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The Bridegroom

No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:4-5) 
BRIDEGROOM
          The music begins, the doors open and you begin a long, slow walk with your father down an aisle as everyone watches you. The pews or chairs may as well be empty because your focus is on the man waiting in front of the preacher, and on the ceremony that is about to take place. Usually, weddings seem to be all about the bride. In recent years, they've become all about the entertainment, with bride, groom or volunteers singing, dancing and doing gymnastics. The reception afterward requires a party planner, a DJ, a caterer, a choreographer, at least a dozen friends willing to volunteer for a flash mob or surprise dance, and about $60,000.
         Imagine instead, the music begins, the doors open and you being a long, slow walk down an aisle as everyone is facing front, watching the groom. The talk of the town for the past two thousand years hasn't been about how beautiful the bride is going to be, but about how much it cost Him to rescue her.
         We love to be entranced and entertained by romance. This romance by this Groom outshines my favorite fairy tale romance. It's not the story of a lovely and innocent girl who sacrifices everything she knows in order to free her father. It's not the story of her meeting a monster enduring while he changes. It's not the story of his being doomed to die if she doesn't come to love him. Oh no. It's the story of an uncultured, uneducated girl who has grown up as a prostitute. She is the monster, not he. He loves her when she is unlovable, and is even willing to die to set her free. Then, as our tears flow down our cheeks, we are given the news that He didn't stay dead! The wedding is announced and our tears of sorrow turn into tears of joy. We can't wait to see the groom. 
         But what of the bride? She's still a beast. She still flirts with the world. She's still trying to learn to love Him as he deserves. She's still difficult. And she is still beloved by the Groom. Slowly, His love will win.

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