Wedding Week
and He gave to Moses, when he finished talking with him upon Mount Sinai, two tablets of Testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God. Exodus 31:18
Finished – The rabbis noticed something special about the connection between this verse and Jeremiah 7:34. They are both about a wedding. But you don’t see the connection, do you? Jeremiah mentions a bride, but where is the bride in this verse about Moses? In order to see it, you have to think like a rabbi. So, let’s practice rabbinic thought and see what we can come up with.
The verb for “to finish” is kala. There are no surprises here. Of the 237 occurrences in the Hebrew Scriptures, 206 are verbs meaning “to cease, to finish, or to end” or some action like that. The noun form means something like “complete” or “end.” When this word is translated into English, it almost always is translated “finish.” But the rabbis noticed something we don’t see in translation. This word has the consonants Kaf-Lamed-Hey (K-L-H) and these same consonants show up in Jeremiah 7:34, except in Jeremiah the word means “bride.” So, the rabbis reasoned that this verse in Exodus could be read as “and He gave unto Moses as His bride . . ” Now, what did God just give unto Moses? Well, if you look at the previous verse, you will see that it is all about the Sabbath. Therefore, the rabbis proclaimed that God gave Israel the sabbath as a bride. The same characteristics that accompany a bride on her wedding day accompany the Sabbath. She comes dressed in finery, lovely to see, dazzling in display. And just as the groom rejoices when she approaches, so we rejoice in the approach of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is the wedding place between God and Man. It is to be treated just that way, as if you and I were attending a glorious and joyful wedding.
This little rabbinic insight changes our attitude about the Sabbath. It helps us understand why orthodox Jewish men dance on its arrival, why it has a certain solemnity and why it is a glorious occasion. Maybe it will help us see the wonder of this day that God set aside from all other time.
There’s one other small item to digest. This word also shows up in the book of Ruth (3:18). Naomi says to Ruth, “Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today.” The same word, kala, is used to describe Boaz’s effort to secure Ruth as his wife. Once more, a wedding! Do you suppose that Naomi is using a little pun here? Boaz won’t rest until he has settled Ruth as his bride.
You and I are invited to a royal wedding every week. Now how do you feel about Sabbath?
Topical Index: Sabbath, kala, finish, Exodus 31:18, Jeremiah 7:34, Ruth 3:18
well, YHVH said it is set apart (as a bride is), He said it is sanctified (pure as a bride is – altho not so much these days!), He said it is a moed, a time set by Him to meet with us, a place and time for our relationship to have committed and specific focus that may have been lacking during the busy week. we have found that when we light the candles on shabbat evening, we literally take a deep breath and sigh. we let go of all that the past week contained and think not about the week that is to come. we relax – and bring our focus as much as possible only to Him and His Torah. we don’t do it very well, we get interrupted at times by other things, but as much as possible, it is a time to focus…..but i had not thought of it as the bride picture, so that is something new for us to put into the Sabbath. thanks Skip – we can always count on you to bring a different perspective – thanks for that. Christine, Adelaide, Sth Oz
Rth 3:11 “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.
The funny thing is that the old man calls Ruth “my daughter,” but she is not his daughter.
Rather Ruth is a symbol of excellence, like Miles Davis and the mediocre driver of the yellow cab after he finds the fire in his belly, Max Durocher, in Michael Mann’s movie, Collateral.
One might argue that Ruth is almost a sacred object to Boaz, sort of like Moby Dick in the eyes of the narrator called Ishmael.
Or like Hester Prynne’s mystical daughter in The Scarlet Letter, her precious Pearl.
Skip, do you think God set a certain time to be the Sabbath and how are we to know exactly how to observe the correct time? I love your teaching and learning about the joy of being wedded to God on a weekly basis!!! I am so very grateful to be included in the family of God!!!
Hi Frances
No doubt our Father has designed a particular day in order to focus our attention on the lover of our souls and the one who loved us before we loved Him We focus on the fact that He pursued us because of His love, He desired to show us His love, in fact He tells us He lavishes His love and grace on us! Ephesians 1:8. Another evidence of His great love is His admonition in Hebrews 4, for us to demonstrate, live out our belief/faith in His wisdom and sovereignty, to enter into His rest of Sabbath as He instructs and to follow His example. His example was reiterated through Messiah’s obedience, and that of the Apostles’ and the early followers of the Way. I am convinced we have strayed from this commandment in our attempt to follow what has developed into a tradition of men rather than keeping the sacred Word. I am thankful for His tremendous mercy and grace and that He is still speaking TODAY! Bless You, Sister.
“No doubt our Father has designed a particular day in order to focus our attention on the lover of our souls and the one who loved us before we loved Him”
Hi Mary,
I think Yahweh makes your point pretty clear in the following three passages of Exodus, prior to Exd 31:18, when He gives Moses the two tablets of stone:
Exd 31:12 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Exd 31:13 “But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for {this} is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.
Exd 31:14 ‘Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.
He definitely “means business” 🙂
that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5.27)
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2)
Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19.9)
Eph 5:27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5.27)
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself {being} the Savior of the body.
Hi Carl,
It has always been difficult for me to understand how a church could have no spot or wrinkle or any such thing on the one hand, and how the husband is the head of the wife as Christ also is the head of the church, on the other.
Seems to me that the opposite is usually true a certain percentage of the time whether we like it or not.
Jesus loves me- this I know (yes, experientially)- for the Bible tells me so. He loves us (the bride- the chosim/chosen ones/ the assembly/ecclessia/ the church-), warts and all! lol! He loves us because He has chosen to love us and this is how we love our fellow warty frogs- we choose to love each other with the same love He has given unto us. There is only one perfect person who ever lived- (male or female) and we know Who this is! Every one of us (gasp.. sinners!) have “issues.” “But G-d (how I love these two words) demonstrated (yes, physically) His love toward us, (all) in that while we (all) we yet sinners, Christ/Messiah died for us. Propitiating, atoning blood was generously, magnanimously, freely flowed on our behalf and for our sakes at Calvary by the Perfect Lamb- our Bridegroom- the LORD Jesus (who is) the Christ. What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? nothing but the blood of Jesus. I will sing of my Redeemer and His wondrous love for me- on the cruel cross He suffered from the curse to set me free. Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer, with His blood He purchased me, on the cross He sealed my pardon, paid the debt, and made me free. And this my friends is why I will glory in the cross- for out of the lips of the G-d/man were spoken- “it is finished!” “Paid in full”! Jesus paid it all- all to Him I owe, sin a left a crimson stain- He washed it white as snow.. Hallelujah!- What a Savior
Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
I just finished reading Abraham Heschel’s little book called The Sabbath, in which he spends a great deal of time describing the Sabbath as a bride and as a queen. Beautiful poetic beginning, followed by solid irrefutable details. The intro by his daughter is also a beautiful description.
What a blessing Skip bring to me.
To be able to understand what the Sabbath, Kala, and finished, and let not forget
John 19:30 it refers to the same subject.
Thank you so much for bringing such a great revelation to us,God,s people.
Love it.