Marriage

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="23f005a0dvldtc.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC00" FACE="Arrus BT" ><B>TSR: YOUR BIBLICAL GUIDE</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0099FF" FACE="Arrus BT" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF6600" FACE="Arrus BT" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF3300" FACE="Arrus BT" ><B> </B></FONT><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TSR: YOUR BIBLICAL GUIDE"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="research.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Research"><U><B>Research</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="covenant.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Covenant"><U><B>The Covenant</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GoodEvil"><U><B>Good-Evil</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Light"><U><B>Light</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Truth"><U><B>Truth</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#FFCC00" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TSR: YOUR BIBLICAL GUIDE"><U>Home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="artwerk.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Artwerk"><U>Artwork</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="research.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Research"><U>Index</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:Jacobjusticeham@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Jacobjusticeham@aol.com"><U>Contact</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="research.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Research"><U>Research</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="poetical.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poetry"><U>Poetry</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="poison.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poison"><U>Poison</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="idolatry.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Idolatry"><U>Idolatry</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="deans_list.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Deans List"><U>Deans list</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="grace.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grace"><U>Grace</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Money"><U>Money</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:thesignalreceivers@betarecords.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:thesignalreceivers@betarecords.co"><U><IMG SRC="a5611120.gif" border=0 width="17" height="18" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFCC00" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Marriage</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="51a50070.gif" border=0 width="592" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>mar·riage </B></div> <div> <B>mar·riage </B><B>(</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C6353B" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>màr¹îj</B></FONT><B>) </B><B>noun</B></div> <div> <B>1.</B><B>     </B><B>a.</B><B> The legal union of a man and woman as husband and wife. </B><B>b.</B><B> Wedlock.</B></div> <div> <B>2.</B><B>     A wedding.</B></div> <div> <B>3.</B><B>     A close union: </B><B>“the most successful marriage of beauty and blood in mainstream comics”</B><B> (Lloyd Rose).</B></div> <div> <B>4.</B><B>     </B><B>Games</B><B>. The combination of the king and queen of the same suit, as in pinochle.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>[Middle English </B><B>mariage</B><B>, from Old French, from </B><B>marier</B><B>, to marry. See </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>marry</B><B>1</B></FONT><B>.]</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="51a50070.gif" border=0 width="592" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>mar·ry</B><B>1</B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>mar·ry </B><B>(</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C6353B" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>màr¹ê</B></FONT><B>) </B><B>verb</B></div> <div> <B>mar·ried</B><B>, </B><B>mar·ry·ing</B><B>, </B><B>mar·ries</B><B> </B><B>verb</B><B>, </B><B>transitive</B></div> <div> <B>1.</B><B>     </B><B>a.</B><B> To join as spouses by exchanging vows. </B><B>b.</B><B> To take as a spouse. </B><B>c.</B><B> To give in marriage.</B></div> <div> <B>2.</B><B>     To perform a marriage ceremony for: </B><B>The rabbi married the couple.</B></div> <div> <B>3.</B><B>     To obtain by marriage: </B><B>marry money.</B></div> <div> <B>4.</B><B>     </B><B>Nautical</B><B>. To join (two ropes) end to end by interweaving their strands.</B></div> <div> <B>5.</B><B>     To unite in a close, usually permanent way: </B><B>“His material marries the domestic and the exotic”</B><B> (Clifton Fadiman).</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>verb</B><B>, </B><B>intransitive</B></div> <div> <B>1.</B><B>     To take a husband or wife; wed: </B><B>They married in their twenties.</B></div> <div> <B>2.</B><B>     To combine or blend agreeably: </B><B>Let the flavors marry overnight.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>[Middle English </B><B>marien</B><B>, from Old French </B><B>marier</B><B>, from Latin </B><B>marìtâre</B><B>, from </B><B>marìtus</B><B>, married.]</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="51a50070.gif" border=0 width="592" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Marriage </B></div> <div> <B>Marriage</B><B>, social institution uniting a man and a woman in a special form of mutual dependence, often for the purpose of founding and maintaining families. As a social practice entered into through a public act, it reflects the purposes, character, and customs of the society in which it is found.</B></div> <div> <B>Customs</B></div> <div> <B>There are several forms of marriage. Monogamy, the union of one man and one woman, is the most widely accepted form, predominating also in societies in which other forms are accepted. In </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>polygamy</B></FONT><B> a person has more than one spouse. Infant betrothal or marriage also exists, usually as a result of concern for family, </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>caste</B></FONT><B>, and property alliances. Sororate, a custom still practiced in remote parts of the world, permits a man to marry one or more of his wife's sisters, usually if she has died or cannot have children.</B></div> <div> <B>Ritual</B></div> <div> <B>In most societies, marriage is established through a contractual procedure, generally with some sort of religious sanction. Most marriages are preceded by a betrothal period, during which various rituals (for example, exchanges of gifts) lead to the final wedding ceremony. In societies in which arranged marriages predominate, families must negotiate </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>dowries</B></FONT><B>, future living arrangements, and other matters before marriage can occur.</B></div> <div> <B>The breaking of family or community ties implicit in most marriages is often expressed through gifts made to the bride's family, as among many Native American, African, and Melanesian tribes. The new bonds between the married couple are frequently represented by an exchange of rings or the joining of hands. The interest of the community may be expressed through feasting and dancing, the presence of witnesses, and the official sealing of marriage documents.</B></div> <div> <B>Social Regulation</B></div> <div> <B>Historically, there have been many </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>taboos</B></FONT><B> and restrictions imposed on marriage. Endogamy, for example, limits marriage to partners who are members of the same tribe or the same section of a tribe, to adherents of the same religion, or to members of the same social class. Exogamy, or marriage outside a specific group, usually involves the separation of a tribe into two groups, within which intermarriage is not allowed. Most societies allow for some form of </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>divorce</B></FONT><B>, except those dominated by religions that regard marriage as indissoluble. Common-law marriages usually are those that have acquired legal status through a certain number of years of continuous cohabitation.</B></div> <div> <B>Modern Marriage</B></div> <div> <B>The institution of marriage has altered fundamentally in Western societies as a result of many social changes: increased premarital sex brought on by the relaxation of sexual taboos and the gradual rise in the average marriage age, more women pursuing careers outside the home, the liberalization of divorce laws, the legalization of </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>abortion</B></FONT><B>, the improvement and increased accessibility of </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>birth control</B></FONT><B> methods, and changes in the accepted concepts of male and female roles. Arranged marriages, which had been accepted almost everywhere throughout history, have generally been replaced in Western societies by romantic marriages based on free choice.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Emotion, religion and morality: Interpersonal emotion: Marriage</B></div> <div> <B>marriage (noun)</B></div> <div> <B>marriage, matrimony, holy matrimony, sacrament of matrimony, one flesh</B></div> <div> <B>wedlock, wedded state, married state, state of matrimony, wedded bliss</B></div> <div> <B>match, union, alliance, partnership</B></div> <div> <B>conjugality, conjugal knot, nuptial bond, marriage tie, marriage bed, bed and board, cohabitation, living as man and wife, living together by habit and repute, living together, life together</B></div> <div> <B>husbandhood, husbandship</B></div> <div> <B>wifehood, wifeship</B></div> <div> <B>coverture, matronage, matronhood</B></div> <div> <B>banns, marriage certificate, marriage lines</B></div> <div> <B>marriage god, Hymen, Hera, Juno</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Other Forms</B></div> <div> <B>misfit</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>: bad match, misalliance, mésalliance, marriage</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>mixture</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>: interbreeding, miscegenation, intermarriage, marriage</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>union</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>: syngamy, wedlock, marriage</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>coition</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>: union, marriage</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>combination</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>: marriage, union, league, alliance, federation, confederation, association</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>accompaniment</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>: partnership, marriage, association</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>interiority</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>: endogamy, marriage</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>promise</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>: affiance, betrothal, engagement, marriage</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>compact</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>: engagement, betrothal, marriage</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>love affair</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>: betrothal, engagement, wedding bells, marriage</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>wooing</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>: proposal, engagement, betrothal, marriage</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Christian rite</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>: Holy Matrimony, marriage</B></FONT></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="51a50070.gif" border=0 width="592" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>MARRIAGE</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Consanguinous, Abraham and Sarah</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 11:29  12:13  20:3,9-16</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Isaac and Rebekah</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 24:3,4,67  28:2</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jacob and his wives</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 29:15-30</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>See below, in the elaborated text</B></div> <div> <B>Levirate (the brother required to marry a brother's widow)</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 38:8,11  De 25:5-10  Ru 4:5  Mt 22:24  Mr 12:19-23 Lu  20:28</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Parents contract for their children</B></div> <div> <B>Hagar selects a wife for Ishmael</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 21:21</B></div> <div> <B>Abraham for Isaac</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 24$</B></div> <div> <B>Laban arranges for his daughters' marriage</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 29$</B></div> <div> <B>Samson asks his parents to procure him a wife</B></div> <div> <B>#Jud 14:2</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Parents' consent requires in the Mosaic law</B></div> <div> <B>#Ex 22:17</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Presents given to parents to secure their favor</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 24:53  34:12  De 22:29  1Sa 18:25  Ho 3:2</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Nuptial feasts</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 29:22  Jud 14:12  Es 2:18  Mt 22:11,12</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jesus present at</B></div> <div> <B>#Joh 2:1-5</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ceremony attested by witnesses</B></div> <div> <B>#Ru 4:1-11  Isa 8:1-3</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The groom exempt one year from military duty</B></div> <div> <B>#De 24:5</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Bridal ornaments</B></div> <div> <B>#Isa 49:18  Jer 2:32</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Bridal presents</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 24:53  Ps 45:12</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>A herald preceded the bridegroom</B></div> <div> <B>#Mt 25:6</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Wedding robes adorned with jewels</B></div> <div> <B>#Isa 61:10</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Wives obtained</B></div> <div> <B>By purchase</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 29:20  Ru 4:10  Ho 3:2  12:12</B></div> <div> <B>By kidnapping</B></div> <div> <B>#Jud 21:21-23</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Given by Kings</B></div> <div> <B>#1Sa 17:25  18:17,21</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Daughters given in, as rewards of valor</B></div> <div> <B>#Jud 1:12  1Sa 17:25  18:27</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Wives taken by edict</B></div> <div> <B>#Es 2:2-4,8-14</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>David gave one hundred Philistine foreskins for a wife</B></div> <div> <B>#2Sa 3:14</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Wives among the Israelites must be Israelites</B></div> <div> <B>#Ex 34:16  De 7:3,4  1Ch 23:22  Ezr 9:1,2,12  Ne 10:30 Ne 13:26,27  Mal 2:11  1Co 7:39  2Co 6:14</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Betrothal a quasi-marriage</B></div> <div> <B>#Mt 1:18  Lu 1:27</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Betrothal made with the spirit</B></div> <div> <B>#Eze 16:8</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Celibacy deplored</B></div> <div> <B>#Jud 11:38  Isa 4:1  Jer 16:9</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Advised</B></div> <div> <B>#1Co 7:7,8,24-40</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Obligations under, inferior to duty to God</B></div> <div> <B>#De 13:6-10  Mt 19:29  Lu 14:26</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Not binding after death</B></div> <div> <B>#Mt 22:29,30  Mr 12:24,25</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 2:23,24  Ex 22:16,17  Le 18:6-18  20:14,17,19-21 #Le 21:1,7,13-15  Nu 36:8  De 21:10-14  24:1-5  Pr 18:22 #Pr 21:9,19  Jer 29:6  Ho 2:19,20  Mal 2:13-16  Mt 5:31,32 #Mr  6:17,18  10:2-12  Mt 19:2-9  Lu 16:18  Ro 7:1-3 #1Co 6:16  7:1-40  9:5  11:11,12  1Ti 3:2,12  4:1,3  5:14 Heb 13:4</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>FIGURATIVE</B></div> <div> <B>#Isa 54:5  62:4,5  Jer 3:14  31:32  Ho 1:2  2:19,20 Eph  5:30-32  Re 19:7-9</B></div> <div> <B>Parables from</B></div> <div> <B>#Mt 22:2  25:1-10</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="51a50070.gif" border=0 width="592" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>HUSBAND</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>General scriptures concerning</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 2:23,24  Nu 5:11-31  De 22:13-21  24:5  Pr 5:15-19 #Ec 9:9  Mal 2:14-16  Mt 19:5  Mr 10:7  1Co 7:3,5,14,16,33 1Co 11:3  Eph 5:22-33  Col 3:18,19  1Ti 5:8  1Pe 3:7</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>FAITHFUL</B></div> <div> <B>Instances of</B></div> <div> <B>Isaac</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 24:67</B></div> <div> <B>Joseph</B></div> <div> <B>#Mt 1:19</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>UNREASONABLE AND OPPRESSIVE</B></div> <div> <B>Ahasuerus</B></div> <div> <B>#Es 1:10-22</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>FIGURATIVE</B></div> <div> <B>#Isa 54:5,6  Jer 3:14  31:32  Ho 2:19,20</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="51a50070.gif" border=0 width="592" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <I><B><U>WIFE</U></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Called</B></div> <div> <B>DESIRE OF THE EYES</B></div> <div> <B>#Eze 24:16</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>HELP</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 2:18,20</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>FRUITFUL VINE</B></div> <div> <B>#Ps 128:3</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The judgment denounced against Eve</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 3:16</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Relation of, to husband</U></B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 2:18,23,24  1Co 11:3-12</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Domestic duties of</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 18:6  Pr 31:13-27</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Beloved, by Isaac</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 24:67</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Beloved, by Jacob</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 29:30</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Hated</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 29:31-33</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Loyal</U></B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 31:14-16</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Unfaithful</B></div> <div> <B>#Nu 5:14-31</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Potiphar's</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 39:7</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Bath-sheba</B></div> <div> <B>#2Sa 11:2-5</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Contentious</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>, Zipporah</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>#Ex 4:25</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>See UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES, below</B></div> <div> <B>Idolatrous, Solomon's wives</B></div> <div> <B>#1Ki 11:4-8  Ne 13:26</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Jezebel</B></div> <div> <B>#1Ki 21$  2Ki 9:30-37</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Incorruptible, Vashti</B></div> <div> <B>#Es 1:10-22</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Tactful Abigail</B></div> <div> <B>#1Sa 25:3,14-42</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Purchased</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 29$  Ex 21:7-11  Ru 4:10</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Obtained by violence</B></div> <div> <B>#Jud 21$</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Procured</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 24$  34:4-10  38:6</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Vows of</B></div> <div> <B>#Nu 30:6-16</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 2:18,23,24  3:16  Es 1:20-22  Ps 128:3,4 #Pr 12:4  14:1 18:22 19:13,14 21:9,19 25:24 30:21-23  31:10-31 #1Co 7:2-6,10-14,16,27-29,32-34,38-40 11:3,7-9,11,12 14:34,35 #Eph 5:22-25,28,31,33  Col 3:18,19  1Ti 3:11  5:9,10,14 Tit 2:3-5  1Pe 3:1-7</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="51a50070.gif" border=0 width="592" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <I><B><U>BRIDEGROOM</U></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ornaments of</B></div> <div> <B>#Isa 61:10</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Exempt from military duty</B></div> <div> <B>#De 24:5</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Companions of</B></div> <div> <B>#Jud 14:11</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Joy with</B></div> <div> <B>#Mt 9:15  Mr 2:19,20  Lu 5:34,35</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Parable of</B></div> <div> <B>#Mt 25:1-13</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Song of</B></div> <div> <B>#So 4:7-16</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>FIGURATIVE</B></div> <div> <B>#Eze 16:8-14</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>BRIDE</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ornaments of</B></div> <div> <B>#Isa 49:18  61:10  Jer 2:32  Re 21:2</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Presents to</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 24:53</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Maids of</B></div> <div> <B>#Ge 24:59,61  29:24,29</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>FIGURATIVE</B></div> <div> <B>#Ps 45:10-17  Eze 16:8-14  Re 19:7,8  21:2,9  22:17</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="51a50070.gif" border=0 width="592" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Bride </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Frequently used in the ordinary sense #Isa 49:18 61:10 etc. The relation between Christ and his church is set forth under the figure of that between a bridegroom and bride #Joh 3:29 The church is called "the bride" #Re 21:9 22:17 Compare parable of the Ten Virgins #Mt 25:1-13</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="51a50070.gif" border=0 width="592" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Marriage</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>  1. Was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence # Ge 2:18-24</B></div> <div> <B>     Here we have its original charter, which was confirmed by our Lord,</B></div> <div> <B>     as the basis on which all regulations are to be framed # Mt 19:4,5</B></div> <div> <B>     It is evident that monogamy was the original law of marriage</B></div> <div> <B>     # Mt 19:5 #1Co 6:16 This law was violated in after times,</B></div> <div> <B>     when corrupt usages began to be introduced # Ge 4:19 6:2</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  2. We meet with the prevalence of polygamy and concubinage in the</B></div> <div> <B>     patriarchal age # Ge 16:1-4 22:21-24 28:8,9 29:23-30 etc.</B></div> <div> <B>     Polygamy was acknowledged in the Mosaic law and made the basis of</B></div> <div> <B>     legislation, and continued to be practised all down through the</B></div> <div> <B>     period of Jewish history to the Captivity, after which there is no</B></div> <div> <B>     instance of it on record.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  3. It seems to have been the practice from the beginning for fathers</B></div> <div> <B>     to select wives for their sons # Ge 24:3 38:6 Sometimes also</B></div> <div> <B>     proposals were initiated by the father of the maiden # Ex 2:21</B></div> <div> <B>     The brothers of the maiden were also sometimes consulted # Ge 24:51</B></div> <div> <B>     # Ge 34:11 but her own consent was not required. The young man</B></div> <div> <B>     was bound to give a price to the father of the maiden # Ge 31:15</B></div> <div> <B>     # Ge 34:12 Ex 22:16,17 1Sa 18:23,25 Ru 4:10 Ho 3:2 On these</B></div> <div> <B>     patriarchal customs the Mosaic law made no change. In the pre-</B></div> <div> <B>     Mosaic times, when the proposals were accepted and the marriage</B></div> <div> <B>     price given, the bridegroom could come at once and take away his</B></div> <div> <B>     bride to his own house # Ge 24:63-67 But in general the marriage</B></div> <div> <B>     was celebrated by a feast in the house of the bride's parents, to</B></div> <div> <B>     which all friends were invited # Ge 29:22,27 and on the day of</B></div> <div> <B>     the marriage the bride, concealed under a thick veil, was conducted</B></div> <div> <B>     to her future husband's home.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  4. Our Lord corrected many false notions then existing on the subject</B></div> <div> <B>     of marriage # Mt 22:23-30 and placed it as a divine institution</B></div> <div> <B>     on the highest grounds.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  5. The apostles</B></div> <div> <B>      a. state clearly and enforce the nuptial duties of husband and wife</B></div> <div> <B>         # Eph 5:22-33 Col 3:18,19 1Pe 3:1-7</B></div> <div> <B>      b. Marriage is said to be "honourable" # Heb 13:4</B></div> <div> <B>      c. And the prohibition of it is noted as one of the marks of</B></div> <div> <B>         degenerate times #1Ti 4:3</B></div> <div> <B>      d. The marriage relation is used to represent the union between</B></div> <div> <B>         God and his people # Isa 54:5 Jer 3:1-14 Ho 2:9,20 In the New</B></div> <div> <B>         Testament the same figure is employed in representing the love of</B></div> <div> <B>         Christ to his saints # Eph 5:25-27 The Church of the redeemed is</B></div> <div> <B>         the "Bride, the Lamb's wife" # Re 19:7-9</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RELATED DEFINITIONS TO MARRIAGE</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>u·nite </B><B>(</B></FONT><B>y</B><B>¡</B><B>-n</B><B>ì</B><B>t</B><B>¹</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>) </B><B>verb</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>u·nit·ed</B><B>, </B><B>u·nit·ing</B><B>, </B><B>u·nites</B><B> </B><B>verb</B><B>, </B><B>transitive</B></div> <div> <B>1.</B><B>     </B><B>To bring together </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>so as to form a whole</B></FONT><B>.</B></div> <div> <B>2.</B><B>     </B><B>To combine (people) in interest, attitude, or action: </B><B>“the love that unites humanity”</B><B> (Germaine Greer).</B></div> <div> <B>3.</B><B>     </B><B>To join (a couple) in marriage.</B></div> <div> <B>4.</B><B>     </B><B>To cause to adhere.</B></div> <div> <B>5.</B><B>     </B><B>To have or demonstrate in combination: </B><B>She unites common sense with vision.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>verb</B><B>, </B><B>intransitive</B></div> <div> <B>1.</B><B>     </B><B>To become or seem to become joined, formed, or combined into a unit.</B></div> <div> <B>2.</B><B>     </B><B>To join and act together in a common purpose or endeavor. See synonyms at </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>join</B></FONT><B>.</B></div> <div> <B>3.</B><B>     </B><B>To be or become bound together by adhesion.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>[Middle English </B><B>uniten</B><B>, from Latin </B><B>ú</B><B>n</B><B>ì</B><B>re</B><B>, </B><B>ú</B><B>n</B><B>ì</B><B>t-</B><B>, from </B><B>ú</B><B>nus</B><B>, one.]</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>mar·ry </B><B>(</B></FONT><B>m</B><B>à</B><B>r</B><B>¹ê</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>) </B><B>verb</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>mar·ried</B><B>, </B><B>mar·ry·ing</B><B>, </B><B>mar·ries</B><B> </B><B>verb</B><B>, </B><B>transitive</B></div> <div> <B>1.</B><B>     </B><B>a.</B><B> To join as spouses by exchanging vows. </B><B>b.</B><B> To take as a spouse. </B><B>c.</B><B> To give in marriage.</B></div> <div> <B>2.</B><B>     </B><B>To perform a marriage ceremony for: </B><B>The rabbi married the couple.</B></div> <div> <B>3.</B><B>     </B><B>To obtain by marriage: </B><B>marry money.</B></div> <div> <B>4.</B><B>     </B><B>Nautical</B><B>. To join (two ropes) end to end by interweaving their strands.</B></div> <div> <B>5.</B><B>     </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>To unite in a close, usually permanent way</B></FONT><B>: </B><B>“His material marries the domestic and the exotic”</B><B> (Clifton Fadiman).</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>verb</B><B>, </B><B>intransitive</B></div> <div> <B>1.</B><B>     </B><B>To take a husband or wife; wed: </B><B>They married in their twenties.</B></div> <div> <B>2.</B><B>     </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>To combine or blend agreeably</B></FONT><B>: </B><B>Let the flavors marry overnight.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>[Middle English </B><B>marien</B><B>, from Old French </B><B>marier</B><B>, from Latin </B><B>mar</B><B>ì</B><B>t</B><B>â</B><B>re</B><B>, from </B><B>mar</B><B>ì</B><B>tus</B><B>, married.]</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="51a50070.gif" border=0 width="592" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>      </B><B>Psalm 45</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>For the director of music. To the tune of "Lilies." Of the Sons of Korah. A </B><B>maskil.</B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>A </B><B>wedding</B><B> song.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:1</B><B> My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king;</B></div> <div> <B>    my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:2</B><B> You are the most excellent of men  and </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>your lips have been anointed with grace</B></FONT><B>,</B></div> <div> <B>    since God has blessed you forever.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:3</B><B> Gird your sword upon your side, O mighty one;</B></div> <div> <B>    clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:4</B><B> In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness;</B></div> <div> <B>    let your right hand display awesome deeds.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:5</B><B> Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies;  let the nations fall beneath your feet.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:6</B><B> Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;  a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:7</B><B> You love righteousness and hate wickedness;  therefore God, your God, </B><B>has set you above your companions</B></div> <div> <B>    by anointing you with the oil of joy</B><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:8</B><B> All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;  from palaces adorned with ivory</B></div> <div> <B>    the music of the strings makes you glad.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:9</B><B> Daughters of kings are among your honored women;  at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:10</B><B> Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear:  Forget your people and your father's house.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:11</B><B> </B><B>The king is enthralled by your beauty;  honor him, for he is your lord</B><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:12</B><B> The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift,  men of wealth will seek your favor.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:13</B><B> All glorious is the princess within her chamber;  her gown is interwoven with gold.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:14</B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>In embroidered garments she is led to the king;  her virgin companions follow her and are brought to you</B></FONT><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:15</B><B> They are led in with joy and gladness;  they enter the palace of the king.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:16</B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>Your sons will take the place of your fathers;  you will make them princes throughout the land</B></FONT><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 45:17</B><B> I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;  therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="51a50070.gif" border=0 width="592" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>JDG 14:19</B><B> Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of their belongings and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he went up to his father's house. </B><B>20</B><B> And Samson's wife was given to the friend who had attended him at his </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>    </B><B>1KI 9:15</B><B> Here is the account of the forced labor King Solomon conscripted to build the LORD's temple, his own palace, the supporting terraces, the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, Megiddo and Gezer. </B><B>16</B><B> (Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire. He killed its Canaanite inhabitants and then gave it as a </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> gift to his daughter, Solomon's wife. </B><B>17</B><B> And Solomon rebuilt Gezer.) He built up Lower Beth Horon, </B><B>18</B><B> Baalath, and Tadmor in the desert, within his land, </B><B>19</B><B> as well as all his store cities and the towns for his chariots and for his horses--whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon and throughout all the territory he ruled.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B><IMG SRC="51a50070.gif" border=0 width="592" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>HEB 13:4</B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>Marriage</B></FONT><B> should be honored by all, and the </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>marriage</B></FONT><B> bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. </B><B>5</B><B> Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>GE 29:26</B><B> Laban replied, "It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>marriage</B></FONT><B> before the older one. </B><B>27</B><B> Finish this daughter's bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>EX 2:21</B><B> Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>marriage</B></FONT><B>. </B><B>22</B><B> Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, "I have become an alien in a foreign land."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>LEV 21:1</B><B> The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: `A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean for any of his people who die, </B><B>2</B><B> except for a close relative, such as his mother or father, his son or daughter, his brother, </B><B>3</B><B> or an unmarried sister who is dependent on him since she has no husband--for her he may make himself unclean. </B><B>4</B><B> He must not make himself unclean for people related to him by </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>marriage</B></FONT><B>, and so defile himself.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>DT 22:13</B><B> If a man takes a wife and, after lying with her, dislikes her </B><B>14</B><B> and slanders her and gives her a bad name, saying, "I married this woman, but when I approached her, I did not find proof of her virginity," </B><B>15</B><B> then the girl's father and mother shall bring proof that she was a virgin to the town elders at the gate. </B><B>16</B><B> The girl's father will say to the elders, "I gave my daughter in </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>marriage</B></FONT><B> to this man, but he dislikes her. </B><B>17</B><B> Now he has slandered her and said, `I did not find your daughter to be a virgin.' But here is the proof of my daughter's virginity." Then her parents shall display the cloth before the elders of the town, </B><B>18</B><B> and the elders shall take the man and punish him. </B><B>19</B><B> They shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give them to the girl's father, because this man has given an Israelite virgin a bad name. She shall continue to be his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>DT 23:2</B><B> No one born of a forbidden </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>marriage</B></FONT><B> nor any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>JOS 15:13</B><B> In accordance with the LORD's command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah--Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) </B><B>14</B><B> From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites--Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai--descendants of Anak. </B><B>15</B><B> From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). </B><B>16</B><B> And Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>marriage</B></FONT><B> to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher." </B><B>17</B><B> Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>marriage</B></FONT><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>JDG 1:11</B><B> From there they advanced against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). </B><B>12</B><B> And Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>marriage</B></FONT><B> to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher." </B><B>13</B><B> Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>marriage</B></FONT><B>.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>MAL 2:13</B><B> Another thing you do: You flood the LORD's altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. </B><B>14</B><B> You ask, "Why?" It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>marriage</B></FONT><B> covenant.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>MT 19:11</B><B> Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. </B><B>12</B><B> For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>marriage</B></FONT><B> because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>MT 24:36</B><B> "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. </B><B>37</B><B> </B><B>As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man</B><B>. </B><B>38</B><B> </B><B>For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial Narrow" ><B>marriage</B></FONT><B>, up to the day Noah entered the ark</B><B>; </B><B>39</B><B> and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. </B><B>40</B><B> Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. </B><B>41</B><B> Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="51a50070.gif" border=0 width="592" height="7" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>PS 78:63</B><B> Fire consumed their young men,and their maidens had no </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> songs;</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>SS 3:11</B><B> Come out, you daughters of Zion, and look at King Solomon wearing the crown,</B></div> <div> <B>    the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B>,the day his heart rejoiced.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>JER 2:32</B><B> Does a maiden forget her jewelry, a bride her </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> ornaments?</B></div> <div> <B>  Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>MT 22:1</B><B> Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: </B><B>2</B><B> "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> banquet for his son. </B><B>3</B><B> He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>MT 22:4</B><B> "Then he sent some more servants and said, `Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> banquet.'</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>MT 22:5</B><B> "But they paid no attention and went off--one to his field, another to his business. </B><B>6</B><B> The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. </B><B>7</B><B> The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>MT 22:8</B><B> "Then he said to his servants, `The </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. </B><B>9</B><B> Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' </B><B>10</B><B> So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> hall was filled with guests.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>MT 22:11</B><B> "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> clothes. </B><B>12</B><B> `Friend,' he asked, `how did you get in here without </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> clothes?' The man was speechless.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>MT 25:10</B><B> "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> banquet. And the door was shut.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>LK 12:35</B><B> "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, </B><B>36</B><B> like men waiting for their master to return from a </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. </B><B>37</B><B> It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>LK 14:7</B><B> When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: </B><B>8</B><B> "When someone invites you to a </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. </B><B>9</B><B> If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, `Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. </B><B>10</B><B> But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, `Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. </B><B>11</B><B> For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>JN 2:1</B><B> On the third day a </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> took place at </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#339900" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cana</B></FONT><B> in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, </B><B>2</B><B> and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B>. </B><B>3</B><B> When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>JN 2:4</B><B> "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>JN 2:5</B><B> His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>JN 2:6</B><B> Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>JN 2:7</B><B> Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>JN 2:8</B><B> Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."</B></div> <div> <B>    They did so, </B><B>9</B><B> and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside </B><B>10</B><B> and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>JN 2:11</B><B> This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>REV 19:7</B><B> Let us rejoice and be glad  and give him glory! For the </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> of the Lamb has come,</B></div> <div> <B>    and his bride has made herself ready.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B><B>REV 19:8</B><B> Fine linen, bright and clean,  was given her to wear."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>    </B><B>REV 19:9</B><B> Then the angel said to me, "Write: `Blessed are those who are invited to the </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>wedding</B></FONT><B> supper of the Lamb!' " And he added, "These are the true words of God."</B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="650ac480.gif" border=0 width="428" height="328" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="651af660.jpg" border=0 width="431" height="358" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> Beautiful People because of A Beautiful Holy Spirit</div> <div> Beautiful Trees make Beautiful Fruit</div> <div> Rich and Ruth</div> <div> Parenthood is the ultimate call, caring for those who aren't yours as though they were is priceless. Housing the needy, helping their needs, a dedicated life you have spent doing these things.  You would do well Richard, to learn about this God whom you have served so faithfully and for so long. The Laws of Moses are many indeed and you are the only one I have seen who can follow so many at once. HowI would love to tell you about Him and you.</div> <div> They say doing good deeds won't get you into Heaven but doing good deeds proves your faith and this does get you into Heaven.</div> <div> The Great Household you care for and your own children are witnesses to what people you are.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>