Welcome to the Read Along for Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story! Today we’re covering Chapter 3. Still need to buy your book? Grab it on Amazon or Paypal.
Somewhere along her journey to the altar, the bride is made to believe that her wedding day is all about her.
Slick marketing pieces and glossy magazines reinforce the message that her wedding day is her day. In the midst of flowers and seating charts, weddings centered around the bride can turn an otherwise demure belle into a raging bridezilla. For a ceremony that is supposed to be about two people becoming one, there is much ado made about only one of the parties.
Don’t get me wrong. There is a noble tradition in affirming the worth and dignity of the bride, especially if that esteeming trust shines from her groom. But if we, as women, fail to consider our husbands before our wedding day, we are much more likely to forget them after we’ve said our I Do’s at the altar.
It is, after all, all too easy to stop thinking of our husbands as our prince charming – particularly when we’ve spent a year-long planning process setting ourselves up as the Queen.
Perhaps we should take a cue from the Greek Orthodox Church. Based on Ps. 8, instead of exchanging rings, Greek Orthodox weddings include the exchange of crowns.
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.” (Ps. 8:3-5)
Scholar Stephen Dempster says: “In the biblical view, all weddings are royal, because all human beings are made in the likeness of the King of the universe. Can you imagine the implications for marriage in any culture if spouses began to treat each other with the royal dignity each deserves?”[1]
How do you view your husband? Crowned by God to bear God’s image? How do you view yourself? Crowned by God to reflect God’s love and godly character?
Our marriages are intended to be much more than vehicles for pleasure or safety. Our marriages serve as a reflection of our union with Christ – a binding, royal relationship.
The Bible uses the language of covenant to describe the nature of our union with God.
But a covenant is much weightier than a promise. Our covenant relationship with God is permanent. Once we step up to the altar and utter our trust in Him, our relationship cannot be broken or annulled – no matter how badly we mess up.
How can that be so? Our relationship with our Creator is not based on two equal parties – much like a marriage covenant. Our covenant with God is based on God’s ability and character to fulfill his promises as the stronger party.
Our God is eternal. Our God is Royal. And so is our marriage to him.
So, I’ll repeat Dr. Dempster’s rather uncomfortable question: can you imagine the change in your marriage if you began to view your husband with the royal dignity he deserves?
Do you view your husband as crowned? Do you view yourself that way? What changes do you think would happen in your marriage if you started viewing your earthly marriage relationship as individuals brought together in a royal wedding? Share your thoughts in the comments.
[1] Stephen Dempster, “Genesis” in What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About edited by Jason S. DeRouchie (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2013), 63.
Wow, Melissa! There is a lot to chew on here. Thanks for challenging me with this good word.
Thanks for stopping by Lyli! Appreciate you!
“It is, after all, all too easy to stop thinking of our husbands as our prince charming – particularly when we’ve spent a year-long planning process setting ourselves up as the Queen.”
WOW Melissa! A great and challenging post. A lot to think on and put into action. Thank you!
Thanks also for linking up with us – Loved having you as part of our Fearless Friday link up. ~Victoria