The Covenant
"Travel back with me to ancient Israel and observe the marriage rites and rituals.
"When a son was of marrying age, he would ask his father to arrange a bride for him... it was the father who ultimately chose the household and daughter they'd approach in order to acquire a bride for his son. If their initial proposal was viewed favorable, the young man traveled to her home and met with her father and possibly any elder brothers to discuss the details and possibilities. The girl herself was not even involved in the initial negotiations. Negotiations would go on for hours with questions, pledges of good faith, promises, and arguments as well. When everything had been hashed out between the bride's father and the bridegroom, they would record it in a document, or marriage contract, which consisted of the designated bridal price, the pledges and promises of the groom, and the rights of the bride. This was a betrothal document, and when it was complete, a glass of wine would be poured, and the daughter, the potential bride, would be brought in. All the hours of negotiation and the recording of every tedious detail would be wasted without her consent. She would be appraised of the offer on the table. Before, the goblet of wine waited, representing the marriage covenant. She had two choices. She could refuse the wine poured before her, turn, and leave the room. If she did this, the marriage would not happen even though her father's terms had been agreed to. Or, she could say, "I do." If so, the cup was passed to the bridegroom who drank from it, then passed it to the bride. When she drank from the cup of the c o v e n a n t, the contract was sealed. The groom then gave the bride something of value to represent his sincerity to her and to their covenant."
~ taken from Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry by Lisa Bevere
"When a son was of marrying age, he would ask his father to arrange a bride for him... it was the father who ultimately chose the household and daughter they'd approach in order to acquire a bride for his son. If their initial proposal was viewed favorable, the young man traveled to her home and met with her father and possibly any elder brothers to discuss the details and possibilities. The girl herself was not even involved in the initial negotiations. Negotiations would go on for hours with questions, pledges of good faith, promises, and arguments as well. When everything had been hashed out between the bride's father and the bridegroom, they would record it in a document, or marriage contract, which consisted of the designated bridal price, the pledges and promises of the groom, and the rights of the bride. This was a betrothal document, and when it was complete, a glass of wine would be poured, and the daughter, the potential bride, would be brought in. All the hours of negotiation and the recording of every tedious detail would be wasted without her consent. She would be appraised of the offer on the table. Before, the goblet of wine waited, representing the marriage covenant. She had two choices. She could refuse the wine poured before her, turn, and leave the room. If she did this, the marriage would not happen even though her father's terms had been agreed to. Or, she could say, "I do." If so, the cup was passed to the bridegroom who drank from it, then passed it to the bride. When she drank from the cup of the c o v e n a n t, the contract was sealed. The groom then gave the bride something of value to represent his sincerity to her and to their covenant."
~ taken from Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry by Lisa Bevere
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Will we accept the covenant and drink from the cup before us?
"...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. ...forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 3:10, 13b &14
posted by Heather :) | 9:40 AM
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