The ancient Jewish wedding

[WhiteWings]

How does the ancient Jewish wedding ceremony compare to the Jesus marrying the "church"?
I'll post a few articles in this thread.



The Word of Elohim is basically the story of a wedding, from start to finish. It is a love story of a loving Father, seeking the perfect Bride for His Son, Yahushua--a Bride who is totally devoted, pure of heart, in love only to Him, submitted and perfect in His sight. Such a picture of this is found in Genesis 24:1-67--Abraham sending out his servant to find the perfect Bride for Isaac.

[WhiteWings]

THE ANCIENT JEWISH WEDDING CEREMONY
How does it picture Messiah Yahushua and His Bride?

John 14:2-3: "In My Father's house are many rooms. I go to prepare a place for you. And, if I go to prepare and place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there you may be also".

Matthew 24:36, 44: "But of the day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only". "Therefore, be also ready: for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of man comes".

Matthew 25:10-13: "...the Bridegroom came: and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage and the door was shut".

Revelation 7:7-8: "Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him, for the marriage of he Lamb is come and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints".

John 3:29, John the baptiser, referring to himself as the "friend of the Bridegroom" and to Yahushua, the Bridegroom: "He that has the Bride is the Bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatest because of he Bridegroom's voice. This, my joy, therefore is fulfilled".

Psalm 45:6-17 "Upon Your Right Hand (Yahushua) did stand the Queen, in gold of Ophir."

Matthew 22:8-14: This is a story of the gathering of the guests. They must be invited, and must have on a "wedding garment". The wedding garment is linen—the "righteousness of the set-apart, "saved".

The Word of Elohim is basically the story of a wedding, from start to finish. It is a love story of a loving Father, seeking the perfect Bride for His Son, Yahushua--a Bride who is totally devoted, pure of heart, in love only to Him, submitted and perfect in His sight. Such a picture of this is found in Genesis 24:1-67--Abraham sending out his servant to find the perfect Bride for Isaac.

In the basic structure of the Ancient Jewish Wedding Ceremony, you will see the Father, and the Bridegroom Yahushua, the "servant", the Ruach Yahuweh, the Bride, the attendant of the Bride (pictured by Moses), and the attendant of the Groom (pictured by Elijah), and the guests.

In most weddings, there are 3 groups of people: 1) the guests, forming the largest group, 2) the attendants of the Bride and the Groom, usually a small group, and 3) the Bride and her Bridegroom. All are content and happy within their situation. But, only the Bride gets to go home with the Bridegroom and live in His House forever. She has an intimacy with Him that no one else has! And, so there is a new earth, which will be created for the "saved" guests. There are the attendants--the "King's of the earth"--who are "saved" and who represent the guests before the Father and the Bridegroom. And, there is the Bride, who stays with her Husband in the Father's House. (Revelation 21:22-22:5, 14)
This is also mentioned in Revelation 3:7-13: --the letter to the church at Philadelphia, which represents the Bridal remnant in the last days. She does not go onto the new earth, but stays in the presence of the Father and the Son. She is marked, because 1) she is submissive and yielded to her Bridegroom, guarding and obeying the terms of His marriage Covenant, the Torah, 2) because she loves Him with a perfect love, 3) because she follows her Bridegroom (the Lamb) wherever He goes, and 4) because she has made herself ready--purified herself and separated herself totally unto Him. She belongs to Him, and her relationship with Him is intimate. He knows her, and she knows Him, and their fellowship is sweet.

THE CORONATION
I. Ha Melech – the King! Another name for Rosh ha Shanah, which is the day of His coming--at the Feast of Trumpets, is "Coronation Day". This Feast usually occurs during the Roman month of September. On this day the Bridegroom comes for His Bride, and at their wedding day, He is crowed the King, and she is crowned the Queen. Thus marriage day is the day of Coronation.

II. Yahushua will come for His Bride on Rosh ha Shanah--Tishre 1 on the Hebrew calendar. The essential message of this Feast is the reaffirmation of the Kingship of Elohim.


III. Messiah will be crowned on Rosh ha Shanah and given the heathen for His inheritance, as well as receiving His Kingdom. Daniel 7:13-14 and Psalm 2:6
IV. Jewish Scripture used for this day: Genesis 49:10 and Zechariah 9:9

V. Revelation 19:11-16: He comes with the sound of the trumpet and much fan-fare and ceremony. He comes as the trumpet sounds loudly, with His angels, in the wrath of the Father, to destroy His enemies and the enemies of His Bride. He comes as a victorious King to deliver His Bride from the evil one.

VI. He becomes the King of Kings over all the kingdoms of this world: Revelation 11:15-19; 19:16; Daniel 7:9, 13-14, 27; Revelation 1:7.

VII. On the wedding day, the Bridegroom and the Bride are called King and Queen – and reference is made to Psalm 45.

THE WEDDING
I. 1) Either the father arranges the wedding as Samson's father did, or2) the father sends an agent in his place, as Abraham sent Eleazer, or 3) the young man comes
by himself to the girl's father to arrange the marriage between the two of them.

II. If the young man goes to the house of the girl, he initially must carry these three things:
a) A large sum of money (or many expensive items) to pay the price for the Bride
b) A betrothal contract with his promises to the Bride written on it
c) A skin of wine
Note: In John 5:8: "For there are three that bear witness in earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one". In prophetic typology, the wine represents the Ruach ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit), the water represents the Word—the marriage contract or Covenant--the Torah given at Sinai--and the blood represents the price paid for our salvation. Acts 20:28, Paul speaking to Pastors: "Take heed to yourselves,...to feed the assembly of Elohim, which He has purchased with His own blood". Ephesians 1:14 tells us that the Ruach's presence with us is the "down-payment of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession..." His Bride was the purchased possession, and He is coming to fully redeem her unto Himself. I Corinthians 6:20; I Corinthians 7:23: "For you are bought with a price".

III. If the Father approves of the marriage, the girl is called in and they all drink the wine together. In the drinking of the wine, she commits herself to the young man. Jeremiah 31:31 "I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah". Matthew 26:27-28: "And He took the cup (the 3rd cup of the Seder—the cup of Redemption) and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying `Drink you all of it: for this is My blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins'". Thus, He renewed His Covenant in his own blood, with His remnant Bride--who would be taken from among the whole believing House of Israel.

IV. At this point, the two are considered husband and wife. Their union can only be dissolved by divorce, but their state is still called "betrothal", as with Mary and
Joseph.

V. After the wine is drunk, the young man says the words of John 14:2-3. He will go away and prepare a room for them--adding on a room to his father's house. He
promises that when the room is finished, he would come back for her, and she would forever be with him. She belongs to him now, for she has been "bought with a price', and this purchase has been witnessed and confirmed.

VI. The young man goes to prepare a chador (chamber) in his father's house, sometimes called a "chuppah" (honeymoon bed).

VII. The girl must now spend her time learning how to be a wife and mother, and to learn how to please her husband. He may be gone for as long as 2 years or more.
**The young man, if asked when the day of his wedding will be, often gets rid of nosey inquirers by saying: "No man knows the day or the hour, only my father
knows". (Matthew 24:36/Mark 13:32) Thus he puts the responsibility of dealing with nosey friends and family off on his father. It is a personal thing with him, and
he only talks about the timing of his coming for His Bride with his father. He may communicate with his Bride, in secret--perhaps by messenger (represented by the
Ruach ha Kodesh--the go-between between the Bride of Messiah and Yahushua. But, also, the term "no man knows the day or the hour" is a catch-phrase for the
Feast of Trumpets—Rosh ha Shanah—for it is always over 2 days around the earth. Three trumpets are blown during that 2-day time period. And, everyone waits for the "last trump", when according to Jewish tradition, the gates of heaven open and the righteous ascend to heaven, while the fate of the wicked is sealed.

VIII. The groom designates two close friends to assist him and to assist the bride during the ceremony. They are called "witnesses". The two witnesses of Revelation 11
also have this aspect to them. Also, during the ceremony the contract containing the groom's promises are then turned over to the parents of the bride.

IX. He comes for his bride with great fanfare, trumpets, his servants and friends and family. It is a joyful day when he comes to receive his bride for the wedding
ceremony. There is music and dancing and rejoicing. (John 2)

X. On their wedding day they are called the King and Queen. On this day, tradition says that they stand without spot or blemish as they are united. For two years or
more (for us, 2000 years approximately since our Bridegroom went back to His Father's house) the servant, represented for us by the Ruach ha Kodesh, works to
prepare the Bride to perfection for her marriage to the perfect Bridegroom, Yahushua. From I Corinthians 1:4-9: "I thank Elohim always concerning you...
that you are not lacking in any gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Master Yahushua Messiah..."
I Thessalonians 5:23: "And the Elohim of peace Himself set you completely apart, and your entire spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of
our Master Yahushua Messiah". From Ephesians 5:25-27: "...Messiah also did love the assembly and gave Himself for it...in order to present it to Himself a splendid
assembly, not having spot or wrinkle,...but that it might be set-apart and blameless". The Bride has purified herself, and made herself set-apart unto Him alone!!
XI. The words of the wedding ceremony are from Psalm 45, and Isaiah 61:10-62:5--"...as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall Elohim rejoice over you".

XII. Once the ceremony is over, the two go into the bridal chamber (chuppah) for 7 days. Portions of the Song of Solomon, read during Passover, gives the details of the intimacy between Messiah and His Bride.

XIII. The seven days in the chamber correspond to the seven days between the end of the Feast of Trumpets, and the Day of Atonement, when the High Priest takes the blood before the altar of Yahuweh, and the sins of the nation of Israel are forgiven. (On the Day of Atonement Messiah will judge all the nations that came against Jerusalem, and separate out the sheep and goat nations, as well as pronouncing the whole House of Jacob/Israel--all 12 tribes--to be saved, redeemed, and restored. Joel 3:1-12; Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 11:26-27; Isaiah 59:20-21; 60:11-22; Jeremiah 31 and 33; Ezekiel 36:24-38; 37, and etc. etc.)

XIV. At the end of the 7 days, the groom's "friend" (or Elijah--John the baptiser came in the spirit of Elijah, and represented Messiah, and called himself the "friend of the Bridegroom" in John 3:29), or "witness", waits at the chamber door. The guests have arrived and are waiting for the door to be opened, and the wedding banquet to begin. When the groom is ready, he knocks from the inside of the door of the chamber, indicating that they are ready to make their public appearance before everyone. The friend opens the door, and the guests cheer.

XV. In Revelation 11, the two witnesses have been in the earth witnessing and preparing for 3 ½ years. At the voice of the Bridegroom calling them up, Messiah Yahushua comes out of heaven with a trumpet blast, accompanied by the set-apart ones who have died, to gather His whole Bride for the wedding, and the 7 days in the chuppah. The door of heaven opens and He proceeds out. The "bride has made herself ready". He picks up His Bride who is alive and waiting for Him on the earth. Then after His glorious entrance into Jerusalem, they proceed to the wedding feast. Some believe that the wedding feast will occur at Mt. Sinai, since that is where the terms of the marriage Covenant were given to the Bride. Look at the wording of Revelation 19:8 and 11. The parable of the wise virgins, of Matthew 25:1-11, shows us that only the prepared Bride gets to go into the chuppah with Him. The guests are shut out.

XVI. John the baptiser saw himself as the groom's "friend"--John 3:28-30. Jewish tradition says that Elijah attends the groom--John was called "Elijah" even by the "Groom"--Yahushua. (Matthew 11:13-14) Elijah's message is one of preparation for the coming Messiah. He stands and waits for the Groom's knock. Matthew 17:3 shows the glorified, radiant Messiah standing with Moses and Elijah.

XVII. The Bride's attendant according to Jewish tradition is Moses. His function is to escort the Bride to the Bridegroom, as Moses escorted the children of Israel to Sinai to be wed to Elohim there. In Revelation 11:3-7, the two witnesses to come have the characteristics of Elijah and Moses.

XVIII. After the marriage the Bride goes to live with her Bridegroom as the Queen of the Almighty Elohim and King of Israel. She remains with Him, by His side, for eternity. When Father comes, and brings His city down (Revelation 20-22), the Bride is found still with her Husband (Revelation 22:3-5).

Yedidah, May 13, ‏2004
Note: Today is my anniversary of having been born again for 53 years. I dedicate this study on the Bride of Messiah Yahushua to my soon-coming Bridegroom. I await my wedding day with the greatest joy!!!

[WhiteWings]

The Ancient Jewish Wedding and the Return of our Bridegroom King!

The ancient Jewish wedding is a custom that every believer should study and
understand. Why? Because Yeshua (Jesus) Himself followed the steps of a Jewish
bridegroom when taking His own bride, we, the Church. There are many truths and
treasures that have been hidden and long forgotten simply because believers do not
see Yeshua (Jesus) in His original Jewish context.

We truly believe God is calling the Bride of Christ back to the Jewish roots of
Christianity.[/color] Proverbs 25:2 says: It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of
kings is to search out a matter.

[/color]So come and join us as we search out and dig deep into God's word concerning the
Ancient Jewish Wedding.



Step One: Selection of the Bride

In John 15:16, Jesus said, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you
that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain."

In ancient Israel, brides were usually chosen by the father of the bridegroom. He would
send His most trusted servant to search for a bride for his son.

We have not seen Yeshua (Jesus), but God's servant, the Holy Spirit, has revealed Him
to us: I Peter 1:8: Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet
believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.



[/i]Step Two: Price of the Bride

Brides in Bible times were purchased. The price was paid to the father of the bride,
both to compensate him for the loss of a worker and to show him how much the
bridegroom loved and valued the bride.

We, as the bride of Messiah, have also been purchased with a price. A very high price
— the blood of Yeshua (Jesus). His very own blood shed upon a cross on Calvary's hill
was the price He paid for His bride.

1 Peter 1:18,19: "Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or
gold, from our aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

(Ephesians 1:13, 14)

1 Corinthians 7:23 says, "We were bought at a price, so do not become slaves of men."

[/i]We belong to Christ. He is our Bridegroom. We are His Bride. We are in this world but
we are not of this world.

1 Corinthians 6: 19,20: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit
who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at
a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit,
which are God's."



[/i]Step Three: Betrothal/Ketubah

The ancient Jewish marriage ceremony consisted of two main parts, beginning with the
betrothal or engagement.

The betrothal is much like our engagement today, but with a much greater sense of
commitment. During the betrothal the couple is actually entering into a covenant.
Covenant in Bible times was serious, final, sealed in blood and legally binding. Once a
couple entered into the covenant of betrothal, they were legally married in all aspects
except for the physical consummation of the marriage.

At the betrothal ceremony, a marriage contract, or Ketubah, was presented to the father
of the bride. The Ketubah consists of all the bridegroom's promises to his bride. The
bride cherishes her Ketubah.

We, too, have a Ketubah from our Bridegroom. Our marriage contract is God's Word!
Our Ketubah (God's Word) shows us all we are entitled to as the Bride of Christ. All, not
some, but all the promises in God's Word, are for us. As the Bride of Christ, we are
entitled to them — they are part of our Ketubah.

(Jeremiah 31:31-34)



[/i]Step Four: The Bride's Consent

Although a bride was selected for the bridegroom, she still had a choice.

In Genesis 24:57 and 58, Rebekah was asked, concerning Isaac: "Will you go with this
man?". She said, "I will go." She gave her consent — her "I do."

[/i]God is a gentlemen and He never forces anyone to say "I do" to His Son. When we say "I
do" to Yeshua (Jesus), we must believe with our heart and confess with our lips.

Have you said your "I do's" to Yeshua (Jesus)?:

Yes — I do confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Yes — I do believe that Jesus died for my sins.
Yes — I do believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you,
God, raised Him from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand.
Yes — I do repent of my sins.
Yes — I give You my heart!
Yes — I do receive Your great love and the gift of eternal life.
I do! I do! Yes, I say Yes to Yeshua (Jesus). Amen.



Step Five: The Cup of the Covenant

After the term of the ketubah were accepted, a cup of wine was shared to seal the
marriage covenant. The second cup of wine would be shared many months later during
the marriage ceremony. The cup that Yeshua (Jesus) took at His last Passover on earth
was the cup of the new marriage covenant with His bride.

In Luke 22:20, Jesus said, "This cup is the New Covenant in my blood, which is shed for
you."

In Matthew 26:29, Jesus said, "I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that
day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom."

[/i]Jesus is speaking of the second cup that the Bride of Christ will share with Him one
glorious day at the second part of our marriage ceremony.



Step Six: Gifts for the Bride

Every bride enjoys gifts! And our God is a giver of every good and perfect gift.

The Betrothal included the giving of gifts by the bridegroom to his bride.

Many times a bridegroom gave a coin or other object of value to his betrothed bride. It
would always be something special that would help her remember him while they were
apart. This was because the real focus of the gift giving was to be on the giver and not
on the gift.

Today we have the engagement ring. This is a symbol of love and commitment. When
the bride-to-be looks at her ring, she is reminded of the one who gave her the gift.

God's Holy Spirit is our spiritual engagement ring. He doesn't call attention to Himself
but to the one who purchased us — Yeshua (Jesus).

Through Yeshua (Jesus), we, the bride, receive many gifts: Forgiveness, eternal life,
fruit of the spirit, gifts of the spirit, and many more. What bride would say to her
bridegroom who comes bearing gifts, "No, I can't accept them." Yet many of us do that
to our Bridegroom, Yeshua (Jesus). Don't miss out — decide today to accept all that
your Bridegroom has for you.



Step Seven: Mikvah

Brides in ancient Israel, as well as brides in Israel today, experience a mikvah prior to
her wedding. The word 'mikvah' means a pool of living water which was used for ritual
purification. This immersion in water is part of their physical and spiritual preparation
for the wedding ceremony. The mikvah represents a separation from the old life to a
new life.

Mark 16:16 reads, "He who believes and is baptized (goes to the mikvah) will be saved; but
he who does not believe, will be condemned."

[/i]The Bride of Christ also goes to the living waters of the mikvah. When we, as believers
in Yeshua (Jesus), are immersed in water, it is a separation from an old life to a new life.
"Old things pass away, all things become new."



Step Eight: Departure of the Groom

John 14:2: "I go to prepare a place for you."

[/i]Once the marriage covenant was sealed, the bridegroom left his bride to go to his
father's house to prepare a wedding chamber. He would be gone for up to twelve
months.

In John 14:2-3, Jesus said "In My Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I
would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

[/i]Our Bridegroom has gone to prepare a wedding chamber for His bride.

In Matthew 9:15, Jesus said, "Can the friends of the Bridegroom mourn as long as the
Bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the Bridegroom will be taken away
from them, and then they will fast."

[/i]While we wait for the return of our Bridegroom/King, we need to stay faithful, watchful
and spiritually alert. This is the hour to pray and fast!

1 Peter 4:7 says, "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore, be serious and watchful in
your prayers."



[/i]Step Nine: The Consecrated Bride

The Jewish bride was set apart, consecrated, separated unto her bridegroom — the one
who purchased her. So, while waiting for his return, she was to stay faithful. It was
probably easy at first. But when his return was delayed, the temptation would be great.
After a while, the bride may even start to question his return.

2 Peter 3:3,4 reads: "Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own
lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming?'"

[/i]We are His consecrated bride, awaiting His return. We cannot fall into temptation. We
must be ready at all times for the return of our Bridegroom/King!





Step Ten: Return of the Bridegroom

Mark 13:32: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor
the Son, but only the Father."

[/i]Jewish bridegrooms usually came for their brides late at night, near the midnight hour.
The sound of the shofar would break the silence of the night and there would be great
shouting and dancing in the streets. We can see this in the parable of the ten virgins:
"And at midnight, a cry was heard; Behold, go out to meet him."

As a thief in the night, our Bridegroom will call us to arise and meet Him in the air. We
will hear a shout and the sound of the shofar. It will happen quickly. We must be ready.

Matthew 24:27 says, "For as the lightning comes from the East and flashes to the West, so
also will the coming of the Son of Man be."

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18: "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.



[/i]Step Eleven: The Huppah

The second half of the ancient Jewish wedding ceremony, or huppah, is also called the
"hometaking." The original meaning of the huppah was "room" or "covering."

The huppah of ancient times was a special room built in the bridegroom's father's home.
The room was eventually replaced by a bridal canopy. The huppah symbolized the new
home to which the bridegroom would take his bride. The bride and bridegroom were
escorted to the bridal chamber where they would be alone for seven days. The spiritual
parallel to the huppah for the bride of Christ begins as we are lifted up off the earth to
be taken to our heavenly wedding chamber where we will spend 'one week' (seven
years), with our Bridegroom/King. While the Bride of Christ is in the Bridal Chamber with
Yeshua (Jesus), the rest of the world will be in a time of great tribulation.

I[/b]saiah 26:20-21 tells us of this time: "Come my people, enter our chambers and shut the
door behind you, hide yourself as it were, for a little moment until the indignation is past.
For behold the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their
iniquity."

[/i]While the wrath of God is poured out on the earth, the bride of Christ will be hidden
away with her Bridegroom.



Step Twelve: The Final Step — The Marriage Supper

Following the seven days in the huppah or bridal chamber, the bride and bridegroom
joined their guests for a joyous marriage feast. Playing of music and dancing was a
regular part of the celebration.

Revelation 19:6-9: "And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound
of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, 'Alleluia! For the Lord
God Omnipotent reigns! 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. And to her it was granted to
be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the
saints.' Then he said to me, Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the Marriage
Supper of the Lamb!' And he said to me 'These are the true sayings of God.'"

Just like the ancient Jewish wedding, there will be shouts of joy and dancing (yes,
dancing) and how exciting it will be. The Bride will dance for joy with her
Bridegroom/King, Yeshua. (Jesus)

We will rule and reign with Him for 1,000 years during the millennium! For those of us
who look forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb, we must go out to the highways
and byways and extend an invitation to others to come.

Revelation 2:17: "And the spirit and the bride say Come! And let him who hears say,
Come! And let him who thirsts, Come; and whoever desires, let him take the water of life
freely."

Revelation 22:20: "'Surely I am coming quickly.' Even so, Come Lord Jesus, Come!"

BEHOLD, HE COMES!

[WhiteWings]

Jewish Weddings Wedding customs in Jesus' day and today - The Bride of Christ
We know that the ceremony is held with the couple and the rabbi under a canopy or chuppah / Huppah, and that the groom crushes a glass under his foot at the end. We also know that Jesus attended weddings and used them in some of his parables. What meaning do they have for us? Since Jesus uses the picture of a bride for his redeemed church, we can read about weddings in terms of his promises to us.

The background "Here Comes the Bride" by Richard Booker is very helpful and points out how Jewish wedding customs are significant for the Christian in the same way as the other feasts of Israel. Much of the following comes from this book. See Internet .
The ancient practice of taking a wife was just that. A man would take his chosen woman home, have sexual intercourse with her and she would be his wife. Details such as the willingness of the woman or her parents are not clear. GOD had better plans and gave guidance on these matters in the Torah. His people used GOD'S principles to develop an honourable way of doing things. The Jewish practice is what Jesus referred to a number of times so it merits investigation.
The Betrothal The betrothal was binding and could only be undone by a divorce with proper grounds, such as the bride being found not to be a virgin, (see Joseph and Mary - Matt 1 v18-19 ) The young man prepared a Ketubah, or marriage contract (or covenant) which he presented to the intended bride and her father. Included in this was the " Bride Price ", which was appropriate in that society to compensate the young woman's parents for the cost of raising her, as well as being an expression of his love for her.
Acceptance To see if the proposal was accepted, the young man would pour a cup of wine for his beloved and wait to see if she drank it. This cup represents a blood covenant. If she drank the cup she would have accepted the proposal and they would be betrothed. The young man would then give gifts to his beloved, and then take his leave. The young woman would have to wait for him to return and collect her.
The wedding chamber and the Chuppah Before leaving the young man would announce, " I am going to prepare a place for you ", and "I will return for you when it is ready". The usual practice was for the young man to return to his father's house and build a honeymoon room there. This is what is symbolized by the chuppah or canopy which is characteristic of Jewish weddings. He was not allowed to skimp on the work and had to get his father's approval before he could consider it ready for his bride. If asked the date of his wedding he would have to reply, "Only my father knows."
Meanwhile the bride would be making herself ready so that she would be pure and beautiful for her bridegroom. During this time she would wear a veil when she went, out to show she was spoken for (she has been bought with a price)
The Wedding When the wedding chamber was ready the bridegroom could collect his bride. He could do this at any time so the bride would make special arrangements. It was the custom for a bride to keep a lamp, her veil and her other things beside her bed. Her bridesmaids were also waiting and had to have oil ready for their lamps.
When the groom and his friends got close to the bride's house they would give a shout and blow a shofar to let her know to be ready.
When the wedding party arrived at father's house the newly weds went into the wedding chamber for a seven day honeymoon and the groom's best friend stood outside waiting for the groom to tell him that the marriage had been consummated. The proof of this was the bed-sheet bearing the blood shed by the bride as a result of her first sexual intercourse. This is notable for two reasons. It speaks of purity before marriage, but it also shows a blood covenant (the most solemn and binding kind) such as God's covenant with his people.
Then all the friends really started celebrating for the seven days that the couple were honeymooning. When the couple emerged there would be much congratulation and the Marriage Supper could begin.
See also http://www.aish.com/literacy/lifecycle/Guide_to_the_Jewish_Wedding.asp
The Significance of this for us ?
God and Israel GOD made a covenant like a marriage covenant with his people ( Is 54 v5-6 )
GOD offered Israel a formal, written marriage contract - the Torah. See especially Ex 20 v3 and Deut 6 v4-5. The contract was a blood covenant ( bride price ) in the blood of the Passover lamb, when GOD took Israel out of Egypt to be his own. (Ex12 v13-14) Israel accepted this proposal, saying "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." (Ex19v7-8) The people drink a cup of wine at Passover for acceptance of GOD'S proposal. GOD gave Israel the Sabbath to spend time with him (like the wedding chamber ) and gave the three pilgrimage feasts as wedding celebrations.
Unfortunately, it was not a happy marriage as the old testament reveals and as was acted out in the life of Hosea. GOD often had to put away his unfaithful wife but not forever. We have yet to see the fulfilment of Hosea 3 v4-5 and 2 v16 and v19-20. See also Ezek 16 v60-62, Jer 31 v31-34, Jer 3 v20
JESUS and the Church Jesus came to his own, (as a Jew called Yeshua meaning YeHoVaH is Salvation ) to Eretz Israel (the land of Israel) to present his marriage contract. See John's comments refering to weddings John 3 v28-29. John introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God and we know that he gave his own blood as the bride price for all who would accept him ( both Jew and Gentile ) Is 53 v4-6, Matt 26 v26-28.
After he rose again Jesus spent forty days with his new church and made another wedding reference, about going to prepare a place. John 14 v2-3
Concerning things yet to come Jesus used wedding pictures again. See Revelation 21 for reference to the Lamb's wife and the new Jerusalem, prepared as a bride. He said that "only the FATHER knows" the time when he will come for his bride and he used this idea in his parable of the ten virgins Matt 25. Understanding wedding practice also throws light on references to "The marriage feast of the Lamb" Rev 19 v9, and making ourselves ready 1 Pet 4 v10, Rev 19 v7-8.
Yeshua and Israel Many scriptures make clear that Israel will be redeemed to GOD in these last days, and we should not be mislead by Replacement Theology. See Rom 11 v26-31, Jer 3 v14, Zech 12 v10 to 14 v21. ( see also section Wild olive)
Modern Jewish weddings On the Shabbat before the wedding, the groom will have read a portion during the service and been showered with sweets, nuts and raisins, wishing the couple a sweet life.
The bride will have been to the Mikveh on the previous day. ( see Baptism & the Mikveh ) Both will fast before the ceremony.
The ceremony can be any day other than Shabbat or a holy day.
The service
After singing a psalm the service starts with the initial blessing over a cup of wine

You are blessed, Lord our G-d, the sovereign of the universe, the creator of the fruit of the vine.
Bride and groom both drink
The groom gives the bride a ring, saying, " With this ring you are sanctified to me according to the Law of Moses."
The ring is placed on the first finger of the right hand.
The Ketubah ( Marriage contract ) is read and signed. It is a statement of the husband's intention to provide for his wife. (the Ketubah may be elaborately decorated)
The Seven Blessings (Brachot) are recited
You are blessed, Lord our G-d, the sovereign of the world, who created everything for his glory.
You are blessed, Lord our G-d, the sovereign of the world, the creator of man.
You are blessed, Lord our G-d, the sovereign of the world, who created man in His image, in the pattern of His own likeness, and provided for the perpetuation of his kind. You are blessed, Lord, the creator of man.
Let the barren city be jubilantly happy and joyful at her joyous reunion with her children. You are blessed, Lord, who makes Zion rejoice with her children.
Let the loving couple be very happy, just as You made Your creation happy in the garden of Eden, so long ago. You are blessed, Lord, who makes the bridegroom and the bride happy.
You are blessed, Lord our G-d, the sovereign of the world, who created joy and celebration, bridegroom and bride, rejoicing, jubilation, pleasure and delight, love and brotherhood, peace and friendship. May there soon be heard, Lord our G-d, in the cities of Judea and in the streets of Jerusalem, the sound of joy and the sound of celebration, the voice of a bridegroom and the voice of a bride, the happy shouting of bridegrooms from their weddings and of young men from their feasts of song. You are blessed, Lord, who makes the bridegroom and the bride rejoice together.
You are blessed, Lord our G-d, the sovereign of the world, creator of the fruit of the vine.
Following these blessings , the bride and groom again drink from the cup of wine and a glass is broken underfoot by the bridegroom.
Husband and wife have some time together to relax and break their fast.
In traditional communities there will be a wedding feast every night for seven nights, with the couple as honoured guests of different people. The seven blessings said under the chuppah are repeated.
( See www.ou.org/wedding/7brachot.htm for the blessings complete with transliterations of the Hebrew)

And the crushed glass? It depicts the destruction of the second temple which they remember with sadness amid all the joy and celebration.

[WhiteWings]

Below an few links to articles that become unreadble (formatting issues) when posted here.

Link #1
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[WhiteWings]

Idiom #28 - Be blessed


(Luke 13:34 [NET])
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it!
(Luke 13:35 [NET])
Look, your house is forsaken! And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'"

In the Jewish wedding, when the groom approaches the chuppah,
these words are said: "Blessed is he who comes". In the book, "Made
in Heaven" by Orthodox Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, he explains that this is
actually  an idiomatic expression which means "welcome".

       So, when Jesus said you will not see me (again) until
you say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord", this is
actually "wedding talk" and a Hebraic way of saying, "Welcome!".
Yeshua/Jesus said that He will not return back to the earth at his
second coming until He is welcomed as the bridegroom and His people
are crying out for Him to return and be married to His people !!!


Click for pictures of a chuppah.

[WhiteWings]

Chuppah

Just a post about the chuppah which as you might have guessed has OT support.

A chuppah (Hebrew: חוּפָּה‎, pl. חוּפּוֹת, chuppot, literally, "canopy" or "covering"), also huppah, chupah, or chuppa, is a canopy under which a Jewish couple stand during their wedding ceremony. It consists of a cloth or sheet, sometimes a tallit, stretched or supported over four poles, or sometimes manually held up by attendants to the ceremony. A chuppah symbolizes the home that the couple will build together.

Because marriage under Jewish law is essentially a private contractual agreement between a man and a woman, it does not require the presence of a rabbi or any other religious official.

(Joel 2:16 [CLV])
Gather the people! Hallow the assembly! Convene the elders! Gather the unweaned children and the sucklings at the breasts! The bridegroom shall fare forth from his chamber, and the bride from her canopy(chuppah!"

(Ps 19:5 [ACV])
which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber =chuppah, and rejoices as a strong man to run his course.

After the initial betrothal, the bride lived with her parents until the day the actual marriage ceremony arrived; the wedding ceremony would then take place in a room or tent that the groom had set up for her. After the ceremony the bride and groom would spend an hour together in an ordinary room, and then the bride would enter the chuppah and, after gaining her permission, the groom would join her

The chuppah represents a Jewish home symbolized by the cloth canopy and the four poles. Just as a chuppah is open on all four sides, so was the tent of Abraham open for hospitality. Thus, the chuppah represents hospitality to one's guests. This "home" initially lacks furniture as a reminder that the basis of a Jewish home is the people within it, not the possessions. In a spiritual sense, the covering of the chuppah represents the presence of God over the covenant of marriage.
The groom enters the chuppah first to represent his ownership of the home on behalf of the couple. When the bride then enters the chuppah it is as though the groom is providing her with shelter or clothing, and he thus publicly demonstrates his new responsibilities toward her.


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The summary above is taken from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuppah
http://www.jewfaq.org/marriage.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_wedding

[Cardinal]

I saw a vision of this while praying once, and the Lord spoke "chuppah" to me. I had to look it up later, realizing it was Hebrew; it was what I had seen, He just showed me the spiritual applications of it.

I saw white linen strips being wound about the forearms (this is why He had them wind the phylacteries around the forearms) of a couple He was joining, then saw those strips go up twisted around like DNA to form the upright trunk, then saw them swirl and take form as covering branches over them, ie. a tree of life. Linen speaks of the righteousness of the saints, whose righteousness of His we have. Blessings....