Yitro

This week's sabbath Torah reading from Exodus chapters 16-20 is titled Yitro/Yeter/Yatar, or "Jethro", and means "his abundance, rope, tent cord used to fasten tent curtains to stakes, exceeds measure or limit,remainder, excellence/remnant, more, other part, cord/to preserve alive, left over, excess". When we envision a tent as a dwelling, although the tent cord is outside the structure of the tent, it is essential in securing the tent walls to the stakes in the ground. The tent cords "exceed the structural limit" of the physical tent. Sometimes we limit whom we think are the designated people of God, however, God may have different ideas. When Moses fled Egypt after killing a cruel slave overseer, he found refuge in the tent of Jethro, as well as marriage to one of Jethro's daughters. They became part of one another's families through the covenant of marriage. Jethro was Moses' father-in-law, or hatan in Hebrew, which has an interesting meaning: "law, mariages, join in affinity, to contract affinity by marriage, bride's father, joined together by a common bond, to provide a nuptial feast, circumcision, place of circumcision, a word used for the festival of circumcision that was applied to that of a marriage also". We see this same mysterious connection between marriage and spiritual circumcision as Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "...For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy." (1 Cor. 7:12=14). With this kind of sanctification within marriage-circumcision, Paul urged spouses who were believers not to divorce unbelieving spouses. In these current times, we have lost a great deal of Godly knowledge concerning marriage, haven't we? In a previous sabbath reading portion, we read: "Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God." (Ex. 3:1). Jethro's flock was not an ordinary flock. It was an "aleph-tav" flock in the written Hebrew. Jesus identified Himself as the Aleph-Tav, or the Alpha and Omega in Greek, four times in the Book of Revelation. Moses brought this aleph-tav flock of Jethro's to the mountain of God. Not only was this the aleph-tav flock, but they were brought to "the back of the desert" or ahar, meaning the "afterwards of time, to be after". This flock was brought to the mountain of God at a later time. As believers in Christ, we also became connected to the household of God "afterwards in time" through Jesus Christ. The Gospel of salvation is to the Jew first (proton - first in time, place, order or importance in any succession of things or persons), and also (kai - then, and, too, cumulative) the Greek (see Rom. 1:16). I believe that the aleph-tav flock of Jethro, who was not a Hebrew, prophesied of the Gentile flock who would come to a later knowledge of God through Christ. Jesus spoke of being the Shepherd of sheep in other folds of which his disciples were unaware: "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one Shepherd." (Jn. 10:16). Yitro, or Jethro, was from Midian, and not a Hebrew. However, as a "tent cord", he was connected to "the tent" of Israel as a necessary part. Later, in the Book of Judges, Ja-el, the wife in a family from the same tribe as Jethro, would kill with a tent peg or tent stake the general of an oppressive enemy army which had taken control over Israel. (Judges 4:17-21). This tribe of Jethro's, and later Ja-el's, the Kenites, were descendants of Cain, the son of Adam who killed his own brother Abel, yet Jethro and Ja=el were chosen by God to play a role in two different types of exodus from oppression of the Israelites. From this sabbath's reading in Ex. 18, Jethro had heard the reports of what the LORD had done for the Israelites, even bringing them out of Egypt, and went to seek out Moses where the Israelites hd camped in the wilderness at the base of the mountain of God to ask him about it (Ex. 18:1, 5). Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to deliver His people, and Jethro rejoiced, blessed the LORD, worshipped the LORD with a burnt offering and sacrifices (before the Law was given), and declared: "Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them." Then Aaron and the elders of Israel came to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law (see hatan above) before God (Ex. 18:9-12). They had communion together, a covenant meal. Jethro would also give Moses wise advice concerning the judging, or the settling of disputes, among the population of hundreds of thousands of Israelites (Ex. 18:13-23). Jethro's advice to Moses forms the basis for how governments are able to administrate even today. From a previous sabbath reading, we discovered that Jethro's other name in scripture was Reuel (Ex. 2:18), meaning "friend of God". There is a scripture describing a friend who sticks closer than a (blood) brother (Prov. 18:24). This was Jethro also. God called Abraham His friend too (2 Chron. 20:7, Isa. 41:8, James 2:23). This kind of friendship has a special place in the heart of God. Believe it or not, Jethro had a third name! This name was Hobab/habab/haba, meaning "cherish, love fervently, to hide as in the bosom/breathe upon as being close to/to hide, secretly held) mentioned in Judges 4:11 and Num. 10:29-32. With his three names, Jethro brings to my mind the Trinity of Father (Abundance, Exceeds measure or limit, Excellence) , Son (Beloved, cherished and hidden), and Holy Spirit (Friend and Comforter). In Num. 10:29-32, Moses begs his father-in-law to travel with the Israelites through the wilderness "...that thou mayest be to us instead of eyes...And it shall be, if you go with us - indeed it shall be - that whatever good the LORD will do to us, the same we will do to you." Jethro became an essential part of the exodus, a Greek-Latin word meaning "the way or road out of". We can't always assume that we know all of the friends of God that are deeply loved, and kept hidden in His bosom. Jesus said, "...he who is not against us is on our side" (Mk. 9:38-41). I am convinced that God still has these seemingly unlikely cherished friends whom He keeps close to Him, hidden in His bosom, and unrecognized by us. We see this again in other portions of this sabbath's readings. Isaiah had a vision of the Lord in His heavenly temple. He saw and heard the seraphim (sarap - fiery, burning, poisonous serpents, to burn up, kindled, utterly, to cause to burn, to absorb with fire) angels crying to each other: "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory." (Isa. 6:1-3). The glory of the LORD is not confined to His tent/tabernacle/temple in Isaiah's vision, but it has exceeded those limits (see the meaning of Yitro/Jethro above) to include the whole earth. Considering the meaning and description of these angels, above, I'm not going to argue with them! In another sabbath portion, the LORD calls to Jacob, or Israel, and his descendants to be brought back from all directions, and adds: "Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him." He calls out "the blind people who have eyes", and "the deaf who have ears", and let all nations be gathered together...let them hear and say, 'It is truth.'". (Isa. 43:5-9). The word "everyone" is used in these verses. It is the Hebrew word kol/kalal, and means "everything, all, whole, whosoever, whatsoever, totality, any number, as many as, all the earth, the whole flock/made perfect, to complete, to crown, nuptials, crowning of a bride". Believers in Christ should be able to see themselves clearly in the meaning of "everyone" used here. In the last portion of this sabbath's reading that we will look at here, there is a revival of the Word of God among the Israelites who returned from Babylonian captivity. The people, gathered together as one man, asked Ezra the priest and scribe to read the Book of the Law of Moses to them. The assembly was described as the men and women, "and all who could hear with understanding...who could understand" (Neh. 8:1-3). The people were assembled in front of the Water Gate. The Water Gate and its nearby tower, located on the eastern side of Jerusalem, were believed to have been added later to the original footprint of the walls of the city. The Gate's purpose was to not only bring more water into Jerusalem, but to provide water from the Gihon (Gihon/giah - bursting forth/come forth, bring forth, like a child brought forth from the womb) River to the outlying population - to those beyond the limit of the original walls of the city. As we have seen in this sabbath reading, Jethro and others, named and unnamed, have a special place in the heart and plan of God for His people, and play an important role in their exodus, meaning "the way or road out of" Egypt and other oppressive situations. There are "friends of God" still, I am convinced, who play a role in the plans of God, until "the whole earth is filled with His glory". They may appear to dwell outside the tent of God's people, but as "tent cords", they are also part of the dwelling that continues to stand against the winds and the rains. The LORD gave a wonderful prophecy to Isaiah for the barren woman who has no children: "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand/break forth to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited." (Isa. 54:2-3). If you would like to understand more about these "other sheep", as Jesus called them, which also includes ourselves, you can pray with me: "Father, You have cherished friends hidden in Your bosom whom You have called to serve Your will, and to be a benefit to Your people. They may appear to me to be beyond the limit of Your dwelling, but Your dwelling exceeds all limits. You have told me to lengthen my tent cords, and to enlarge the place of my tent. Teach me Your Word, not by my own understanding and perception, nor by tradition, but by the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, who guides me in all of Your truth. Let me join in Your call to "everyone" to be brought back to Your dwelling place. I ask these things in Jesus' name. AMEN." **There is a free ebook now available that was written by a well-respected author on the subject of the fascinating Shroud of Turin titled: "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary". You can get this free ebook by going to www.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.**

Hearts

This Sabbath reading portion, which includes Deuteronomy Chapters 29 through 31, titled Nitzavim-Vayelech, comes just before the new Hebrew calendar year begins, which will be year 5782, and right before the Feast of Trumpets, one of the appointed fall feasts commanded by the LORD. Therefore, I believe that this Sabbath portion has a great significance in this new beginning, and this season of the LORD's appointed feasts. In this Sabbath reading, Moses was preparing to depart life at the age of 120 (Deut. 31:1-2), and he was imparting to Israel, some important things to remember in their relationship with God. Moses knew that these things would make the difference between Israel's success or failure, even their life or death. One part of the two-part title of this reading is Vayelech meaning "Then he went out". Moses was speaking to these people whom he had led for over forty years as a leader and a prophet whose time was nearly up. Moses called all of Israel to assemble in order to enter into covenant with God for the keeping of His commandments, and God's covenant with them establishing them as a people for Himself (Deut. 29:9-13). The other part of the two-part title for this Sabbath portion is Nitzavim which means "Are standing". Not only was all of Israel to stand before the LORD in this assembly of covenant, but also anyone else who was in the camp as a stranger or a laborer. However, this assembly was not limited to those physically present. Moses said: "I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone, but with him who stands here with us today before the LORD our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today..." (v. 12-15). This perpetual covenant of obedience is not only with Israel and her generations to come, but with the future stranger and laborer in the camp also. In the same manner, as we stand before the LORD, we represent not only ourselves before Him, but those who are yet to come. It is easy to forget that those people who have not yet appeared are "in us" (see also Isa. 66:8-11, Heb. 7:9-10). As Moses prepared the people before his death, he stressed the importance of their covenant of love for God (Deut. 30:16), which is expressed in obedience to God and His Word. Although there was a curse associated with the breaking of this covenant of obedience to the commandments of God, Moses promised that the LORD would reverse the curse (example: the scattering of the people of Israel to foreign nations) if "...you return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart, and with all your soul...And the LORD God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live." (Deut. 30:1-2, 6). Then the people will again obey the voice of the LORD, causing them to prosper, abound, and increase (v.9). The Word of God, Moses said, was not in some unattainable place, "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it." (v. 14). Jesus said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Lk. 6:45). This is about the contents and work of the heart, not about a set of religious obligations. The treasures of our hearts must contain the love of God, and therefore the love of His Word, Jesus (Jn. 1:1-3, 14). From this treasure, our words and obedient actions will flow. It seems that trying to be religiously obedient to God's Word without the necessary foundation of love for Him, not only results in eventual spiritual error, but is without value to God (Isa. 29:13-14, Mt. 15:7-9, Ezek. 33:31). How do we view the commandments of God, and how do we relay this view to others? The type of relationship that Moses was urging to all of Israel, also leads us to a prophecy in Jeremiah. In the haftarah portion for this Sabbath, Jeremiah wrote of a "new covenant" that would reflect this type of heart relationship with God (Jer. 31:31-33). The Words of God, Jeremiah wrote, would be written internally in God's people...not just to do but to be. Moses took this relationship even further as he described the blessing or the curse that flows from whichever treasure we keep in our hearts regarding the love of God, and obedience to His Word: life and good, or death and evil (Deut. 30:15). "...I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice,, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days..." (v. 19-20). In his last days, Moses is imploring Israel to love God, not only to love Him, but to cling or cleave (dabaq - "to cling, to stick to, to be joined together, follow closely, pursue hard) to Him as spouses cleave to each other (Gen. 2:23-24). With these words, Moses was calling Israel to a marriage relationship with God. This is the only thing that will preserve them. The LORD prophesied through Isaiah in another haftarah portion of this sabbath's reading regarding the marriage relationship He has with His people. He prophetically called them "The Holy People" and "The Redeemed" (Isa. 62:12). Righteousness and salvation shine from these people like a burning lamp (v. 1). He will call these people and their land by a new name: Hephzibah, meaning "My delight is in her", and Beulah, meaning "to marry, to be lord (husband) over, married wife, take a wife, dominion" (v. 4). We can see that the purpose of the LORD for His people is that they should be in a loving marriage with Him. Jesus also, as the worthy Lamb of God, is the Bridegroom in marriage to His prepared Bride (Rev. 19:6-9). Here is an interesting point in reading Isaiah's prophecy regarding the use of the word Beulah, or "married. The word which has been translated as the word, Beulah in the verse from Isaiah, is the Hebrew word, ba'al. We also know Ba'al to be a false god whom Israel worshipped as an idol. Jezebel, the evil queen's name, means "Ba'al is husband to". The worship of Ba'al, in its demonic twisting of the true purpose, involved sexual impurity, perversion, and the use of both male and female prostitutes in worship. This is the corruption of God's concept of His marriage to His people. While the Beulah marriage with God brings forth offspring who are worshippers, the relationship with the demonic idol, Ba'al, calls for the sacrifice of children. The concept of marriage to God is so vital and powerful, that the counterfeit opposition to the holy concept still presents itself today. We cannot assume that we are immune to its influence. As John heard and saw the glory of the marriage of the Lamb to His Bride, he immediately fell down in worship of the one who revealed it to him. He was severely scolded for this by the one who identified himself as "of the brethren" (Rev. 19:10). The spirit of idolatry is quick to seek to corrupt this powerful revelation of God in order to destroy it, before we even realize that we have been susceptible to it. May we come to this time of new beginnings of the year, and the appointed fall feasts of the LORD, by allowing some of Moses' last instructions to bring us to a new understanding and determination to love the LORD with all our hearts and all our souls. If you would like to enter into this kind of relationship with the Lord, you can pray: "Dear Father in heaven, I come to You and to Your Son, Jesus, with the desire to establish myself in the love of God. I want a personal and intimate relationship with You, loving You with all of my heart and soul, and I want Your Word to be the treasure of my heart from which my obedience flows. I know that You loved me so much that You gave Your only Son for my sins. You raised Him from the dead so I would not have to know death. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to teach and quicken me in my loving relationship with You. I ask these things in Jesus' name. AMEN."

Changes

People who don't know God well, don't think that He is associated with rapid and revolutionary change, but they would be wrong. The Sabbath readings for this week represent a season of profound spiritual changes, as well as changes in natural circumstances. The Torah readings from Deuteronomy Chapters 3-6 begin with the announcement of a pending change of leadership for the children of Israel from the era of Moses, whose name means "to draw out, to pull out", as Moses was drawn out of the Nile River as an infant, and as he drew out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt and slavery. The new leader appointed by the LORD was to be Joshua, whose name means "Jehovah is salvation/opulence". Joshua would lead the children of Israel into the new land. The title of this week's Sabbath reading, in which we see drastic changes, is Va-etchannan (Nachumu). Va-etchannan means "and I besought". In Deut. 3:23-26, Moses besought God to allow him to cross over with the people to see the good land beyond the Jordan River. God not only refused His servant Moses, but said, "Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter." (v. 26). Moses had disobeyed God earlier, striking the rock for water, when God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock, and at that time God informed Moses that he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land (Num. 20:7-12, Num. 27:12-14). Not only did Moses disobey God's command, but he did not discern Christ as the Rock which followed the camp of Israel in the wilderness, from Whom sprang their living water (1 Cor. 10:4). The LORD also knew that it would require a new leader to lead His people into their new land, and new identity as a nation, rather than as a camp of tribes. No doubt the thought of a change in leadership, no matter how necessary in God's eyes as He provided for the future of His people, caused distress and sadness. The children of Israel were baptized into the baptism of Moses as they went through the Red Sea (1 Cor. 10:1-2), but now they were to be baptized in a new baptism initiated by a new leader as they were about to enter and cross the Jordan (meaning "descender, flowing down, to come down (pertaining to revelation), abundantly) River into the Promised Land. We also received a change in baptisms as we became part of the Church of Believers, from the baptism of repentance, to the new baptism of Christ and the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5, 11:15-16, 19:4-6). Another change experienced by the children of Israel, as Moses reminded them in Deut. 5:2-4, was a new covenant not previously known by their fathers: "The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire." The people of God walked in a new understanding and covenant relationship with the LORD as they received His Word, the Torah. Moses also revealed to the people a new understanding of the Person of God in this week's Sabbath reading. He brought forth what is called the Shemah, which revealed the mystery that the LORD was a plural unit: "Hear O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one (echad- together unitedly, to unify, to join oneself together)!" (Deut. 6:4). We know this unity of God as the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Moses also revealed a change in the understanding that the children of Israel had about their relationship with God. Their, and our, service and obedience to Him, and their personal relationshp with Him, were to be based not upon religion and compulsion, but upon total love (Deut. 6:5). That was a revolutionary thought for the time. God's people were to wear these words on their foreheads and hands, and placed on their houses as a sign (v. 8-9). This "sign" declared the undivided plurality of God, and the love-based relationship we are to have with Him. Another of the changes contained in this week's reading is the timing of the reading. This specific date on the Hebrew calendar signals an acknowledgment of a change. This Sabbath's reading is on the Sabbath following what is considered as the saddest, most mournful day of the Jewish calendar, Tisha B'Av, the ninth of Av, which is observed with sorrow and repentance, along with the hope of receiving a vision (chazon) from God concerning the building of a third temple, and the reign of Messiah (for more information, see the previous blog post). The ninth of Av is the date on which many calamities befell the Jewish people, including the destruction of their two temples. However, the title of this Sabbath's reading is also Nachumu, which means "comfort". This day of comfort and change promised to God's people falls on Tu B'Av, or the 15th of Av. The 15th of Av is considered the happiest day on the Jewish calendar. This year, Tu B'Av falls on July 23-24. It may surprise us to find out that Tu B'Av is considered in Israel to be the most important day of the year next to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. So between two Sabbaths, we experience a complete change in the course of six days of going from the saddest state of repentance on Tisha B'Av, to the greatest joy on Tu B'Av. What accounts for this rapid change? This great day of joy of the 15th of Av is connected to marriage, and many marriages in Israel occur on this date. In years past, the unmarried women in Israel would dress in white and go dance in the vineyards. Unmarried men would go to the vineyards, and hopefully meet the young women who would become their brides! Although this date isn't specifically mentioned in scripture, its foundation in truth is beautifully expressed. The Song of Songs seems to refer to it as it reveals the connection of the vineyard to marriage: "Come, my beloved,...Let us get up early to the vineyards; Let us see if the vine has budded, whether the grape blossoms are open, and the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love. The mandrakes give off a fragrance, and at our gates are pleasant fruits, all manner, new and old, which I have laid up for you, my beloved." (Song of Songs 7:11-13). No one can say that the LORD isn't a romantic! And, of course, we can't help but connect this lovely image of Tu B'Av with the prophesied marriage of the Messiah, Jesus, with His Bride, those who believe and follow Him. That also will be a time of great rejoicing in heaven (Rev. 19:6-9). Tu B'Av also reminds us of the marriage relationship that God has with Israel (Isa. 54:5-6, Hosea 2:14-16). The Sabbath reading for Tu B'Av titled Nachumu, or "comfort", is from Isaiah 40. It reflects the great spiritual change in the six days from Tisha B'Av to Tu B'Av. Isaiah wrote: "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!' Says your God. 'Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the LORD's hand double (comfort spoken two times) for all her sins...[note: v. 3-4 not included here is the prophecy of the ministry of John the Baptist, who revealed the Messiah to Israel. See also Lk. 3:2-6]...The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken...He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young." (v. 1-5, 11). Sins are pardoned, warfare is ended, and the Lord acts as a Shepherd to His people. All of these qualities are also incorporated in the Person of Jesus. Isaiah 61, the first part of which Jesus read in the synagogue, also brings the prophecy of a complete change from sadness and mourning to comfort, as we find mirrored in Tisha B'Av and Tu B'Av: "...to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." (Isa. 61:2-3). The result of these changes that Isaiah prophesied, is the rebuilding and restoration of waste places, desolations, and ruins (v. 4). The prophet Hosea connects all four themes we have discussed, changes, marriage, comfort (Nachumu), and even the vineyard, as the LORD says: "I will give her (speaking of Israel) vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor (meaning "trouble, disturbance, calamity") as a door of hope; she shall sing there...And it shall be in that day, says the LORD, that you will call Me 'My Husband', and no longer call Me 'My Master' (referring to Israel's worship of the idol, Ba'al)." (Hos. 2:15-16). The apostle Paul revealed in the New Testament the source of comfort, like that found in the Sabbath title Nachumu: "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain (see Moses' comment above from Deut. 5) until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thess. 4:14-18). The promise of resurrection through the Person and First Fruits of resurrection, Jesus, is the highest comfort found in the concept of Tu B'Av. Paul also wrote: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us...because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." (Rom. 8:18-21). The Tisha B'Av to Tu B'Av changes affects all creation. The worsening troubles and turmoil of this present time that the whole earth is experiencing will bring forth the return of Christ and the creation of the new heavens and the new earth. These are times of great changes. Some of those changes have caused us to mourn for the losses. However, those losses usher in the comfort of God, with all its hope and joy. The beautiful and hopeful Messianic promises of change and comfort found in Tu B'Av enriches the understanding and faith of the believer in Christ. If you would like to know the comfort of the Lord, which He has provided for His people, you can pray: "Lord Jesus, I believe that You died for me, and rose again from the dead, so I could have everlasting life. This is the comfort of God provided for me in the body of His Son. In an instant, as I receive you as my Lord, You change my natural and spiritual circumstances. You deliver me from mourning, sorrow and loss, to hope, joy, and salvation. I am joined to you as a Bride is joined to the Bridegroom on Tu B'Av. Baptize and fill me in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Three in One. I give thanks in Your name. Amen."

Married

This is the Sabbath before Shavuot, the Feast 0f Weeks, which has been a topic in recent posts. It is on this feast that the Holy Spirit was poured out in Jerusalem in the Upper Room upon believers in Christ (see Acts 2). In Greek, this feast is called Pentecost, because of the timing of the feast - fifty days from the Feast of Unleavened Bread. To the Jewish people, Shavuot also memorializes the receiving of the Torah from God on Mount Sinai by Moses on behalf of the congregation of Israel. The Torah is the first five books of the Bible. The receiving of the Torah by Israel was also, according to their teaching, the receiving of a marriage covenant between God and His people. Because of this understanding, people of the Jewish faith use these days before Shavuot to prepare themselves for this marriage to God. We also, as Christians, have a marriage relationship with the Word of God, who is Jesus (John 1:1-5): "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (v. 14). Revelation 19:6-9 announces from heaven the marriage of the Lamb saying, "His wife has made herself ready". The New Jerusalem coming down from heaven, is a bridal city adorned for her husband (Rev. 21:2). Paul defined earthly marriage as representing Christ and His church: "'For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church." (Eph. 5:22-33, excerpt). Paul described the relationship of Christ and the Church as a marriage with "the two becoming one flesh". We are not called to know Jesus as Lord and Savior only, but also as "Husband", which is a more intimate and inseparable relationship. Paul said of that relationship: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8:35-39). It is the marriage relationship between Christ and each one of us individually as believers, and with the Church corporately, that overcomes all created things, even death. On one memorable occasion, Jesus kept repeatedly asked Peter if Peter "loved" Him. Peter didn't understand what Jesus was trying to draw from him, perhaps being a little uncomfortable with the question also, and answered that he had a fondness for Jesus, a brotherly affection. Perhaps we can say that because Jesus knew what manner of death lay ahead in the years to come in Peter's life, and what would be ordained for Peter as an apostle, Jesus also knew it would require Peter to have more than the bond of fondness or friendship with Himself to get him through (Jn. 21:15-19). The same is true for the Church of the latter days. We will need to know that we are bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh to get through. We will need to know Jesus with more than a brotherly affection. Do we understand this, and are we preparing ourselves for the depth of a marriage relationship with Christ, as the Jews are preparing themselves during this time of year for marriage to God? Is it possible for us to understand all that is entailed in a marriage relationship with Christ in an era when marriage is not taken seriously at all, when marriage is profaned and easily disposed of even in the Church? If because of this worldly view, marriage has become less in our eyes than what God intended, our spiritual enemy's relentless, strategic attack on marriage in general has therefore also been effective in negatively impacting our view of a marriage relationship with Christ. Part of the Sabbath reading for this "wedding preparation" time before Shavuot is from the haftarah. It is from the Book of Hosea. Hosea was a prophet who was instructed by God to marry a prostitute. Hosea had to continually go and buy back his wife from the men who had purchased her for illicit use. God used this sad marriage of Hosea's to prophesy about the condition of His own marriage to Israel. The LORD says about His marriage: "Say to your brethren, Ammi ("My people"), and to your sisters, Ruhamah ("Mercy is shown"). 'Bring charges against your mother, bring charges; For she is not My wife, nor am I her Husband! Let her put away her harlotries from her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts...' I will punish her for the days of the Ba'als (bloodthirsty false gods) to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, and went after her lovers; But Me she forgot, says the LORD." (Hos. 2:1-2, 13). The LORD is angry here with His people, His wife, who has turned her back on Him to chase after others who don't even love her. However, because of His marriage relationship with Israel, the LORD seeks to reconcile with her: "Therefore, behold, I will allure (pata- entice, persuade, be open, seduce) her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor (trouble, calamity, to disturb) as a door of hope...And it shall be in that day, says the LORD, that you will call Me 'My Husband', and no longer call Me 'My Master' (Baali)...I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know (yada- to know by experience, to be able to discriminate or distinguish, to know intimately) the LORD...And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy ("lo-ruhamah"); Then I will say to those who were not My people ("lo-ammi"), 'You are My people ("ammi")!' And they shall say, 'You are my God!'" (Hos. 2:14-23, excerpt). The LORD had to bring His people into the wilderness in order to pull Israel aside from her false gods, and to draw her back to her true Husband. Perhaps that is one reason why the title of this Sabbath's reading portion is B'midbar or "In the wilderness". A marriage relationship with the Lord is different in every way from a service, or even a friendship relationship with Him. In this marriage relationship, the two become one flesh, and it is not possible to separate them. In connecting the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the believers in the Upper Room in Jerusalem on Shavuot or Pentecost, to a marriage covenant, Jesus described it this way, "Behold, I send the Promise (epangelia- an announcement (for assent or pledge), to reconcile) of My Father upon you.." (Lk. 24:49). The Promise of the Holy Spirit indwelling us can be seen as part of a marriage promise making us one with Christ, as well as a promise to empower us. As Paul told us above, the victorious power to overcome all created things comes from our inseparable marriage relationship with Christ. May we prepare ourselves and accept Jesus not only as Lord, but also as Husband. Our Father is preparing a Marriage for His Son. If you would like to know Jesus as Savior, Lord, and Husband, you can pray: "Lord Jesus, I believe that You died for my sins, and rose from the dead for me. I believe that the Promise of our Father is one of a marriage with You. Nothing can separate me from You, and I become more than a conqueror joined in You. You sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within me, and to unite me with You. Let the Holy Spirit lead and teach me in the marriage relationship I have with You. In Your name, I pray. AMEN."

Images

It is important that each of us be a witness to God's revelatory truth, which is His Word. Jesus said, "Thy word is truth." (Jn. 17:17). Jesus is the Word become flesh, and He is described as being full of grace and truth (Jn. 1:1-14). Jesus also said of God's Word, which is truth, that it has the power to sanctify us (Jn. 17:17). The Church's proclaiming of the truth of God is important for another reason. Jesus told us, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (Jn. 8:31-32). There is liberating power in the truth. When the Church fails to tell the truth, but proclaims the world's solutions instead, we are in effect telling people something like this: "Stay in your prison cell, but I will make the cell more comfortable for you - here's a blanket and a pillow." We are called to speak Christ, Who is truth, in order to open prison doors and set the captives FREE. This is part of the power of truth as prophesied regarding the Messiah: "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house." (Isa. 42:6-7, also Isa. 61:1). Also, the opening of otherwise unopenable cell doors, creates a wonder and a hunger for salvation that causes people to say, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:23-36). There is nothing that the world can offer that can achieve these results. The world does not accept the power of God's truth. As Jesus declared that He came to bear witness to the truth, the world responded cynically asking, "What is truth?" (Jn. 18:37-38). The world considers truth to be something that is continually changing, or relative, or even unimportant. For this reason, the world's "solutions" are not deeply or lastingly effective, and at best, apply a bandage to a gushing wound. Why should we, the Church, be in agreement with the world's opinion of truth? There are two ways to deliver truth. There is a negative truth, and a positive truth, though both are truth. Here is an example: Someone wants to draw a tree. They ask, "What does a tree look like?" If I supply them with negative truth, I would answer, "Well, a tree does not look like a horse, and it does not look like a rock, and it does not look like a bird...", and so on. I would be delivering truth, but the person would not be able to replicate a tree. In order to replicate the image, positive truth would be more helpful to them: a tree has a strong central trunk with protective bark on its surface. The trunk has a wider base which tapers to a narrower top. From that trunk, branches that look like arms extend laterally from around the trunk, and up to the top. From those sturdy branches, extend thinner branches. At the ends of those thinner branches, grow clusters of leaves, or needles. The artist now has a far better chance of duplicating an accurate image of a tree from the positive truth supplied. In the same manner, we have the ability, by knowing God's Word of truth, to supply helpful, positive truth to reproduce the image that is created by truth, and we already know that the image created by the truth of God's Word is Christ. Here is an example from one of the issues of today. In dealing with the issue of marriage, there are many negative truths that can be supplied. "Marriage is not....". If we want to offer the truth of God that creates the person of Christ, it might be more helpful to describe what marriage is according to the Word of truth: "Then God (Elohim:plural) said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion...over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them..." (Gen. 1:26-28). We can see from the verses above, that God created man to place His image in the earth. He mentions His/Our image/likeness four times. That image would be created by the combination of male and female according to the verses. What does the image of God that is produced with the male/female creation look like? If we look at the Hebrew words and roots involved, it becomes quickly obvious that the image created is Christ. Here are some of the meanings of the Hebrew words used for male (remember, to bring to mind, to make a memorial, pricking, piercing, penetrating, to meditate and think on, to praise, to offer a memorial offering, the recorder of the annuls of the kingdom) and female (to pierce, perforate, bore a hole, pierce through, strike through, to call by name, to thrust through with a spear, to express with holes, blaspheme, curse). Can you see what the image is created within the truth of male and female? Yes, it's Jesus! We see the curious inclusion of "blaspheme", and "curse" within the meaning of the Hebrew word for female, but these two words have a very specific contribution to the image of Christ being created here. Christ was condemned to death by the religious council, and ultimately agreed to by the Gentile government, for the crime of blasphemy. Those who accused Him were actually committing blasphemy themselves, as they falsely accused the innocent Son of God. Scriptures also tell us that Christ has redeemed us from the curse..., having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs from a tree." (Gal. 3:13-14). Apostle Paul confirms the truth of the prophetic image of Christ within the joining of male and female that God established at our creation. Paul wrote in the New Testament, based on verses from Genesis, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined with his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church." (Eph. 5:31-32, Gen. 2:24). Those who receive this positive truth concerning marriage as spoken by God now have this image before them to which they may conform. As we know, however, many prefer to accept a different image. There are those who are ignorant of the truth, or do not receive the truth when it is given to them, including some in the Church. They choose to conform to the images created and preferred by the world. However, those images do not set anyone free. Those images do not have the power to sanctify. Those images do not create the image of Christ. Many times in scripture, God brings judgment to His people who accept false images in place of the image that God has ordained through truth (see Ezek. 7 and 8). The world cannot receive the Spirit of truth, because it neither sees, nor knows Him (Jn. 14:17). How can the world recreate an image of truth when it cannot see, nor know, the original? It can't be done. That's our job. Our Father has provided us with an image of His Son, Who is truth. If you would like to know the truth that sets men free, the truth that brings us to the Father, the truth that redeems us from the curse, the truth which is the image of Christ, you can receive Him by believing His death, and resurrection. You can confess this belief through a prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe You are truth and grace. I believe that You died in my place, and was raised again, so I can live. Come into my heart, and be Lord of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, so that I may be a witness of truth in the earth for others. I thank You for reconciling me with the Father, and for the gift of salvation and everlasting life. I believe and pray these things in your name. Amen.

Halal

 The Hebrew word halal is a glorious word. It  means "to shine, to be clear, to be brilliant, to flash forth light, to be praised, to be praiseworthy, glory, celebrate, rejoice, to sing". It sounds like a word that would be used regarding the Lord's glory and presence. It may surprise you to know that halal is a Hebrew word for "marriage"! In the language of God, this is what marriage is meant to be: halal. We can understand why Paul said that marriage is a type of Christ and the Church (Eph. 5:25-28). Marriage was always meant to be this, even before the beginning, since Christ was the Lamb sacrificed before the foundation of the world. Neither Adam and Eve nor other men, created the concept of marriage, and they did not define it. Halal takes natural man and transforms him, which is why the LORD said that men leave (azab- forsake, leave behind, abandon while at the same time repair, restore, set free) father and mother, and instead become joined into a halal oneness, or echad, with his wife (Gen. 2:22-25). Echad is an interconnected plurality in the same way of the trinity plurality of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Halal marriage leaves behind the natural condition of man, and restores and repairs the original divine echad. This halal marriage, like the union of Christ and Church, shines with glory, and sends forth that light. Yes, marriage encompasses love, but it is the sacrificial type of love, like the sacrificial love of Christ (see also 1 Cor. 13). This is what makes it shine with glory. It is the glory of Christ, which is the same glory as given Him by the Father, born out of His sacrificial love.
Man tries to define marriage in many ways, some being more profane than others, but seldom do we hear the true purpose and quality of it as God intended it. Shouldn't the Church have the true understanding of marriage, especially as we, the Church, have been spiritually defined by it in scripture? It is very evident in many cases that most of the Church does not understand halal. Can we be shocked that the world desires to define marriage in an equally ignorant manner?  If we want to pull down those carnal strongholds (root meaning: used of those joined to any one by the bonds of natural blood or marriage, to hold one's self to a thing, to adhere or cling to, to be closely joined to a person or thing) of falsehood regarding marriage that we empowered, we need to cast down our own reasonings that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Other disobedience is punished when our obedience is fulfilled first (2 Cor. 10:4-6). We are not to look at marriage based on outward appearance or considerations (v. 7). That is not halal marriage. This is where our warfare begins-inside our own minds, souls, and flesh.
I would like to look briefly at two marriages in scripture that I think illustrate halal. In Gen. 24, Abraham sends his servant back to his own people to find a bride for his son, Isaac. Abraham makes his servant swear to find the correct bride from Abraham's own people by putting his hand under Abraham's thigh (includes the meaning *shaft of the Holy Candlestick of the tabernacle which divides into three branches). The servant travels back to Abraham's homeland, but seeks God's help in identifying which woman is the right woman for Isaac. He bases his request to God on a spirit of generosity and sacrifice to be found in the unknown woman. Rebekah ("ensnarer of men by beauty") comes to the well, and not only gives the servant a drink, but waters all of his camels also. In fact, she runs repeatedly to water them. She runs to keep emptying buckets of water from the well into the trough as needed for thirsty camels (root-ripen fruit, recompense, to deal bountifully with). Though she is outwardly beautiful, it is her inner qualities that identify her as the halal bride. Even before the servant finds out that she is indeed one of Abraham's kin, he puts a golden (shimmer, golden splendor of the heavens, of the sun, of the purest oil, brilliant like gold) nose ring or earring on her, and golden bracelets on her wrists. To shorten the story, although Rebekah has the beauty to capture any man of her choosing, she chooses of her free will to leave her father's house and country, and accompany Abraham's servant to far away Canaan to become a bride for the master's son, a man whom she has never met. As she nears Isaac's tent, she does so covering her natural beauty, and Isaac receives her as his wife (Gen. 24:65-67). As the years go by, it is because of this halal bride Rebekah, and the revelation that she receives from God, that the patriarchal blessing and covenant inheritance is to be given to Jacob, rather than Esau. Jacob, renamed Israel by God, produced the sons and grandsons that became the tribes of Israel, from which Jesus came into the earth. Rebekah's halal marriage established the way for the coming of the Messiah.
In another example of halal, Ruth ("friendship, female companion, mate, neighbor woman") leaves her natural family and homeland, and freely chooses to accompany her mother-in-law back to Bethlehem in Judah. Ruth attaches herself to her mother-in-law in every way. Her mother-in-law was named Naomi ("my delight, favor, grace, beauty, brightness, splendor"). Ruth said to her mother-in-law, Naomi:
"Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God;
Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried;
The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me." 
                                                                                                             Ruth 1:16-17
This kind of commitment to Naomi, and to Naomi's spiritual identity, laid the groundwork for the halal marriage that would soon enter Ruth's life.
After traveling back to Naomi's homeland, Ruth sacrificially gleans in the fields to feed not only herself, but Naomi. This causes Boaz to first notice her, and ask others about her identity. On her mother-in-law's advice, Ruth places herself at the feet of Boaz, who becomes her kinsman-redeemer. Looking at the situation based on natural considerations, this would seem an unlikely marriage. However, this was a halal marriage and from this marriage came the family line that produced not only King David, but again, as in Rebekah's case, established the way for the coming Messiah, Jesus, the Son of David. 
Marriages created in man's image produce various things, some of which man considers good. However, halal marriage produces Christ.
Halal marriage was created to personify kingdom glory, and the image and reign of Christ here on earth. As we are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb in eternity (Rev. 19:6-9) as a halal bride who has made herself ready, part of making ourselves ready should include gaining the revelation of what marriage in God's heart truly means. Also, because of the direct connection between halal marriage and the Lord Jesus Christ, I am sure that it must be the halal bride who joins with the Spirit to say, "Come!...whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."  Rev. 22:17 (see also Jn. 4:13-14, Jn. 7:37-39)

Our Father has ordained and purposed halal.

Man

Man was a wondrous creation. There were three stages to his creation by Elohim, the Ruler, the Judge, the plurality of God.
Stage 1 was "Adam":
"Then God said, "Let Us make man (adam) in Our image (resemblance, representative figure), according to Our likeness (similitude, like manner, to be like, comparable); let them have dominion (rule, reign, prevail against, tread down as a wine press)....over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."    Gen 1:26
At this point, in Stage 1, the man is referred to as adam. The Hebrew word refers to a reddish complexion. The root word, dam, means blood. The first stage is the blood.
This man was created to be a representative figure of God, with like manner, even comparable manner, and his purpose was to rule and prevail against.
Stage 2 was "Nefesh":
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed (blow, kindle, give up life) into his nostrils the breath (spirit) of life, and man became a living soul (nefesh)."   Gen. 2:7
First of all, God's name has changed for this stage of the creation of man. He is LORD God. His name reflects that He is existing, and He brings forth, and sustains or continues all existence.
As the breath left LORD God and entered into man, man received the life force, the spirit and the soul (heart, mind, will) of God, and became a soul (nefesh) himself. "Nefesh" also means life, to refresh, take rest, cease from working. LORD God gave up a portion of His life breath into the man He created.
Stage 3 was "Iysh":
The iysh stage of man came into being upon man's marriage:
"And Adam said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called "Woman" (iyshah), because she was taken of man (iysh)."
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one (echad) flesh."        Gen. 2:23-24
The Hebrew meaning of iysh (man) here is husband, servant, champion, great man, high-degree. The root includes a plurality- mankind, or a part of a greater number.
So this man, created from the blood, a representative of God, comparable to God, filled with LORD God's own breath, soul and spirit, was meant to be both a servant, and a champion, containing the great number of others called "mankind".
However, this man, who was created to be a champion, instead became a co-conspirator with a creature who only wanted to see man die. It is almost too pitiful to bear.
With great and eternal thanks for the mercy and loving kindness of the LORD God, our Father, the story doesn't end there. Out of the iysh-man's future multitudes, and from the work of the Holy Spirit, LORD God redeemed us through His only begotten Son, Jesus, and re-created us anew: Ber-i-yah. Let us look at this new creation:
Stage 1- The Blood:
As with Adam, our Father started this new creation with the blood, in this case, the blood of Christ:
"For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
                                                                                           Mt. 26:28
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."                                                                               Eph. 2:13
Stage 2-The Breath:
As LORD God breathed into Adam to create Nefesh, a living soul, we also have received the breath of the Holy Spirit as Christ did the new work in us:
"And when He (Jesus) had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."                     Jn. 20:22
Stage 3- The Marriage:
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."     Rev. 19:7
When Adam recognized his wife, and God defined marriage, man became "iysh", champion.
We also have been called into a marriage with Christ. While we are not the champion, we have the "Champion" in us:
"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."      Col. 1:27
"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."         1 Jn. 4:4
As Adam became aware of his plurality upon marriage, we also are plural in nature. Not only, does the plurality of the Trinity dwell in us, and we in them, but we are a city on a hill (Mt. 5:14), having many members(1 Cor. 12:20), a New City come down from heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, as the Bride, the Lamb's wife (Rev. 21:2,9-10). As this city, we contain the Tabernacle of God (Rev. 21:3), and the throne of God and the Lamb (Rev. 21:5, 22:1), the light of the Lamb and the glory of God (Rev. 21:13, 22:5), the river of life flowing through us, and the healing of the nations contained within this city that is the Bride (Rev.22:1-2). This New City, created by marriage to the Lamb, is the home of countless numbers:
"(You) have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth."                    Rev. 5:9-10

Adam attained a greatness of number, stature and purpose when he married and became "iysh". We, also have attained a great destiny through our marriage to the Lamb.

We have been created again, miraculously, and anew, by the atoning work of Jesus.
That creature in Gen 2, who only wanted to see man die? He's still around (Mt. 10:28, Jn. 10:10).
Let's not make the same mistake twice.

Our Father has made a new creation, Ber-i-yah.

"A New Creation"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DhpPJdd9vo

Marriage

 

This is a tough one, and you're not going to like me much when you read this.
Our world today is a place where people decide marriage is whatever they want it to be. There's a lot of confusion, debate, rancor, pointing of fingers, quoting scripture, accusations and agendas. We think marriage is defined by the law of man, by a legislature, by the dictation of what the society thinks at any given moment, by what is new fashioned as opposed to old fashioned, tolerance versus intolerance. But the fact is, marriage is defined by our Father. The reason that society rejects the definition of marriage as given by God, is because the people of God reject the definition of marriage as given by God. We don't believe what our Father says about marriage, we don't understand it, we don't live it and we don't walk it. In many cases, instead of creating marriages, we, in the Body of Christ, create Frankensteins. Something that should have been a divine creation, has instead become a blasphemy. What was meant to be an image of Jesus Christ in the earth, has, instead, become an image of self. Of course we are very quick to tell others what marriage is, and is not, but unfortunately, we His people, for the most part, haven't got a clue. And the world is very much aware of this.
Do I know what marriage is as defined by God? I have a theory, but I can't say that I always walk in the understanding of my theory. Again, that makes me part of the problem, and not part of the solution, as the saying goes. But, for my own training, I will try to write down what is speeding through my spirit regarding marriage.
Marriage is a place where an individual goes to die. Are we having fun yet? Marriage is a place where I give up everything that I think and feel, everything that is to my own benefit, a place where I sell myself out. Let me look at some scriptures:
"And Adam said: 
This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, and were not ashamed."                  
                                                                                                     Gen. 2:23-25
Some very interesting things happen in these verses. First of all, Adam, who has been given the authority to name creation (Gen. 2:19-20), renames himself in these verses. In the passage above, The Hebrew word used for "Man", above is "iysh". Prior to this point, the Hebrew word "adam", had been used for man. "Adam" refers to a redness of color, to be rubbed red, to be red like wine and sparkle. This may refer to the soil from which he came. It may refer to a living being filled with blood. It may be because in the handling and forming of man, God rubbed him, or caressed him. It also means "handsome". It seems to deal with the outward appearance. But Adam renames himself "Iysh". This refers to an inward character or quality. The Hebrew word can mean "husband, servant, champion, great man, valor, leader, king". In gaining a wife, Adam has become more than he was. He has become different than he was. Physically, he lost part of himself in the creation of woman, but spiritually, he gained a kingship, a kingship received out of servanthood. He gained a purpose and a character that surpassed what he had been before. He goes on to say that a man leaves his father and mother. He walks away from his worldly identity, the thing that made him what he was, and he becomes a new identity. Adam has died. Iysh has been born. The event that changed him was marriage to Woman.
Who is "Woman"? In Hebrew, she is "Iyshshah". This means "woman, female, wife". But, as you may have guessed, there is a deeper meaning. The fabric of which she is made is bone and flesh from Adam. "Bone" means "essence, body parts, or limbs, vast, mighty, numerous, strong, make strong, make mighty". "Flesh" here means "kindred, relative, glad tidings, gladden with good news, preach, announce, salvation, beauty that comes from a face of joy and cheerfulness". The fabric of which she is made contains the essence of his strength, even that part of his spiritual strength, salvation, not only for herself, but for all mankind, the numerous generations to follow. And even as Adam separates from the character of the world, he joins himself to his strength, his joy, the good news of  salvation. The two become one flesh - "echad", becoming the same, alike. They both are naked, but unashamed. To be naked is to be uncovered. They are not covered by the clothing, possessions, outward identity of this world, but they are uncovered and open to the eyes of God. They do not, at this point, have to hide anything from Him, or from each other.
The principle of sacrifice in marriage is also seen with our Father, who considers Himself married to Israel, and will never divorce, or separate Himself from her.
"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you...."                                                                                                                      Deut. 7:6-8
"For your Maker is your Husband, The LORD of Hosts is His name...."      Isa. 54:5 
"I spread My wing over you...swore an oath to you...entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine....I washed you in water, I anointed you with oil...I clothed you and covered you..."
                                                                                                            Ezek. 16:8-10
This marriage cost the Father. He gave up precious things for this marriage"
"I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you. And people for your life."                                                                         Isa. 43:3-4

God had to sacrifice lives that He held dear for His love of Israel. Do we think this was an easy thing? Do we think it is easy for Him even now, as He sees the love of His wife has grown cold and distant from Him, even after He has given nations and peoples for her sake? But He has cleaved unto Israel.
Jesus, likewise, has taken unto Himself a bride, a wife. And He has made great sacrifice of Himself to achieve His marriage. Like Adam's "Woman", Jesus has filled His wife with the good news, He has made her numerous. He has called her beautiful, and a joy. He gave up everything of this earth to receive His bride unto Himself, and cleave unto her. And He has gained His Kingship, and He has become our Champion. He has made Himself "Husband". He has told us that this same marriage that He has made with His bride, is the same marriage we are to have with one another. The whole point of our marriages is to be a reflection of the truth of Christ's marriage to us. Formed with the same sacrifice. Committed to the same truth. Supernatural in nature, and in strength in Oneness. Changing our old identities into something new and holy. Changing us into a combined something so different from what we were as individuals, that we aren't even known by the same name anymore.
At His last supper here on earth, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and told them to wash each others' feet in the same manner. He was about to give His blood for this union. Even so, his disciples were debating who among themselves was the greatest. Jesus told them they just didn't get it. No, we don't.

Our Father is marriage.

"Comfort Ye My People"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wZvpbBD75M

Bridegroom

Our Father calls Himself a Husband to Israel in various scriptures.

"For your Maker is your husband, 
The LORD of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;
He is called the God of the whole earth."
                              Isa. 54:5

Jesus tells a parable of Himself as the Bridegroom in Matthew 25, and His Bride and His marriage are referred to in  the Book of Revelation as well:

"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."
                             Rev. 19:7

"Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
                             Rev. 21:9 

There are other references in the New Testament of this special married relationship that Jesus has with His Church: 2 Cor. 11:2-3, Rom. 7:4, Eph. 5:25-27, and 31-32.
 
I would like to relate a dream I had, with special thanks to PK for his inspiration and help in understanding.

THE DREAM OF THE BRIDEGROOM:

I dreamed I was a bride dressed in a wedding gown attending my wedding. We were all assembled in a banquet room, sitting at round tables. Even though I was the bride, I was seated at the tables with the guests, who were dressed in their wedding finery. I had seen in a small chapel area that a Jewish wedding Chuppah or canopy had been put up, but the area was empty. As we were waiting, I looked across the room and saw my groom. To my surprise he was a very young Orthodox Jewish man. He was wearing black pants and jacket, white shirt with no tie, and a wide-brimmed fur hat. When he took his hat off, his hair was black and wavy, cut short. He was very average in physical appearance, nothing remarkable about him.  
He was very determined that the wedding take place. I wondered why he wanted to marry me so much, because I was neither young, nor Orthodox Jewish. I grew concerned that his parents wouldn't approve of the marriage because of these things. I looked at the table where his parents were sitting. I could not see his father well, who seemed to be sitting in a shadowed side of the table. He sat very still and quiet. However, I saw the bridegroom's mother clearly, and she was ecstatic over the marriage, simply thrilled about it. Interestingly, she wore a dress of many different colors that blended together. The fabric of her dress was almost iridescent in how the colors shone. I relaxed because the parents seemed to be in favor of the marriage. 
As I looked back at the bridegroom, I noticed that he was wearing a vest-style, or girdle-style prayer shawl under his jacket. I could see the fringes of the prayer shawl garment hanging down below where his black jacket ended. It was at this point that I began to feel an attraction toward the groom. The prayer shawl made him attractive to me. My eyes were drawn to him. I began to watch him as he supervised the preparations for the wedding. He was determined and sure as he dealt with the details. 
The planned wedding had experienced a few delays. First, a previous wedding held in the banquet hall had run overtime, causing a delay in the start of our wedding. Secondly, the facility had said that there was money due on the bill, but the groom saw to this mix-up, and the facility came back and said they had made a mistake. They had found the record of the fact that that no monies were owed, that all was paid in full. It seemed that there was one delay after another.
My father had come to the wedding and I was glad to see him. But while the delays occurred, he had wondered away, as if the delays caused his attention to shift away. I looked around for him, because I knew that once the groom had dealt with the delays, the wedding would go forward immediately. I was afraid my father would not be back in time for it. I thought, if that was the case, I would have to walk down the aisle by myself, because the groom would not be put off any longer. He was sure and determined about this wedding. He dealt with the delays with maturity, authority, without anger nor impatience. He handled every problem with great confidence that he would resolve all. I was proud of how he handled himself, and admired his strength and sureness of purpose. The more I saw, the better I liked this groom!

It was the groom who was the driving force behind the wedding, not me, nor either set of parents. He was very calm, very resolute. I just sat in my finery watching him walking around the room, seeing to every delay.

Awaking, as I considered this dream, I became aware that I had seen how Christ was so looking forward to His marriage to His Bride. He is in full control, and will not be deterred. I am deeply touched that I was given this glimpse of our Lord, and His deep commitment to me, to the Bride. Let us not be discouraged, nor grow cold by what we see as delays in His coming. Let's not let our attention wander away. Let us not disregard the importance and divine purpose accomplished by the wedding of the Lamb of God, and His Bride. I will never be the same after seeing Him, and His strong character in this dream. I say wholeheartedly, "Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD."

"And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"  And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."

                                                                   Rev. 22:17

Our Father, and His Son, the Lamb of God, are bridegrooms.

"Lamb of God"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLVtp_b_SIU

"A Song for the Bride of Christ"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47gmVe_EvvU

  
"The Bride and the Bridegroom"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dozVxfTca2s