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Wedding of the Ages 2.The Heavenly Waakeel Part 1 described traditional wedding ceremonies and customs in the Holy Land in Biblical days and as they were observed in comparatively recent times; this part draws an analogy with the Call of the Church, the Bride of Christ, and Scripture symbolism connected therewith. Students of the Scriptures see in Eastern marriage customs a deep significance with regard to that mystical group of called out people variously known as the Church, the body of Christ, the Bride, and the Lamb’s wife. All spiritually enlightened will call to mind many sayings of the prophets, Apostles and of the Lord which reveal to them an added meaning. Some of the parables of Jesus can be viewed with greater discernment of the deeper truths. Some special points in these customs are worthy of note as they relate to the experiences of individual Christians who have been called to a place in this elect, bridal group. The Waakeel or matrimonial agent is a wonderful picture of the work of the Holy Spirit sent out by God to seek a bride for his beloved Son. Eliezer’s choice, one of great importance in the furtherance of God’s purpose with man, was directed by him. Throughout the Gospel Dispensation, God has called and chosen members of the human race, by means of his own Divine agency, for membership in the royal house through which He intends to bless all families of the earth. As in the old custom the agent made no personal demonstration, but quickly drew aside the veil from each face for scrutiny, so the Spirit of God silently, unobtrusively draws aside the veil of the flesh, readily reading the mind, discerning the very thoughts and motives, paying no heed to natural protests, but choosing, drawing those possessed of faith, and such qualities as are likely to develop under the tuition to be given through this same agency of the Spirit. "Man looketh upon the outward appearance but the LORD looketh on (reads) the heart." (1 Sam.16:7) As Eliezer and the Waakeel did not talk of themselves but of their master’s wealth and position, so the Holy Spirit reveals to each called one the beauties of the character of God the Father and of his Son, making known the riches of the heavenly life and inheritance. "Ye see your calling, brethren." (1 Cor.1:26) It could not be seen unless revealed to each individual by this faithful and enlightening agency of the Spirit. Others may preach, may talk about the love of God and the gospel of Jesus, but unless the Spirit touches the mind, the hearer remains unmoved and unenlightened. "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me," (John 14:6) and again, "No man can come unto me, except (unless) the Father which hath sent me draw him." (John 6:44) Here is the agency at work on the individual, by the Father and through the Son, for a specific purpose. By the Spirit’s agency the love gifts and messages are conveyed; the Scriptures yield unending joy, strength, encouragement and hope to the mind once charmed by the invitation to union with the King of Kings. Prayer becomes the medium of correspondence by which love is expressed, desired and received. In this interchange of thought the bonds of love and loyalty are deepened, strengthened, and made ever more desirable because it is by prayer that the unseen Bridegroom and the unseen Father are more clearly revealed, understood and loved more truly. By such means the individual heart is allured, won and kept in the care of him "whom not having seen ye love; in whom, though ye see him not…ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." (1 Peter 1:8). "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." (2 Cor.11:2). Here is the betrothal covenant made by the Spirit through the inspired apostolic words. Such assurance is more than sweet; it is energising, uplifting. Those who receive it know at once the life‑giving effects of this inner conviction. It loosens the tongue to songs of praise and wherever a few of like mind are met together there the wedding songs are sung in anticipation just as they were by the eastern bride and her companions as they got ready the wedding array. As every prospective bride delights to tell of her beloved to whoever will listen, singing his praises, lingering over his name as on a thing of beauty, so these bride members delight to talk of him who is their chief joy. To them there is no sweeter name in heaven or earth than one before whom every knee shall bow and confess him Lord of all. "Sweet is the vision of thy face, The love and joy is mutual. The prophetic Scriptures abound with expressions of love and longing on the part of the heavenly Lover for his espoused partner. Because the love of God is shed abroad in the heart of all this faithful company, with that deep desire to be pleasing and acceptable to him, He sees them as without spot. "Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee. Thou hast ravished (taken away) my heart…with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. How fair is thy love." (Song of Solomon 4:7,9,10) This single‑minded devotion wins more than approval. It brings joy to one who emptied himself of his riches, of life itself that she might be made rich and inherit eternity with him. Alas! that any should prove unfaithful to such a love, that any could become lukewarm, forgetful; taken up, engrossed with any other theme, person or thing than that of Jesus and his redeeming love. Yet this love which is to endure forever must be tested and tried. Only the choice qualities can stand side by side with the Son of God. These qualities are not those of scholarship, knowledge, natural assets, for not many noble or learned according to worldly estimates have been called. The thing that makes them dear to God is the same quality of unquestioning obedience, loyalty, meekness, unselfish love, willingness to spend and be spent, as were so grandly exemplified in Jesus during his earthly life. It is likeness to these things, affinity, strong desire, earnest striving, faith, hope, love, which will win the coveted position of bridal honours. "Many are called but few are chosen," qualify enough to be chosen. It is the heart and not the head, the life lived, the things done for his sake, that binds the willing soul to the Lord, the one who loves truly, loves the person, character, ways and manners of the loved one. The interests and affairs of that one are followed with devoted interest. Should a cloud of misunderstanding arise, the light of life is temporarily blotted out until complete love and trust are restored. Reconciliation brings with it an overwhelming joy. It is this kind of personal love to Jesus which is the real force behind all genuine Christian living. Devotion to causes, assents to creeds, formulas of religious doctrines, membership of some church, sect, society, or religious cult, does not make a person eligible for the inheritance that cannot fade. "Consider Him" is the appeal of the Spirit, and He can never be considered overmuch or over loved, for his own full measure of love is one that is beyond the grasp of human knowledge or capacity. Human nature is weak, limited, frail, faulty, forgetful. At its best, with its most earnest efforts, its most diligent consideration, its warmest devotion, its deepest desires, it will still fall far short of that love of Jesus which was to man the sublime expression and revelation of the love of God. Yet there He stands at the apex and centre of all our affairs, and of the entire universe, the King of love. He is the pattern, and God intends us to keep looking to Jesus, "the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb.12:2) if we would be "complete in him." Any knowledge which leads to a greater knowledge of the beloved, to a greater desire to imitate him, to share and to express his love in daily living, is the knowledge God wants us to have. Much of the confusion which darkens the world of religious thought is caused by too great a concentration on non‑essential or secondary matters, intellectual problems which do not warm the heart. Lukewarm love results, with an easy turning away of the affections to other causes, interests and things, which gradually absorb the mind until the first rapture of love is lost. It is possible, alarmingly so, that the very Book itself, through which comes so much for the longing heart, can become such a bitter bone of contention that love wilts before the onslaughts of argument and the stubborn pride of contenders. The world is ever ready with its enticing allurements to win away the love of hearts bound to Christ, and the flesh, deceitful and weak, is ever ready to listen to the myriad siren voices calling to other loves, while Satan, that malicious and crafty foe of God and man, is more than ready to destroy the "royal seed" through whose agency his own evil shackles are finally to be broken from the necks of mankind. Error, selfishness and pride, ambition, doubt, despair are some of the dangerous factors which cause love to grow cold while the Bride is making herself ready. Only a sterling, top‑quality love will spurn all other inducements, will remain loyal, stedfast and true under every possible condition, enduring all the assaults of time and circumstance with unflinching and unwearied devotion. These are they which have a passion for life more that mere learning, to whom Jesus means life. The desire to be true is not just for the joy of endless association with him, but that of bringing life to a dying race, beset with sin and all its consequences; helpless to deliver themselves from its awful grip. This joy of deliverance took Jesus to the cross; it will urge his true lovers on to faithfulness. It is by love that God purposes to save man, to give life to the race, and it is through the love of Christ and the love of his chosen and faithful Bride that his purpose will be carried out. The faithful of all centuries since the advent of Jesus have considered themselves so bound in love and service, their lives a period of discipline and tuition, and in close co‑operation with the glorious Christ, a time of testing and preparation for a future life of nobler proportions to be shared with all the faithful in the presence of God the Father. With this authorised picture before us we can look again at the Bride intent upon her preparations. She is first and foremost radiantly happy. Doubt and mistrust do not cloud her brow, for she rejoices in the certainty, the security of her Bridegroom’s love for her, which she not only desires but reciprocates. "My beloved is mine, and I am his." (Song of Solomon 2:16) She is his treasure. To her he is "altogether lovely, the chiefest (fairest) among ten thousand." (5:16,10) The Scriptures convey his delight and assurances. The hymns of saints, the music, the prayers, the beauty which has been wrought into sacred edifices, the valiant efforts to follow his example, the triumphs of faith and spirit over the adversities of life, are some of the expressions, some of the proofs of love, given back by hearts wholly given to God and Christ. The love and interest of the Father cannot be excluded from the pact any more than that of the Eastern parent. Indeed, it was the parent who arranged and made possible the match. The father was honoured in the son, the bride being as eagerly sought and as lovingly awaited. In the greater marriage it is no less the fact that all has been made possible, supervised, and provided by the richness of the love of God. He it is who awaits with equal joy the presentation before him of the Bride made glorious, "without spot or wrinkle or any such thing." (Eph.5:27 RSV) The eastern provision of a wedding garment for each guest bidden to the marriage teaches a deep truth which cannot be ignored. In the grand event of the marriage of a king’s son, the robes are of royal splendour. The beneficence of the king is at once recognised in the bestowal of rich garments upon the bidden guests, which properly fit them for their place at the great banquet, but which they would be unable to provide for themselves. None need be ashamed to walk in the royal house or mingle with the distinguished company while clad in the princely attire of the king’s providing. When one, through pride of heart, says in effect, "My own dress is good enough, I will go in my own dress," he is flouting the generosity of the king. When he lays aside the king’s gift, appearing in his own attire, he is immediately conspicuous and out of place. He is not choice, either in garment or character. His dress does not grace the royal assembly, and his conduct is an affront to the king, the outcome of some deep‑rooted pride or self‑love. Such vanity and lack of appreciation is swiftly dealt with by the royal officers of the feast. When questioned as to how he got in without the wedding garment which is the passport of entry, the offender is silent, having no legitimate excuse. Not only is he forcibly removed, but restrained until the feast is over so that he cannot again offend either the host or the guests. What a bold and striking picture our Lord used here to teach a searching truth, that of meekness, obedience, and a thankful recognition of God’s great condescension to men of low estate, his provision for their lifting up to fellowship with himself yet maintaining his supremacy; for "no flesh shall glory in his presence." "Many are called, but few are chosen (choice)." (Matt.22:14) Unbelievable as it may seem, out of the many, only the few are going to be found on the great day clothed upon with the king’s robe, the robe of righteousness. Many will come at that day boasting of great and good works done in his name, but He does not acknowledge them, for works have no merit by themselves. There must be the complete realisation that the best human talents and endeavours are nothing in the sight of God, who has given to man in the first place everything that he has or is. The "Church of the Firstborn" (Heb.12:23) is all choice, beautifully clad in the king’s gift according to the king’s wish, fitted by him to sit down with him in the kingdom of heaven. (To be continued) |
