In several Old Testament books, the Lord compares His love and care for His people to a groom and a bride. In Hosea 2, He paints a picture of Himself as a husband who lovingly draws His people back to Him with comfort, protection, and love. He explains that His people will no longer speak of any other god but Him. His people will be betrothed to Him as a husband and receive abundance, newness, mercy, and identity.
In the book of Ruth, Boaz redeemed Ruth by marrying her, and she received the blessings of Rachel and Leah! This is a big deal because Rachel and Leah were Jacob’s wives who bore the 12 sons who became the nation of Israel. Ruth was a foreigner, and through her marriage to Boaz, she received the blessing given to the mothers of the Israelite Nation. She also received the specific blessing of Judah! The blessing given to Judah was that the scepter would never depart from his lineage, and Jesus would come from this line!
Just as Ruth was brought into blessing through a covenant of marriage, so Jesus brings people into blessing through establishing a covenant with those who place their faith in Him.
This was Ruth’s Blessing
And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman.” Ruth 4: 11-12
Later, in the New Testament, John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the bridegroom.
You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3: 28-30
In Matthew 9, Jesus confirms that He is, indeed, the Bridegroom.
Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “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. Matthew 9: 14-15
In Matthew 25, Jesus begins to give instructions for when He will return, and He explains that the bridegroom is coming at an hour the bride may not expect. He warns His followers to be ready with their oil lamps full. He tells the parable of the ten virgins waiting for their Bridegroom. Five stayed prepared with their oil lamps full, while others grew weary of waiting and were unprepared when He came.
Jesus ended with this powerful statement,
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Matthew 25: 13
And just like many of the Names of Christ, there is fulfillment now in Christ, AND there is MORE fulfillment to come. Revelation describes a great wedding supper for the Lamb (Jesus) and His Bride (the church- the people of God). Right now, it may seem like the world is doing business as usual, but in the spiritual realm, there are preparations for the final restoration of all things. There will be a celebration for those who faithfully endure to the end. The Lord will wipe every tear.
You may be reading this and feeling discouraged because things are not fully restored in your family or your life. You may have been faithfully following Jesus, and yet you may be feeling lonely or disappointed with how things in life have played out so far.
May I encourage you? There is truly JOY ahead! We will sit at a wedding feast with Jesus Christ as His bride, and He will be the groom. He will celebrate ALL who have placed their faith in Him and made Him their Lord and Savior. He is going to reward all those who remain in faith. All who choose Him in this life will be the spotless bride of Christ, fully redeemed and celebrated.
Paul writes these verses which again show that the Lord is readying His Bride.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5: 25-27.
The baby born in Bethlehem that left His seat on high to take on human form and redeem you is ALSO preparing the ultimate celebration. Boaz redeemed Ruth by paying the price for her deceased husband’s estate, and he redeemed her story by marrying her for all to see. He elevated her status from widow and foreigner to wife and mother and sealed her into the Jewish faith. He saved her and then celebrated her! Jesus paid the ultimate price for you with His blood and redeemed you.
Just as Boaz elevated Ruth, so your status has also been changed. You are a brand NEW creation in Christ. Old things have passed away. All things have been made new! You are now an ambassador for Christ, a child of the living God, a host of His own Spirit, and you are being made into a spotless bride made ready for the bridegroom!
Lean into Jesus today.
Declare your steadfast loyalty to Him.
Remind your soul that there is a great wedding feast ahead and that this life is temporary compared to what the Lord is preparing for those who love Him.
Prepare yourself for Him.
Be in prayer.
Be in worship.
Read the Word.
Have your oil lamp full!
Dear Lord,
Help me to see the earth through the eyes of heaven. Help me to boldly proclaim the hope of Jesus to others. Help me to view my temporary afflictions as just that, temporary. Remind my spirit that there is truly joy up ahead and help me to cling to the promises in Your Word that I am Your Bride and You are preparing a great wedding celebration for me!
In Jesus’s name, Amen.
You are the Bride of Christ and Jesus is the Br
