GAINING A BRIDE

 

Pastor Jerry Rockwell

 

 

GAINING A BRIDE

 

Joshua 15:13-19

Introduction: Marriage is becoming a forgotten part of American society (and the world). People no longer get married; they simply commit fornication and live together. There is no commitment or dedication to each other, only a physical relationship. People no longer have a sense of commitment and responsibility. Our story is an interesting one about a man who gains a bride. 

This story is also in Judges 1:9-15. Although we have not looked at the story, we want to explore the events and look at the relationship a story like this has with the things in the New Testament. The story is somewhat difficult to identify the place it occurred because it is stated in two different books of the Bible, Joshua and Judges. The focus shifts from Joshua to Caleb, who played a significant role during the “Wilderness Journey” of Israel out of Egypt. Caleb was promised a parcel of land which was at Hebron. It had been overrun by the “Anakims” (giants) (Deut. 2:11; 9:2). We find in the text that Caleb went against the Canaanites who dwelt in Hebron and went against the land of Kirjath-arba (Judges 1:10) and killed three giants, Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, and secured the land. In Judges 1:11, he went against the city of Debir, but evidently did not secure it. In Judges 1:12, Caleb makes an interesting declaration. He says, “He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher [which was Debir, verse 11] and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.” Then a young man of the tribe of Judah, by the name of Othniel, came forth and took the city. We are told in Judges 1:13 (KJV) “…and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.” 

  When we looked at this passage before, we made some applications from the passage. They were:

    • Hebron, Judges 1:10, has the meaning of “fellowship.” Caleb knew the city was significant because it was where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had lived. It was a type of fellowship with God and an important place to be.
    • Debir, and Kirjath-sepher, Judges 1:11, has an interesting meaning. Debir means “to speak” or “word.” It has come to be known as “the book.” The term Kirjath-sepher means “city of the books.”  We believe there is a contrast here about the difference in “a book” and “the books.” We have one book, while many Christians have “many books” like in many translations of The Book, the Bible, while we have one book, The Bible. Othniel, which means “the lion of God.” Jesus is called “lion of the tribe of Juda” in Revelation 5:5. He is the one who secured the book for us. 
    • A Field, Judges 1:14. When we looked at this before, we saw that Achsah asked her husband, Othniel, to ask her father for a field. The church has a field since the Lord Jesus Christ secured it from our Father. 

I want to focus on a man from the tribe of Judah whose name means “the Lion of God.” What we need to realize is that the lion of the tribe of Judah has been given a bride by the Father. There are several pictures or types in the Bible of the concept of the “Bride of Christ.” Let me give them to you.

Please go to Ephesians 5:21-33 for a minute and let me show you what God has done. He gave pictures of this all through the Old Testament. We need to realize that the saints in the OT did not see the church when they saw these stories. The church did not have that insight until the revelation of the church was given to the Apostle Paul, and we find this in the epistles written by the Holy Spirit through Paul. 

  1. The Church is a part of Jesus Christ just as Eve was a part of Adam. God took a rib from his side to make the woman. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, the Roman soldier thrust the spear in Jesus side and water and blood came out. According to Hebrews 9:16-17 (KJV) 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 
  2. The Church was sought out by the Holy Spirit, just as Rebecca was sought by the servant of Abraham, Eliezer, to be the bride of Isaac. Genesis 2:18, 58, 67.
  3. The Church was secured by the work of Christ just as Rachael was won by the work of Jacob (7 years), in Genesis 29:18-20, 27-28. 
  4. The Church is nearer to Christ than His own brethren, the Jews (see John 1:11-12), just as Joseph was closer to his wife Asenath than he was to his own brothers.
  5. The Church is a Gentile bride just as Zipporah, Moses’ wife. 
  6. The Church had to leave its home and kindred to follow the Lord, even as Sarah left her home and kindred to follow Abraham.
  7. The Church is having a house built for it according to John 14:1-3, just as Pharaoh’s daughter had one built for her by Solomon (1 Kings 9:24). 
  8. The Church is the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 7:21-22), just as the woman in Song of Solomon was (see Song of Solomon 1:5-6).
  9. The Church is redeemed by the purchased price of the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19), just as Boaz paid the purchase price to redeem the land and secure Ruth as his wife (Ruth 4:9-10). She was a Moabite woman (non-Jew), and Boaz was a Jewish man.

What needs to be observed is that every one of these women was a Gentile woman, just as the church is a Gentile bride. We have other pictures in the Bible which we don’t have time to address, but note the matter of the relation of the church to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

  • The Church is espoused to Christ as a bride in 2 Corinthians 11:2 (KJV) For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. The wedding ceremony begins in Revelation 19:6-9.
  • The relationship of the Church to the Lord Jesus Christ is that of a bridegroom to a bride. The marriage has not taken place, but note that the Jewish wedding was structured so that the wedding date was set, the bridegroom left to make preparations for the bride by securing a house, and then he would return to take her to his home. In Ephesians, the relationship is anticipated. The church is to realize Christ is the head of the church. In the gospel of John, Jesus said in John 14:1-3 (KJV) 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 
  • Being a part of the “Bride of Christ,” we are also part of the “body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27). Look at Ephesians 5:30-31 (KJV) 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Look at the scripture. This is emphasized by the passage which says in Genesis 2:24 (KJV), Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Jesus said in Matthew 19:5 (KJV) And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 
  • Romans 12:5 (KJV) So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 
  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (KJV) 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 
  • 1 Corinthians 12:27 (KJV) Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
  • Ephesians 3:6 (KJV) That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 
  • Ephesians 4:12 (KJV) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. [Emphasis added.]
  • Why is this so important? There must be an understanding about the “body of Christ” and the “bride of Christ.” God is making up the body and calling men and women into the church. Just as Abraham’s servant sought a bride for his son, Isaac. Look at Genesis 24:1-61. Here are some things we can glean from this story that will teach us what God is doing today. 
  1. God is selective and particular (verse 3) and discriminates against planets and galaxies when He seeks a bride for His Son.
  2. There are no “second chances” for salvation. Jesus is not coming back to this world to die again for our eternal life. The Bible says, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). 
  3. God wants a clean woman for His Son – “without spot” (Heb. 9:14).
  4. The Bride of Christ will have “room for Him” even if there is “no room at the inn” (verse 25). 
  5. The King’s business is more important than eating (cf. John 4:4-24 with Gen. 24:33. [John 4:32 (KJV) But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.] 
  6. The Bride gets an “earnest” of her inheritance before she ever sees the Groom (verse 53)! GLORY!
  7. The Bride goes HIS way, not HERS (verse 61).
  8. And as the evening shadows of this dispensation lengthen (verse 63) and Christ prepares to come down into the atmosphere of this planet (verse 63), the true Birde of Christ covers her nakedness and separates herself from the world; that means the ecumenical movement and everything connected with it (verse 65).
  • Note some important similarities and how the type is demonstrated. 
  1. Rebekah is a Gentile.
  2. She marries “the seed,” which stands for Jesus Christ in the New Testament (see Gal. 3:4-17).
  3. She is “called out” to leave her country and kinfolk (2 Timothy 1:9 (KJV) Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; Acts 15:14 (KJV) Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name).
  4. She inherits Sarah’s blessings. (Sarah is a type of Israel. See. Rom. 11:1-23).
  5. She has faith to believe, without sight, that she is going to marry the right man (cf. 1 Peter 1:8-9 (KJV) 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.) 
  6. She accepts an offer made by another (see John 16:14 (KJV) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you). And she goes of her own voluntary “free will” (Genesis 24:58 (KJV) And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go).
  7. The items given to her while she is still engaged match the “fruits of the Holy Spirit,” as they will be manifest at the Judgment Seat of Christ. (Cf. Genesis 24:53 (KJV) And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things, with 1Cor 3:8-12! No wood, hay or stubble!).

 

 

Conclusion: There is so much more that can be taught from this relationship. The main question though is “Are you a part of the Bride of Christ?” That means, have you willingly accepted the Father’s Son, Jesus Christ, to enter a relationship with Him in salvation? If not, why not? If not, why not now? You have been called from a far country to a heavenly home that is prepared by the Bridegroom. There will be a wedding as pointed out in Revelation 19:1-9 (KJV) 1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. Are you going to be there? I am.