39. Waiting For The Bridegroom

Sermon 39 Waiting For The Bridegroom

Many of the parables of our Lord we find a little hard to understand. This grows out of the fact that many of them are based upon the customs and practices of that country to which we are now strangers. When we find a parable, the meaning of which is obscure to us, because we are not familiar with the custom upon which said parable is based, we have only to turn to ancient history and learn the peculiar practice of the thing upon which the parable is founded, and then all things will be plain to us.

This is certainly true of the parable before us. If we understand nothing about ancient marriages, and supposed they were celebrated as. ours are, the meaning to us would be lost.

At that time you will find that the custom of marriage celebration among the Jews was on the plan of the diagram before you.

• The home of the bride was usually the place where the marriage took place.

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• The marriage had was prepared by the bridegroom, where all went after the marriage, and spent a time in music and rejoicing.

• The place of waiting was where virgins who had been invited by the bride and groom went and tarried till the marriage procession came along. Then they fell into the procession with their lamps burning, and singing till they reached the marriage had.

Sometimes the procession would pass the place of waiting during the first watch of the night, sometimes, the second watch, and sometimes the third watch, so, in order to have all ready to fall into line when the bridegroom came, a messenger went before proclaiming, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh. Go ye out to meet him." As the lateness of the night frequently caused them to sleep, it was necessary that they carry more oil with them besides what was in their lamps, (as their lamps were small) so when the messenger called all could refill the lamps and be ready. When one failed to make ample provision for her lamp, and did not reach the had with the procession, the door was closed and she was left on the outside.

This explains the condition of the five foolish virgins, who were not admitted into the had.

We have briefly stated the custom upon which this lesson is based. We now proceed to make the application:

As the bride and groom married at a certain place and time, so we find it in regard to Christ and His church (Romans 7). Paul teaches that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives, but when the man is dead the woman is at liberty to marry again. In like manner did he teach the Roman brethren, that they had become dead to the law by the body of Christ, that they should be married to another, even to Christ, who was raised from the dead. Then we find the church was married to Christ after (not before) he wee raised from the dead.

Again, he taught that the man is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 6:23). As the bride could send out her servants to prepare and go to the place of waiting, and be ready to go into the marriage had with the bridegroom, so does the church, the bride of the lamb, hare power to send out her servants, and call all who will to prepare and come to the place of waiting, to enter in at the last day.

This preparation is nothing more nor less than becoming a Christian, a child of God, according to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

Simply believing and obeying the gospel, the place of waiting is in the church—not in the world.

As to the manner of waiting all may do well to take heed.

1. As Christians, we are recognized as soldiers, and should wait with the whole armor of God on. We should wait with our loins girt about with truth, the breast plate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, with the word of God as the sword of the Spirit, to fight the enemies of our Lord.

2. We should wait as co-laborers in the vineyard, working together for the upbuilding of the Redeemer's kingdom.

3. We should wait as members of the same family— brothers and sisters in Christ—helping the weak, caring for the young, and speaking no evil of each other.

4. We should wait as lively stones in the spiritual building, fitly joined together, remembering that each stone is built there to occupy an important position, and ii' I who am ordained to fill that position, fail to fill it, it cannot be filled.

5. We should wait, watching, for we know not when Jesus will come. Then, dearly beloved, if we are not doing this will we not today commence to look well to these things, that Jesus may find us prepared when he comes. Should he find us watching and waiting, how great our rejoicing will be! The pleasures of this life can not be compared with the joy which Jesus will give us when we enter with Him there.

Our pleasures here only last for a day, and so often is the day of pleasure followed by such dread night of darkness, that our fondest joys and greatest hopes are swept away. But such will not be over there. Then have your lamps trimmed and burning that you may go with the Bridegroom when He comes.