My Jesus, I Love Thee
Getting Geeky
Today, I am going to get geeky! I am not normally a geek but I gotta tell you this Hebrew stuff is fascinating and makes the Word come to life in a way I have never fully experienced. Letters, numbers, pictures, names, meanings, musical notes/tones, and how words tell a story all their own make the study of a passage so rich and the love of God for His children so very real. Only God!
The Jewish Wedding
The Bridegroom Returns by Jennifer Delaplante
We have looked at the preparations for the shiddukhim or matchmaking as we call it. In the Talmud, it states the couple must be physically attracted to each other. (PTL) The Jews call the process of the Betrothal the erusin and the kiddushin. This is a period considered to be holy or sanctified. The groom offers a tenaim or promise that is expressed by the paying of the mohar (brideprice). The ketuba or marriage contract (prenup) is signed and sealed with lifting and sharing of a cup of wine. The groom’s tenaim is his promise to chuppah, “prepare a place,” for his bride. Then, the matan (gifts) is given to his bride. Thus begins the period of waiting! One to two years of waiting!
The Bride
The bride,the kallah, then allows the bridegroom, the chosson or chatan, to bedekin, cover her face with a veil and headpiece containing the coins of the mohar. This demonstrates to the world she is CHOSEN and valued for more than her beauty. She prepares her garments (the kittel) for the ceremony and she must be ever watchful for her beloved’s return. Her lamp must be burning and she is observed by the servants of the groom to ensure her safety. She must be ready, for at the least expected moment, in the middle of the night, a shofar (trumpet) would sound and the bridegroom would look for her light in the window (lamp burning). This light is a symbol of the Shekinah Glory of God.
A 12-Step Program
The entire marriage rite is a series of twelve steps. Let’s look at the twelve steps and the numbers and Hebrew letters that correspond to them. This is where we get a bit geeky but hang in there because something you have never understood may just have a light bulb moment. I promise I will sift it down and keep it short and sweet. God the Father really wants you to understand how wonderfully simple but complex His Word is. Remember he said he “uses the simple to confound the wise.” (I Cor. 1:27)
Number Letter Meaning Scripture
#1 Aleph Father, “strong leader”, Ox/bull John 6:43
Our Bridegroom, Yeshua, is a strong leader.
#2 Bet House, “tent” I Peter 2:5-6, Eph.2:19
We have a place in His Household.
#3 Gimel “To lift up” Matthew 26:27-29, John 3:14
He was lifted up, and in turn, He lifts us up with Him.
#4 Dalet “Door, pathway, entrance, enter” Phil 4:19
He made a pathway by reason of the fact that He IS the door by which we enter the Father’s house.
#5 Hey “To reveal, window” Hebrews 11:8-10
He reveals all things through His Holy Spirit.
#6 Vav “To secure, nail” Jeremiah 31:31-34
He secured a place at the Father’s table for us by the nails in his body and His shed blood.
#7 Zayin “To cut, to cut off, weapon” Song of Solomon 4:12
The enemy of our soul is cut off by His weapon of love.
#8 Chet “Chamber, separate, private” John 14:1-3, Isaiah 26:20-21
We are separated from the world.
#9 Tet “To surround, snake, twist” Matthew 25:1-5
We are kept from the serpent’s twisted ways because we are sealed with the Holy Spirit
#10 Yod “Deed, to make, hand” Matthew 25:6
In His right hand is the deed to make an end to evil one and his ways.
#11 Kaf “To cover, to allow, open hand” I Cor 13:12
His cover spreads to all who will reach out for His open hand of love.
#12 Lamed “Prod, toward, staff” Rev 19:7-9
He will rule for 1000 years with the staff of God and it will be very, very good.
Taken from A Mayim Hayim Ministries teaching tool, 1998, “A Fresh Look at the Jewish Wedding.
A Bit More Geekiness
All of the Jewish Feasts are also symbols of the Marriage between God and His people and Jesus’ life has been lived out on these actual feasts days. The next feast He is to fulfill is Rosh Hashanah. A feast is held during the fall. All the spring feasts have been fulfilled! Now like the Bride of a Jewish wedding we should be anticipating the Bridegroom’s return. We do not know the day or the hour, but we are to be preparing ourselves, watching, and waiting. The next thing on the Bridegroom’s agenda is going to get His Bride. This is the only feast where the date and time of its beginning are not known! How geeky cool is this?
More to See, Learn, Experience
We read about the letters and we know Jesus has accomplished all this except going to get His Bride and the 1000-year reign! Jesus has completed four of the seven feasts. The Word was written to the Jews, by Jews, for Jews, and it all points to the Messiah. Just think, we Gentiles who accept Jesus, as Lord, are adopted into God’s family (the Jewish nation). Isn’t it important for us to learn our culture, know our ancestors, and participate in all those things God said not to forget to do? I believe it is!
Our journey to becoming the Bride of Christ continues…………………… Are you watching and waiting?? I am counting the days and watching the Eastern sky.
I Thank You, The Tenors
For the realization of all, He has done! May we pass it on to those around us every day!
Come Quickly Lord Jesus!
Yvonne Jones
