THE LORD'S CHUPPAH

SERMON STARTER

 

          I have officiated at two weddings involving Jewish people. Only one of the weddings used a Chuppah. It was a decorated canopy over the heads of the Groom and his Bride. In both weddings the bride carried a lit candle processing slowly to the front. She circles her groom three times, lights her groom's candle and together they light the Unity candle. The Rabbi then continues with the service.

          We who have placed our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ  are betrothed to Him. We are His Bride. The Lord's "Chuppah" will cover us as we await the Brides Groom's return.  The Lord says this in Isaiah 4:5,

 

5 then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. (canopy)  Isaiah 4:5

 

          The original Hebrew word behind the word “canopy” contains a treasure. The actual Hebrew word is “Chuppah.” The Chuppah is the canopy of the Hebrew marriage, spread over the heads of the bride and groom. They sit together as king and queen as one.

          In other words, in the days of the kingdom, God will spread a wedding canopy over His people. In that day as Isaiah 62:4 says, even the land will be married, everything will be married. If you want to live in the blessings of the kingdom now, then the key is - marry everything in your life to the Lord; your dreams, your problems, your weaknesses, joys, desires, plans, home, job, spouse, secret life, career, money, possessions, everything. Bring every part of your life under His Chuppah, joined to Him. For that which is under the Chuppah shall be blessed.

Pastor Phil   <><<

Jonathan Kahn, Daily Sapphires, Friday, June 07, 2019 (Adapted)

4 You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, (My delight is in her) and your land Beulah; (Married) For the LORD delights in you, And your land shall be married. Isaiah 62:4

Sheepfold Ministries, June 9, 2019

Pastor Phil Roland

 

THE LORD'S CHUPPAH

God's Amazing Presence on the Wilderness Journey

Deuteronomy 29:1-7 - Exodus 13:17022 - Matthew 25:1-13

 

“The Lord has given us an incredible promise hidden in the Jewish Wedding ritual. We are the betrothed of Christ. We anxiously await the arrival of the Bridegroom, so the wedding and consummation can begin! Even so Come Quickly, Lord Jesus!"                                        Pastor Phil <><<

5 then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering.  Isa. 4:5

 

For over all the glory there will be a covering. (Canopy, Chuppah)

HEBREW -  חֻפָּה‎ -  khoop-paw' -  CHUP-PAH

          OT - Canopy, Chamber, Defense

 

The Lord's Wilderness Chuppah was visible, beautiful, dramatic, awe-inspiring, breath-taking. . .  (Show Slides)

 

The Bride Groom would go to His home and prepare a Chuppah for his Bride. It could take up to a year. When his Chuppah was ready, he would come for his bride. She was to be chaste, pure and ready for her wedding.

 

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  John 14:3

 

BACKGROUND:

After the Tenth Plague against Egypt, Moses led the Children of Israel out of Egypt where they had resided 300 years. Six hundred thousand men, plus women and children, maybe a million and a half people, plus livestock left Egypt for the Promised Land. It was a Land flowing with milk and honey. The distance was 381 miles. It should have been a 40 day journey. Instead, the journey was 40 years!

37 Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. Exodus 12:37
 

There Are Several Things the Lord's Chuppah Provides

I.  THE LORD'S CHUPPAH PROVIDES GUIDANCE - Exodus 20:

21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.

 

THE LORD'S CHUPPAH, cont., p.2

 

          A. No Compass for Moses and the People

                    1. No GPS, Garman, Satellites for 4 thousand years

                    2. Electronics would have to wait those 4 millennia

                    3. The Pillar of Cloud by day and Fire by Night Led them

                    4. Totally Supernatural - Ah-Natural - Above natural laws

          B. The Lord was never lost those 40 years: the people were

                    1. The incredible phenomenon taught them obedience

                    2. They learned to wait for and depend on God for everything

          C. When the Cloud moved from the Tabernacle, they moved

                    1. When the Fire by Night moved, they packed and moved

                    2. When the Cloud and Fire rested, they stopped and rested

          D. There are no Dead Ends following God's Guidance - Prov. 3:5,6

                    5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own                                    understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct                       your paths.

 

Another Thing the Lord's Chuppah Provides. . .

II.  THE LORD'S CHUPPAH PROVIDES PROTECTION - Ex. 14:14

  14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."

          A. The only enemies they faced were Pharaoh's Armies

                    1. Israel faced the Red Sea

                    2. Pharaoh and his horses, chariots and marching men

                    3. God finished them off in a single moment

                    4. No swords, spears, armaments on any kind were used

                    5. The wave of Moses' Rod (Walking Staff) closed up the H2O

          B. The Lord protects you from all enemies - Psalm 91:11-12

                    11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your

              ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot

              against a stone.

                    1. The Chuppah spreads God's Protective Canopy over you

                    2. Eg. I'm my Beloved and He is Mine, His Chuppah over me is love

 

Another Thing the Lord's Chuppah Provides. . .

III.  THE LORD'S CHUPPAH PROVIDES PROVISION - Ex. 13:21,22

21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. Exodus 13:21,22

          A. God provided their basic needs: Water, Food, Clothing

                    1. Water from a Rock

                    2. Manna for bread every morning, God's miracle provision

                    3. Sandals and clothing that didn't wear out

          B. Get beneath the Lord's Wedding Canopy

                    1. He'll provide your needs

                    2. Ask Him for Gratitude - In whatever state I'm in, be content. .

THE LORD'S CHUPPAH, cont., p.3

 

Another Thing the Lord's Chuppah Provides. . .

IV.  THE LORD'S CHUPPAH PROVIDES HIS FAITHFULNESS

3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.     Deuteronomy 8:3-4

          A. Our God is Faithful. . .He never abandoned His people

                    1. If God promises He will DO IT!

                    2. God is not a man that He should lie - Numbers 23:19

                                        19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He

                          should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken,

                          and will He not make it good?

          B. God did not abandon His people in the wilderness thru 40 years

                    1. He will never abandon you or forsake you - Deut. 31:6

                                        6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them;

                          for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will

                          not leave you nor forsake you."

                    2. God will not abandon you

                              a. Even if you are impure, unworthy, reprobate, apostate

                              b. He will still love you, even if you have backslid

                    3. God chose you and is awaiting you to join Him - Jere. 1:5

                                        5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born

                          I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

          C. What about you? Are you eagerly awaiting the Bride Groom?

                    1. He is coming at a time when you least expect it

                    2. GET READY!

 

YOU CAN SLEEP IN COMFORT COVERED BY HIS FIRE BY NIGHT

 

THE LORD'S CHUPPAH

Exodus 13:17-22
17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt."
18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.
19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you."
20 So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness.
21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.
22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

 

Deuteronomy 29:1-6
1 These are the words of the covenant which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which He made with them in Horeb.
2 Now Moses called all Israel and said to them: "You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land--
3 the great trials which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great wonders.
4 Yet the LORD has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day.
5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.
6 You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or similar drink, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.

 

Matthew 25:1-13
1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
9 But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!'
12 But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

 

I. THE FOUR STAGES OF A JEWISH WEDDING

A. The Betrothal

The betrothal was binding and could only be undone by a divorce with proper grounds, such as the bride being found not to be pure, (see Joseph and Mary - Matt 1 v18-19 ) The young man prepared a Ketubah, (Kit to bah) or marriage contract (or covenant) which he presented to the intended bride and her father. Included in this was the " Bride Price ", which was appropriate in that society to compensate the young woman's parents for the cost of raising her, as well as being an expression of his love for her.

B. Acceptance

To see if the proposal was accepted, the young man would pour a cup of wine for his beloved and wait to see if she drank it. This cup represents a blood covenant. If she drank the cup she would have accepted the proposal and they would be betrothed. The young man would then give gifts to his beloved, and then take his leave. The young woman would have to wait for him to return and collect her.

C. The wedding chamber and the Chuppah (Chup-pa)

Before leaving the young man would announce, " I am going to prepare a place for you ", and "I will return for you when it is ready". The usual practice was for the young man to return to his father's house and build a honeymoon room there. This is what is symbolized by the Chuppah or canopy which is characteristic of Jewish weddings. He was not allowed to skimp on the work and had to get his father's approval before he could consider it ready for his bride. If asked the date of his wedding he would have to reply, "Only my father knows." Typically it would be a year before he came for his bride.

Meanwhile the bride would be making herself ready so that she would be pure and beautiful for her bridegroom. During this time she would wear a veil when she went, out to show she was spoken for (she has been bought with a price)

D. The Wedding

When the wedding chamber was ready the bridegroom could collect his bride. He could do this at any time so the bride would make special arrangements. It was the custom for a bride to keep a lamp, her veil and her other things beside her bed. Her bridesmaids were also waiting and had to have oil ready for their lamps.

When the groom and his friends got close to the bride's house they would give a shout and blow a shofar to let her know to be ready.

When the wedding party arrived at father's house the newly weds went into the wedding chamber for a seven day honeymoon and the groom's best friend stood outside waiting for the groom to tell him that the marriage had been consummated

Then all the friends really started celebrating for the seven days that the couple were honeymooning. When the couple emerged there would be much congratulation and the Marriage Supper could begin.

Paul Wilson, Bible-Truth.com

 

 

 

 

 

THE HUPPA

Matthew 25:10 (NKJV)
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

The Lord's Huppa Will Cover You

5 then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. Isaiah 4:5 (NKJV)

Isaiah 4:5 says this: “Then the Lord will spread over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all, the glory will be a canopy.” But the original Hebrew behind the word “canopy” contains a treasure. The actual Hebrew word is “Huppah.” The Huppah is the canopy of the Hebrew marriage, spread over the heads of the bride and groom, who sit together as king and queen as one. In other words, in the days of the kingdom, God will spread a wedding canopy over His people. In that day, as Isaiah 62:4 says, even the land will be married, everything will be married. And if you want to live in the blessings of the kingdom now, then the key is - marry everything in your life to the Lord; your dreams, your problems, your weaknesses, joys, desires, plans, home, job, spouse, secret life, career, money, possessions, everything. Bring every part of your life under His Huppah, joined to Him. For that which is under the Huppah shall be blessed.

From Message #2029 - Entering the Seventh Day
Scripture: Matthew 25:10

Jonathan Kahn, Daily Sapphires, Friday, June 07, 2019

 

TESTIMONY (To Others)

GOD'S FAITHFULNESS  (He never abandons his people)

          Even when Israel was unfaithful and unbelieving

          For 40 years of wilderness wandering, nothing wore out

                    See Deut. 29-1-7;  Deuteronomy 8:3-4

          Deuteronomy 8:3-4

3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.

GOD'S LOVE

GOD'S CARE

COMFORT

COVERING

 

 

Summary of The Book of Isaiah

Isaiah prophesied during one of the worst times in the history of Israel. The Israelites had become so corrupt God was going to remove them out of His sight. He raised up the Assyrian army to be an unmerciful, barbaric, ruthless, an unstoppable war machine. Their military tactics are still applauded today by those who understand the art of war. God called them from their distant land to come and destroy the Jews living in the north, and take them away from their homeland. Isaiah was living in Judah, in the city of Jerusalem during a time when King Uzziah had died. Isaiah prophesied during the reign of King Uzziah, King Jotham, King Ahaz, King Hezekiah, and probably King Manasseh of Judah. His prophetic ministry lasted from about 760 BC until about 720 BC. Isaiah chapter 6 records a powerful vision that Isaiah received of God the King on his throne, and the king called Isaiah to prophesy to His people. This was Isaiah's call to ministry as a prophet of God and it is interesting that it was at a time when king Uzziah had just died. King Uzziah was faithful servant of the Lord and people felt secure under his leadership, but when he died there was almost a panic. This is when the Lord showed Isaiah who was really on the throne. Isaiah was terrified at the sight of God's holiness (Isaiah 6) and when the Lord called him and asked him who will go with this message and Isaiah said "here am I, send me." Isaiah warned Jerusalem about her idolatry, and her foreign alliances, but they scorned him. They did not listen to his warnings and quickly destroy their instruments of idolatry. He prophesied about the Assyrians who would destroy the northern kingdom, they were also good to come to Jerusalem but God would deliver them. But he also told them that eventually the city will be destroyed and captured by the Babylonians, and that a Persian ruler named Cyrus would release the Jews from captivity. Isaiah prophesied more about the Messiah than any other book in the Old Testament. He also described in great detail the blessings of the future kingdom of the Messiah. His coming would be as a lion bringing the day of God's wrath, but he would also first come as a savior who would die for the sins of the people. This was Isaiah's message, the humility and beauty of the Savior. - The above text is © Rusty Russell - Bible History Online and must be sourced for use on a website.

https://www.bible-history.com/studybible/Isaiah/4/