Old Dog V
Accessorizing The Bride
Bob Neumann, 2006
“The last time I saw THE BRIDEGROOM….”, is an interesting way to begin something. But I am not going to talk about HIM. For you see HE IS DRESSED for THE BANQUET. On the other hand, I wonder if THE BRIDE is READY?
Now the last time I saw THE DAUGHTER OF ZION she was still waiting for HIS COMING FOR HER. Now as soon as I saw HER I got a song…BAUBLES, BANGLES, and BEADS. In the song young Marsinah is looking for the “RIGHT” outfit that would help her catch the eye of someone who would “buy her”.
Now all BRIDES have to have the “perfect” gown and accessories. When I first told of this vision many of the feminine persuasion saw the romance of the progression of four songs that ended with A STRANGER IN PARADISE. The question is whether she really needed BAUBLES, BANGLES, or BEADS, but the question shall forever be mute because even SOLOMON did not fully understand the thoughts of a woman. My wife and daughter have reinforced that fact over the years.
Pro 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life
THE PROVERBS VIRTUOUS WOMAN is a template for THE BRIDE OF CHRIST. Her words carry both WISDOM and KINDNESS. Both RUTH and ESTHER are types and shadows.
But even then we have an image of ACCESSORIES in scripture.
Gen 24:21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not
Gen 24:22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten [shekels] weight of gold
Now it was not just gold that ABRAHAM’S SERVANT gave to the maiden….
Gen 24:53 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
Mother and brother got gifts, and she left, but not alone.
Gen 24:61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way
Seems like Rebekah might have had ten virgins to attend her, no one knows except there were “damsels”.
So I asked ABBA what is it that THE BRIDE needs?
Do I really want to look for BAUBLES…?
Baubles has two main definitions. First is a small cheap ornament or piece of jewelry; a trinket. Something basically showy, glitzy, and of little value. Now is that what I want to give to THE DAUGHTER OF ZION?
And then there is the Second, older meaning, a mock scepter carried by a court jester. A wooden stick with carved donkey ears and ribbons.
Somehow that just does not fit with the rod of iron I was handed….or maybe it does….it all depends upon perception and discernment.
Now if I am to play THE FOOL, why not do it right… So I went on eBay to see what the world priced really trashy costume jewelry. And I came across two important facts. (1)The uglier something was, the higher the price upon it.(2)The more ridiculous something looked, the more people that came to bid on it.
So I decided to look at gold, silver and precious stones…and I found numerous items my wife liked that were selling at prices below plastic and glass.
Of course she liked some things that were EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE….
What THE BRIDE needs are the gold of WISDOM and the silver of UNDERSTANDING. Let her jewelry be created in THE MASTER’S HANDS.
So I will continue to bring her pearls…
Selah
Bob Neumann
North Carolina