“Yet again shall be heard the shout of joy and gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the bride.” (Jeremiah 33:11)
What joy! What a sign of hope! Last Shabbat, a Messianic couple from Odessa (Ukraine) was married in the Messianic congregation in Berlin. The bride and groom actually wanted to get married in Ukraine, but the war and the flight prevented this. Vladimir Pikman agreed at short notice to simply marry them in Berlin. Hallelujah!
Despite the unusual circumstances, it was such a celebration and the joy was great! Everyone helped out: Some other Ukrainian refugees prepared festive food, the chuppa (wedding canopy) was decorated with fresh flowers, there was laughter, singing and dancing.
The pyic Jewish ceremony began with the bride circling her groom seven times. Afterwards, accompanied by a blessing, a glass of wine was drunk by the bride and groom and the ketubba (marriage certificate) was ceremoniously signed. Now came the actual marriage ceremony: with an ancient saying, the two confided in each other and put the wedding rings on each other’s fingers. Seven traditional blessings rounded off the wedding ceremony. Afterwards, another glass of wine was drunk by the bride and groom and the wine glass was wrapped in a napkin and broken by the groom. Now the couple is married! Mazel tov! Everyone cheered, clapped and rejoiced as the groom lifted the bride’s veil and kissed her! The worship team sang the congratulatory song “Siman tov umazel tov” and other joyful Jewish songs. The guests spontaneously danced around the bride and groom and rejoiced with them. Of course, the wedding cake and a festive reception afterwards were not missing.
And what a hopeful sign this is for all of us: a wedding reminds us that soon there will also be a wedding between Yeshua and his bride, when he establishes his kingdom of peace. A wedding awakens the longing and prayer in us that Yeshua will soon return. Especially in dark signs, a wedding is a glimmer of hope that all will be well again, as the Bible verse quoted at the beginning continues:
“The voice of them that say, Give thanks unto the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good, and his mercy endureth for ever,” when they bring thank offerings unto the house of the LORD. For I will turn the fortunes of the land, and it shall be as it was in the beginning, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 33:11)
