THE BRIDE

Proverbs 5:15-20 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. (16) Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. (17) Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. (18) Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. (19) Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. (20) And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

The beginning of this proverb took us through a litany of warnings against the dangers of the strange woman, the harlot who tempts us with her worldly dainties. The writer now lifts the curtain and introduces us to the anti-thesis of the strange woman. He shows us the Bride, the virtuous woman. Solomon teaches us here that as we keep ourselves from the Babylonian harlot, that as we keep the Instructions of God with all our hearts, we receive His true gift, the person with whom we make our lives forever.

Hebraic literature teaches its principles through opposites. The harlot belongs to none; the bride is claimed for. The harlot gives herself to the highest bidder; the bride is to belong to one only. The harlot is cursed from hell; the bride is blessed from God. The harlot is used and thrown back into the streets; the bride is to be cherished and kept as a precious treasure forever. Like Sarah of Abraham, even in her old age, the bride is renewed to bring precious fruit, and satisfaction to her husband.

As we peek thought the many analogies of this text, we cannot help but see its messianic character. The Son of God has chosen His Church. She is His and His only. Whereas at times he lets her reap the fruits of her own adulterous ways; He also jealously and violently punishes those who dare to abuse her. He protects her like the apple of His eye and with His own blood redeems her from the filthy hands of the world. He will not throw her away in her old age, but, as Sarah was renewed to bear fruit for her husband, so the Church is renewed. Her fountains are dispersed throughout the earth to bring the fruit of righteousness to her husband, Jesus the Messiah

May we be that bride, worthy of all He has done for us. May our waters be dispersed throughout the earth. Let us be a bride so proud of her husband, that she cannot help but speak to all she meets about Him. Let us bear his banner of love over us openly that all may see and also desire Him.

NOTE: Church: From the Greek word: ekklesia: a body, a congregation of believers called out from the world to belong to God. Noah and his family were the ‘church’. Abraham and his nomadic tribe were ‘church’, and Paul points us to the ‘church in the wilderness’ referring to the people at Mt Sinai. All these were called from the world, unto God to be sanctified by His presence among them.