Waiting for the Bridegroom

My days right now are being consumed with preparations for my wedding. Part of that preparation is searching for just the right design for one's ketuba. The ketuba is the marriage contract given by the Bridegroom to his Bride, stating his vows and promises to love and care for her all her life, and to provide for her needs. She must sign the contract also as her consent; it is her "I do" to the Bridegroom.

On Mount Sinai Moses and the people of Israel received the Torah, God's commandments, which comprised His ketuba with Israel. It was His marriage contract of love and provision with His people, and it required their consent. In Exodus 19:8 the people respond, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do."

John and I desired to have a ketuba with our vows written upon it, and so we searched for artwork that would speak to our hearts. There are many Jewish artists who have a myriad of ketuba designs on the internet. We looked and looked at all the fascinating, interesting artwork, but found nothing that felt personal to us. Suddenly I remembered my friend Batia in Israel who is a fine artist. I wrote and asked her if she would design our ketuba. She told me she would send me an image of a painting she had recently done to see if we would like to use it. Imagine how startled we were to see this strawberry blonde bride and tall, dark-haired groom. It looks so much like us, we both immediately saw Yahweh's handprint upon our marriage!

The ketuba is only one part of the preparation for a Hebrew marriage. The mohar or "bride price" is paid to show how valuable the Bride is to her Groom. Then the betrothal occurs, after which the Bride is to be set apart and sanctified; a time for her to be prepared and anointed for her Groom. The Groom leaves his beloved and goes to his father's house to prepare a chadar, a bridal chamber or home, for his Bride. He promises to return for her. What thrilling pictures these are of our betrothal to our Messiah, and our joyful, eager anticipation of His return for us!

As I am waiting for my bridegroom, I am resolved to walk out this time before our wedding in purity, giving myself time to truly be prepared and sanctified. May we all glean from these prophetic understandings of the Hebrew wedding, and wait for our Bridegroom by walking in righteousness. In Revelation 19:7-8 it says, "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."