Bridal Language
God’ s love story of redemption began in Genesis where He lost His intimate relationship with mankind. The entire Bible is God’s divine romance to win back His bride and restore His earth to paradise. In Revelation we see the bride coming down prepared for her Husband (Rev. 21:2-3). Heaven is preparing for a wedding feast.
Bridal language seamlessly weaves the entire Bible together. God took the nation of Israel to be His bride, through covenant. God said, “I will take you as my people, and I will be your God” (Exodus 6:7). That is bridal language; a marriage covenant sealed with the blood of oxen. When the people accepted His covenant, God shared a meal with them (Exodus 24:7-11). This is a foreshadowing of the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.
The sacrifices and feasts that God established in Leviticus are rehearsals of Israel’s betrothal and marriage to God. Whether the Israelites realized it or not, year after year, their spring feasts highlighted the courtship and betrothal. The fall feasts allude to the consummation of the marriage. Finally, God would regain the intimate relationship which He lost in the Garden of Eden. That intimacy would culminate in a wedding feast.
Yet, Israel was an unfaithful wife. As the Faithful Husband, God wooed His bride throughout the Old Testament.
The prophet Hosea lived out that allegory when God instructed him to marry a harlot. God compared Hosea’s unfaithful wife with the nation of Israel who worships multiple idols. Again, God is using bridal language to describe His relationship with His people.
Ruth’s life is God’s plan for a wedding feast in story form. A Gentile bride married a Jewish bridegroom, Boaz, who was also her kinsman redeemer. Boaz redeemed both Naomi who is Jewish and Ruth who is a Gentile, demonstrating that God’s bride is both Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14-16). Boaz also redeemed the land (Ruth 4:4-5; Romans 8:19-21).
God redeemed the Promised Land for His bride, Israel. Jesus, our Bridegroom King, went to prepare a place for His bride in His Father’s house (John 14:2-3). One day, He will come again and receive us to Himself.
I could continue the bridal theme by talking about God’s broken heart in Jeremiah and Ezekiel or God’s longing for intimacy in the Song of Solomon. But you get my point. The whole Bible is steeped in bridal language that we often miss.
I am excited to reread the Bible with heart-shaped glasses. I’m expecting to be drawn into greater intimacy with Him. Will you join me?