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The Marriage Covenant - Ketubah
What do the Scriptures mean when they talk about the church being the 'Bride of Christ'? In the Old Testament many references are made regarding God speaking of Israel as his 'wife', many times pointing out her unfaithfulness and her adultery with the gods of the surrounding nations. Many times she is punished and the punishment is meted out by those very nations she has 'gone after; - Egypt, Babylon Assyria; yet God remains 'her husband' speaking of giving her time to repent and return. Yearning for her return and calling to her, still He doesn't 'divorce' her although she remains 'separated' and still reaping the rewards of her unfaithfulness. She doesn't recognise that it is her 'going after the surrounding nations, wanting to be like them, making alliances with them, adopting their manners and customs' that have separated her from her husband brought punishing consequences on herself.
Finally, the prophet Jeremiah announces her 'bill of divorcement,' no doubt through many tears because historically he is referred to as 'the weeping prophet'. How incredibly sad this is. This wayward bride who went after the surrounding nations so bright-eyed and hopeful, seemingly unaware that she was being unfaithful to the one true God who loved her so tenderly. The God who had watched over her, delivered her from slavery, led her through many dangers and snares, brought her safely into her own land, a land of milk and honey. A land he was giving her 'forever'. A God who was so patient, kind and loving he would continue to woo her back to himself. In the Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) he had carefully drawn up the marriage contract (Ketubah), stating very clearly his responsibilities towards her and her responsibilities to him and the consequences of breaking the contract. There were witnesses and the consequences were agreed upon - blessings for adherence and curses for non-compliance. To put this into context for this message we need to look at the Ancient Jewish Wedding Covenant.
The Bible contains the greatest love story ever written. A God who describes His people Israel as His bride and Himself as her Husband. Within the Holy Scriptures the marriage relationship is central to everything God ordained. In spite of recent legislation in many countries around the world, God is not mocked, he will uphold the sanctity of marriage. The Marriage Covenant is so significant that the Bible begins and ends with a wedding and Jesus began his adult ministry at a wedding.
In the scriptures there are many references to the marriage covenant, we read of God referring to himself as the Bridegroom or Husband and comparing all those who enter into covenant with him as "the bride."
Finally, the prophet Jeremiah announces her 'bill of divorcement,' no doubt through many tears because historically he is referred to as 'the weeping prophet'. How incredibly sad this is. This wayward bride who went after the surrounding nations so bright-eyed and hopeful, seemingly unaware that she was being unfaithful to the one true God who loved her so tenderly. The God who had watched over her, delivered her from slavery, led her through many dangers and snares, brought her safely into her own land, a land of milk and honey. A land he was giving her 'forever'. A God who was so patient, kind and loving he would continue to woo her back to himself. In the Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) he had carefully drawn up the marriage contract (Ketubah), stating very clearly his responsibilities towards her and her responsibilities to him and the consequences of breaking the contract. There were witnesses and the consequences were agreed upon - blessings for adherence and curses for non-compliance. To put this into context for this message we need to look at the Ancient Jewish Wedding Covenant.
The Bible contains the greatest love story ever written. A God who describes His people Israel as His bride and Himself as her Husband. Within the Holy Scriptures the marriage relationship is central to everything God ordained. In spite of recent legislation in many countries around the world, God is not mocked, he will uphold the sanctity of marriage. The Marriage Covenant is so significant that the Bible begins and ends with a wedding and Jesus began his adult ministry at a wedding.
In the scriptures there are many references to the marriage covenant, we read of God referring to himself as the Bridegroom or Husband and comparing all those who enter into covenant with him as "the bride."
Isaiah 61:10
You may like to read through the Song of Songs seeing Solomon as Jesus the bridegroom and the Shulamite as the bride.
In the Mishnah, Rabbinic tradition tells us that when God presented Eve to Adam, he adorned her as a bride with beautiful jewels, then in the Garden of Eden the first wedding took place in the presence of God and witnessed by the Archangels Gabriel and Michael.
Genesis 2:18-25 (NIV)
Jeremiah 31:3
Beginning in Genesis, then continuing throughout the Old Testament, we find a record of legally binding agreements called 'covenants' between God and His people which are the basis from which all the relationships with God are built and maintained.
Biblical Marriage is the culmination of four types of covenant:
- Servanthood = Blood Covenant
- Friendship = Salt Covenant
- Inheritance = Sandal
- Praise = Sealed
A Covenant is called a Brit in Hebrew. It defines an ongoing relationship with no appointed end! It is a commitment to develop a continuing relationship and be its existence it implies interaction between partners that is a dynamic and growing process.
Before we can ever begin to understand the Book of Revelation (in the Brit Hadasha - New Testament/Renewed Covenant) and its mysteries, we must first learn about the ancient Hebrew marriage rituals and ceremonies. Jesus was well acquainted with these customs coming from his own Hebrew culture and he used many of the concepts when teaching in the parables. Ketubah (Ketubot pl) is the Hebrew word for Marriage Contract. When the terms of the contract had been worked out between the families of the prospective bride and groom over a meal that they shared together, they brought in a scribe to write up the actual document which contained five parts: |
There is a significant parallel here where the first five books of the Bible (The Torah) correspond to the five sections of the ancient Hebrew Ketubah.
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So, here we have the first five books of the Bible written as a marriage contract between God and His people.
When all the details and conditions of the coming marriage were recorded in writing, the Ketubah required 'seven signatures' or 'seals'. These came from the bride and groom, the two fathers, a scribe (or in modern times, a Rabbi) and two witnesses. So figuratively we have the following signatories:
1. & 2. Adam and Noah were the two witnesses
3. Abraham, the father of many nations, was also depicted as the father of the groom
4. Jacob was the father of the bride
5. Moses was the scribe (he wrote down the Torah as God dictated)
6. David, often called God's beloved, was the bride
7. Jesus representing redemption (salvation) was the groom.
The Book of Revelation introduces the concept of seven seals in a way that directly refers to the Hebrew Marriage Ketubah.
Returning to our Ancient Jewish betrothal process...
The prospective groom and his father would let it be known that a formal proposal could be forthcoming, and on the chosen day of the official proposal, the prospective groom and his father would visit the intended bride's home carrying a betrothal cup, wine and the anticipated bride price in a pouch. On arrival they would knock on the door - before answering the door, the prospective bride's father would peer out of a window, identifying the visitors to his daughter and seek her confirmation whether he should 'open the door!' If she agreed, then that was confirmation that there was a commitment to work through the betrothal process towards a fully functional marriage. The issue was that there would be a marriage subject to the terms being worked through.
So, opening the door signalled the first major step towards making a marriage. This is exactly what Jesus was saying in Revelation 3:20, we open the door and He comes in and the restoration process is under way.
When all the details and conditions of the coming marriage were recorded in writing, the Ketubah required 'seven signatures' or 'seals'. These came from the bride and groom, the two fathers, a scribe (or in modern times, a Rabbi) and two witnesses. So figuratively we have the following signatories:
1. & 2. Adam and Noah were the two witnesses
3. Abraham, the father of many nations, was also depicted as the father of the groom
4. Jacob was the father of the bride
5. Moses was the scribe (he wrote down the Torah as God dictated)
6. David, often called God's beloved, was the bride
7. Jesus representing redemption (salvation) was the groom.
The Book of Revelation introduces the concept of seven seals in a way that directly refers to the Hebrew Marriage Ketubah.
Returning to our Ancient Jewish betrothal process...
The prospective groom and his father would let it be known that a formal proposal could be forthcoming, and on the chosen day of the official proposal, the prospective groom and his father would visit the intended bride's home carrying a betrothal cup, wine and the anticipated bride price in a pouch. On arrival they would knock on the door - before answering the door, the prospective bride's father would peer out of a window, identifying the visitors to his daughter and seek her confirmation whether he should 'open the door!' If she agreed, then that was confirmation that there was a commitment to work through the betrothal process towards a fully functional marriage. The issue was that there would be a marriage subject to the terms being worked through.
So, opening the door signalled the first major step towards making a marriage. This is exactly what Jesus was saying in Revelation 3:20, we open the door and He comes in and the restoration process is under way.
Revelation 3:20
At that point we have salvation, but beyond that Jesus is asking us if we will enter into the covenant of betrothal with him. Will we walk in a loving relationship with Him as the bridegroom?
The significance of this verse is that we have a choice and the choice is ours, exactly the same as the ancient Hebrew bride who could choose to either ask her father to open the door, or leave it shut! If she refuses to allow her father to open the door, the groom and his father then leave the threshold and return home.
The application for the church is that God the Father, as the Father of the groom (Jesus) made the arrangements and paid the bride price - the Blood of His son Jesus. See Ephesians 5:25b ...Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. And John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
By giving up the Son and shedding the blood of the Son, the bride price was paid and the arrangement sealed with Blood!
If the prospective bride agrees and her father opens the door, then the initial agreement to be married would be worked out through intense and animated discussions which would be formalised in a written contract (Ketubah). The prospective bride was the only one who could back out of this agreement right up until the very instant of the marriage being consummated.
She could stop the process in a moment and she didn't need any special reason! However, once his initial proposal had been made and accepted, the groom was totally committed and only by a writ of divorce on extremely limited grounds could he ever back out. If he died before the marriage was consummated, she inherited his estate.
The period of betrothal could last for at least a year, maybe many more if the couple were children when the Ketubah was drawn up. This is the time of preparation, where the bride is prepared and trained to take on the role of a wife.
The significance of this verse is that we have a choice and the choice is ours, exactly the same as the ancient Hebrew bride who could choose to either ask her father to open the door, or leave it shut! If she refuses to allow her father to open the door, the groom and his father then leave the threshold and return home.
The application for the church is that God the Father, as the Father of the groom (Jesus) made the arrangements and paid the bride price - the Blood of His son Jesus. See Ephesians 5:25b ...Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. And John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
By giving up the Son and shedding the blood of the Son, the bride price was paid and the arrangement sealed with Blood!
If the prospective bride agrees and her father opens the door, then the initial agreement to be married would be worked out through intense and animated discussions which would be formalised in a written contract (Ketubah). The prospective bride was the only one who could back out of this agreement right up until the very instant of the marriage being consummated.
She could stop the process in a moment and she didn't need any special reason! However, once his initial proposal had been made and accepted, the groom was totally committed and only by a writ of divorce on extremely limited grounds could he ever back out. If he died before the marriage was consummated, she inherited his estate.
The period of betrothal could last for at least a year, maybe many more if the couple were children when the Ketubah was drawn up. This is the time of preparation, where the bride is prepared and trained to take on the role of a wife.
2 Corinthians 11:2
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.
The Apostle Paul states that the church has been espoused or betrothed to one husband, Jesus her Messiah, and Paul records this in this verse.
The church is currently in the period of preparation to become a fitting bride for her Messiah, a pure virgin on her wedding day.
The Apostle Paul states that the church has been espoused or betrothed to one husband, Jesus her Messiah, and Paul records this in this verse.
The church is currently in the period of preparation to become a fitting bride for her Messiah, a pure virgin on her wedding day.
Four Cups of Wine
Covenants are progressive in nature and do not cancel each other out. There are four cups of wine established as markers signifying where the betrothal parties are in their negotiations. Each cup corresponds to a covenant representing something that all participants had to physically grasp, consume and make a part of themselves at each step of the way, or the process would break down. In Revelation 3:20 when Jesus invites us to open the door of our heart and let Him in to dine with us, he is also referring to the next stage of the betrothal process.
Once the prospective groom and his father had completed the details of the wedding, they would eat a meal with the bride's family. Members of each of the two families would also drink three of the four betrothal cups of wine, one cup at each point throughout negotiating process.
They are now officially married, even though neither the ceremony, nor consummation has taken place. The third cup also corresponds to the cup that Jesus shared with his disciples during Passover when he washed their feet and thus transferred his inheritance to them (sandal covenant). He also refers to his coming marriage to his church (Kehilah = 'called out' or 'set apart' ones) knowing the custom of the groom not to drink wine again until the wedding ceremony. This explains why he said "...He would not touch the fruit of the vine again until He could do so with us in the kingdom of heaven." He kept to that vow on the cross when he refused the wine that the Romans offered him to numb the pain. Each time we take communion, we should remember we are reaffirming our commitment to be Jesus' bride. Weddings and Passover are parallel celebrations in which God emphasises the sanctity and intimacy of our earthly unions and our heavenly union with Him. God offered mankind a betrothal contract beginning over 6,000 years ago, he sealed the terms of that contract a little over 2,000 years ago. If you have allowed Jesus to knock at the door of your heart and have invited him in, in the days that follow, you may be anywhere from grasping the doorknob to drinking from the third cup of wine. Wherever you are, as long as you remain committed, you are in exactly the right place. Once you let Jesus into your heart, you are saved and God will direct you towards greater intimacy with him. That will take place in His time as you are transformed by the renewing of your mind. When God is ready for you to take the next step and partake of the fourth cup, he will make it very clear to you and give you his direction through His Holy Spirit. Don't be comparing yourself to other people, keep your eyes on Jesus and He will direct your path.
Returning to our ancient groom's story...
Once the prospective groom and his father had completed the details of the wedding, they would eat a meal with the bride's family. Members of each of the two families would also drink three of the four betrothal cups of wine, one cup at each point throughout negotiating process.
- The Cup of Sanctification = Servanthood = Blood. This cup was taken by all present and embodies the concept of being 'set apart' for God. Just as God sanctified the nation of Israel, the families do the same in respect to each other. They are sanctified to becoming one large family.
- The Cup of Betrothal = Salt Covenant = Friendship. This cup is consumed by the bride and groom and the two fathers only. The families are covenanting to become eternal friends with their son and daughter and with each other.
- The Cup of Redemption = Sandal Covenant = Inheritance. This signifies the shared inheritance of the marriage partners. This cup is drunk at the end of the meal by the bride and groom only and symbolises their exclusive commitment to each other. It also officially seals the marriage agreement.
- *The Cup of Praise
They are now officially married, even though neither the ceremony, nor consummation has taken place. The third cup also corresponds to the cup that Jesus shared with his disciples during Passover when he washed their feet and thus transferred his inheritance to them (sandal covenant). He also refers to his coming marriage to his church (Kehilah = 'called out' or 'set apart' ones) knowing the custom of the groom not to drink wine again until the wedding ceremony. This explains why he said "...He would not touch the fruit of the vine again until He could do so with us in the kingdom of heaven." He kept to that vow on the cross when he refused the wine that the Romans offered him to numb the pain. Each time we take communion, we should remember we are reaffirming our commitment to be Jesus' bride. Weddings and Passover are parallel celebrations in which God emphasises the sanctity and intimacy of our earthly unions and our heavenly union with Him. God offered mankind a betrothal contract beginning over 6,000 years ago, he sealed the terms of that contract a little over 2,000 years ago. If you have allowed Jesus to knock at the door of your heart and have invited him in, in the days that follow, you may be anywhere from grasping the doorknob to drinking from the third cup of wine. Wherever you are, as long as you remain committed, you are in exactly the right place. Once you let Jesus into your heart, you are saved and God will direct you towards greater intimacy with him. That will take place in His time as you are transformed by the renewing of your mind. When God is ready for you to take the next step and partake of the fourth cup, he will make it very clear to you and give you his direction through His Holy Spirit. Don't be comparing yourself to other people, keep your eyes on Jesus and He will direct your path.
Returning to our ancient groom's story...
John 14:2
After sealing the deal with the third cup, the Groom now departs to go to his father's house to prepare a 'bridal chamber' (Chupah) for his bride. The groom's father decides the time for the wedding to take place, which will be when he - the groom's father judges the preparations to be completed to his satisfaction. During this time the bride is 'set apart', she behaves in the manner of a married woman and wears a veil in public. She spends this time preparing her 'trousseau' which will include 'swaddling bands' for her first child.
Matthew 24:36
The bride doesn't know when the groom will come to claim her, although traditionally it will be at night! She watches and waits with her female attendants and together they busy themselves with preparations.
The groom doesn't know the day or the hour when he can come and claim his bride, he continues to 'prepare' a place for her and it is only when his father is satisfied that all is ready for the bride, will he go to claim her. His father announces NOW! The groom's attendants let out a shout and blow the shofar (ram's horn) to announce the coming of the groom and together with the groom, his friends and some musicians they make a joyful procession to the bride's house.
The groom doesn't know the day or the hour when he can come and claim his bride, he continues to 'prepare' a place for her and it is only when his father is satisfied that all is ready for the bride, will he go to claim her. His father announces NOW! The groom's attendants let out a shout and blow the shofar (ram's horn) to announce the coming of the groom and together with the groom, his friends and some musicians they make a joyful procession to the bride's house.
Matthew 25
The bride's attendants hear the shout and the sound of the shofar and go out into the street with their lamps to show the groom the way to the bride. The groom 'snatches' the bride from her father's house (carries her away in a romantic type of abduction - see 1Thessalonians 5:2). He and his noisy friends carry her triumphantly through the streets back to his father's house. On arrival he takes her to the bridal chamber (Chupah) which he has prepared for her. Only the bride and groom enter the chamber, this is the first time the couple have ever been alone together!
The marriage is subsequently consummated (see Isaac taking Rebekah into his mother's tent Genesis 24:67). The fourth cup of wine, the *Cup of Praise is shared between the bride and groom only and after they have drunk from the cup, the groom places it on the ground, puts his foot on it and the bride rests her foot over his and together they crush it assuring that no-one else would ever drink from it. Next, the bride and groom take a triple-braided loaf of challah bread, bless it, break it, dip it in salt and feed it to each other as a pledge of their friendship and a renewal of the salt covenant ('friendship' Leviticus 2:13). During the ceremony the bride will encircle the groom seven times commemorating the 'wall of separation between them being broken down.' As the bride encircles the groom she is saying "I bind myself by oath to this man" accepting the invitation to become one and enter into life's journey with him. It also commemorates the walls of Jericho falling when Joshua led the Israelites around the walls seven times and when they raised a shout and blew their shofarot (plural of shofar), the walls came down. (Joshua 6). The groom then gives his bride a new inheritance by removing her old worn-out sandals, washing her feet, then placing new sandals on her feet. At this point they may exchange rings, placing them on the fore-finger of their right hands. The bride and groom are considered a king and queen for the seven days of festivities that follow. The bride always stands at her husband's right hand. At a modern Jewish wedding, the groom may envelope the bride in his prayer shawl (Talit Gadol) after crushing the cup. The groom and his 'wife' now join the wedding party and celebrate for seven whole days and nights. (see Revelation 19:6-9 Marriage supper of the Lamb).
Summary:
The marriage covenant is the culmination of the previous three covenants; servanthood, friendship and inheritance. It is offered to all but relatively few accept its privileges and responsibilities.
The bride and groom take four cups of wine to consummate this marriage, the last during the ceremony itself.
What is often called the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, is written like an ancient Hebrew marriage contract.
Jesus has redeemed us exactly as an ancient Hebrew husband could redeem his sinful wife.
Jesus has already shared the first three cups of betrothal wine with his intended bride. Only one remains! The Marriage Supper of the Lamb!
This therefore is the divine romance that every believer can experience. From the beginning, God intended that mankind should be His bride. He loves us! He loves us so very much that he sent Jesus to redeem us, to pay the bride price and re-establish the relationship that was broken in the Garden of Eden. He offers us a choice, open the door of our hearts and invite him in and forsaking all that this world offers, walk with Jesus, growing in grace daily until we too hear the shout and the sound of the shofar when Jesus returns to claim his bride.
For a clear teaching into how this all is a picture of the now imminent Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church here is a link to a teaching you can download from Calvary Chapel Kaneohe:
https://calvarychapelkaneohe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PreTribulationRaptureProof.pdf
If you would prefer to watch it on YouTube:https://youtu.be/v1hc2W2tSUw
The marriage is subsequently consummated (see Isaac taking Rebekah into his mother's tent Genesis 24:67). The fourth cup of wine, the *Cup of Praise is shared between the bride and groom only and after they have drunk from the cup, the groom places it on the ground, puts his foot on it and the bride rests her foot over his and together they crush it assuring that no-one else would ever drink from it. Next, the bride and groom take a triple-braided loaf of challah bread, bless it, break it, dip it in salt and feed it to each other as a pledge of their friendship and a renewal of the salt covenant ('friendship' Leviticus 2:13). During the ceremony the bride will encircle the groom seven times commemorating the 'wall of separation between them being broken down.' As the bride encircles the groom she is saying "I bind myself by oath to this man" accepting the invitation to become one and enter into life's journey with him. It also commemorates the walls of Jericho falling when Joshua led the Israelites around the walls seven times and when they raised a shout and blew their shofarot (plural of shofar), the walls came down. (Joshua 6). The groom then gives his bride a new inheritance by removing her old worn-out sandals, washing her feet, then placing new sandals on her feet. At this point they may exchange rings, placing them on the fore-finger of their right hands. The bride and groom are considered a king and queen for the seven days of festivities that follow. The bride always stands at her husband's right hand. At a modern Jewish wedding, the groom may envelope the bride in his prayer shawl (Talit Gadol) after crushing the cup. The groom and his 'wife' now join the wedding party and celebrate for seven whole days and nights. (see Revelation 19:6-9 Marriage supper of the Lamb).
Summary:
The marriage covenant is the culmination of the previous three covenants; servanthood, friendship and inheritance. It is offered to all but relatively few accept its privileges and responsibilities.
The bride and groom take four cups of wine to consummate this marriage, the last during the ceremony itself.
What is often called the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, is written like an ancient Hebrew marriage contract.
Jesus has redeemed us exactly as an ancient Hebrew husband could redeem his sinful wife.
Jesus has already shared the first three cups of betrothal wine with his intended bride. Only one remains! The Marriage Supper of the Lamb!
This therefore is the divine romance that every believer can experience. From the beginning, God intended that mankind should be His bride. He loves us! He loves us so very much that he sent Jesus to redeem us, to pay the bride price and re-establish the relationship that was broken in the Garden of Eden. He offers us a choice, open the door of our hearts and invite him in and forsaking all that this world offers, walk with Jesus, growing in grace daily until we too hear the shout and the sound of the shofar when Jesus returns to claim his bride.
For a clear teaching into how this all is a picture of the now imminent Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church here is a link to a teaching you can download from Calvary Chapel Kaneohe:
https://calvarychapelkaneohe.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PreTribulationRaptureProof.pdf
If you would prefer to watch it on YouTube:https://youtu.be/v1hc2W2tSUw
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This is a Mid-East Prophecy Update Published on September 8, 2013 on Youtube Pastor JD Farag talks about the importance of rightly dividing 1st and 2nd Thessalonians in light of the situation in Syria, then ties the rapture of the church together with the communion table and how it paints a picture of the rapture on the canvas of typology. Around about the 56th minute Ps JD introduces the Middle Eastern Wedding processes! |