It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of Yah. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
John 6:45
Waiting for the Messiah has lost its meaning. When most people think about waiting they envision sitting and doing nothing as time passes. While that seems really relaxing it is not what the Biblical writers, nor Yehoshua had in mind when He left to prepare a place for us. As the bride of our Messiah he has a special desire for us to be actively waiting for him. This type of waiting requires preparation. Just like a bride planning a wedding requires effort, so does our preparation for meeting our Bridegroom.
In Western culture we have it quite backwards when it comes to weddings. The bride often does all the planning and preparing, and the groom just shows up. The complete opposite is true of Hebrew customs. In the Hebrew custom the man and His Family took care of the arrangements. The only thing the bride and her family were responsible for was making sure she stayed pure until her marriage. After the betrothal, the groom usually went back to his home country until an appointed time. The bride was not privy to when the groom would return. During this time the bride’s family would be teaching her how to be a wife. An important part of this process, especially right before the marriage ceremony, was the purification and anointing of the bride.
In many ancient Eastern cultures, marriage comes with a purification ritual. It is not only physical, it is also symbolic. The bride is cleansed and anointed for her husband. She is presented as a prize for her groom. She is his and ONLY his (1 Cor. 6:19-20). The same is true for us as the Bride of Messiah (Christ). We are in our purification process. When He came and died He paid his dowry to sin and death. He finished His work, which was payment for His bride in full at His resurrection. His work is finished, but ours has just begun. We are to be continually washed and anointed with His WORD. He wants us to forget our people, our customs, and our ways, and look to His people, His customs and His ways. As a good bride, our desire should be to learn our future husband. We should inquire of His father what He likes to eat, what breaks His heart, and what He desires of us so when we are presented to Him at the great wedding feast we can be pleasing to Him. The Messiah has done His part and He is now waiting for us to do ours. Let us learn His ways so that, as a beautiful bride we can stand before Him ready to serve for eternity.
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Revelation 19:7-8
Scripture Reading:
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
Psalm 119:71-73 (KJV)
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of Yah. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
John 6:45 (KJV)
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:29 (KJV)
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Psalm 119:9 (KJV)