connection to a wedding, and the coming of Himself as the bridegroom that Jesus teaches (Mt. 25:6-7). The voice of the bride and bridegroom play an essential role in spiritual desolation and renewal, as we see in the verses above.
As John the Baptist explained his relationship to the Messiah, he said, "I have been sent before Him. He (speaking of Messiah) who has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled."  Jn. 3:28b-29
John is described as "a voice crying in the wilderness", or desolate, parched land  (Mt. 3:2, Mk. 1:3, Lk. 3:4, Jn. 1:23). He is crying out in order to prepare the way of the Lord, or the coming of Messiah. John also connects the hearing of the bridegroom's voice with joy. Along with the voices of the bridegroom and bride in all of the above verses, come the voices of mirth and gladness. The prophet Isaiah also connects the transformation of a wilderness place into an Eden with "joy and gladness, thanksgiving and the voice of melody (psalm, sing forth praises)" (Isa. 51:3).
The concept of bride and bridegroom have spiritual importance, as well as a Messianic connection. The word bridegroom in Hebrew is "chathan". It refers to a marriage covenant or agreement, the law, husband, and circumcision. The word for bride, "kallah" means betrothed, made perfect, completed, to crown".
As the prophet Joel called the congregation to assemble for repentance in order to intercede or change the course of the judgment of God against the land, he made sure to call forth the bride and bridegroom specifically (Joel 2:16). Joel has prophetically seen the desolation and destruction. So he calls forth prophetically, renewal and restoration through repentance, and then commands the people and the land to "be glad", and "rejoice" (2:21, 23). Not only is restoration on its way (2:25-26), but the pouring out of the Spirit of God (2:28-29), and the salvation and deliverance, or Messianic kingdom reign in Zion (2:32). As with Jeremiah's prophecies, "the captives" are also returned at this time (3:1).
As the Church, our relationship with Christ is one of Bride and Bridegroom, so we should find the bridal role involved with desolation and renewal very important to us.
At the removal of the bridegroom's and bride's voice, the destroyer ("charab"), desolation moves in. The various Hebrew words used for "destroyer" mean: violently destroy, corrupt, waster, spoiler, robber, ravenous, violent one. The destroyer has its own sound, or voice:
"Dreadful sounds are in his ears; In prosperity the destroyer comes upon him."  Job. 15:21
David remarked that his own words and the spoken words of the LORD (the voice of the Bridegroom), had an effect on the destroyer:
"I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer."  Ps. 17:3-4
The Apostle Paul warned the Church:
"...nor let us tempt Christ...nor complain (murmur) as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer."   1 Cor. 10:9-10
As Paul warned, if those who are to be the voice of the Bride, instead speak with the same voice and sound of the world and the destroyer, then the necessary voice of the bride has been removed from the land, and the destroyer rushes in. What is the voice of the Bride to be saying? She says the same thing as the voice of the Bridegroom. They speak as one (echad). For example, the Bridegroom says, "Behold, I am coming quickly..." (Rev. 22:12). The Bride along with the Spirit responds to Him, "Come!" (Rev. 22:17).
As Jeremiah tells us, these voices say, "Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good, for His mercy endureth for ever." The two, Bridegroom and Bride, speak with one accord.

Our Father uses the voice of the Bridegroom and the voice of the Bride.

"Hear the Song of Your Bride"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnMoiq_H1Ak

"Mystery of the Heavenly Bridegroom and the Bride-The Khatan and the Kalah"
(teaching by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrPIxFwVUNQ

"Behind the Veil"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPmJhmEIBL4

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