Hannah did not get much sleep the night before.
This day was unlike any in her young life. Her father had met with a Jewish boy’s father down the road. The boy’s name was Joshua. They had met to discuss a Bride price for her hand in marriage. The fathers had finally come to an agreement. Hannah’s father loved and treasured her, so Joshua’s father would have to pay dearly for her hand in marriage. Today was to be the day of the Betrothal. This was the day she would decide if she was ready to accept the Betrothal ring.
She was well aware of Jewish traditions and knew Jonathon would come and knock on her door. The opening of the door would symbolize her decision to accept his proposal. She had the freedom to decline his proposal by simply not opening the door. Hannah did not really know Joshua. She had heard of his family’s reputation and knew of the integrity of his father. Nevertheless, was she ready to give herself to become Joshua’s wife forever?
The hour had finally come and Hannah heard the anticipated knock on her front door.
Should she open it? Was she ready for this commitment? Hannah rose and went to the door. She felt her heart pounding in her chest and was almost positive she could hear Joshua’s heart through the thick wood of the door.
Hannah opened the door and saw the love on his face for her. She knew instantly that Joshua had prepared his heart for her long ago. She invited him into her home. They went to the ceremonial table for the Betrothal. Her mother had helped her prepare a meal for this special occasion. With much pride, she and her mother had carefully polished the challis that would be shared by Hannah and Joshua to symbolize the union they were entering into as a betrothed bride and groom.
There was no turning back now.
Today Hannah would bond her life with this beautiful man forever. She shared the meal with her Joshua and then took the cup and drank from it after him. When they had finished, her beloved Joshua produced a ring of the purest gold from his cloak. He gently slipped the precious gold ring on the index finger of her right hand.
Hannah had seen many of the young girls in her village proudly wear their betrothal rings. She watched her friends as they worked and longed for the day she would wear her beloved’s ring. As her friends went about their daily tasks, Hannah knew they would look upon their rings and remember to whom they belonged.
After placing his ring on her right hand, Joshua told Hannah he must leave to go and prepare a place for her for after the wedding.
Joshua would build a home onto his father’s house for them. He did not know how long he would be gone but he wanted her to look upon his ring and think about him as she worked during the long days as she waited. He told her she was loved and wanted her to remember she was his. She was to keep herself for him and him alone.
Hannah knew even though Joshua was going to be gone for a while, he would return again one day to bring her to live with him at his father’s house. She told everyone about her beloved as she waited. She would keep herself pure and continue to watch for the day when Joshua would return and they would enjoy their wedding supper together. Hannah was her Beloved’s and he was hers.
While this story is fiction, the Betrothal custom was very real in the ancient Jewish tradition.
God has been speaking II Cor. 1:21-22 over and over to me lately. I can’t tell you how many times this verse has come up and I felt I needed to investigate the meaning a little deeper. In honor of Valentine’s Day this month, I thought this would be the perfect time.
Just like in our story, we, like Hannah accepted our Beloved Jesus when we opened our hearts to Him as our Savior. While Joshua was away, Hannah was to remember she already belonged to him. The ring on the index finger of her right hand was to be a reminder as she worked that she was his and to keep herself pure while she waited for him to return for her. This is where II Cor. 1:21-22 comes in for me.
II Cor. 1:21-22 NIV Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come.
Christ put His seal of ownership on our hearts in the form of the Holy Spirit as a betrothal seal, just like the betrothal ring Hannah wore. The Holy Spirit reminds us that we belong to Jesus and that He is returning to take us with Him to live in a place He has prepared in His Father’s house.
The Bride in ancient times did not know when her groom would return for the wedding so she had to be ready at all times. Just like the Jewish bride, we do not know when Jesus will return to take us to the “wedding supper of the Lamb”. The Bible says we are to guard our hearts above all else (Prov. 4:23) because that is where Christ placed His precious seal of the Holy Spirit to remind us to whom we belong.
Prov. 4:23 NIV Above all else guard your heart.
The Bride price Christ paid for us, arranged long ago by His father, cost them everything because God calls us treasured and dearly loved. The price paid for the Bride of Christ was Jesus’ life. The cup they shared was a symbol of the blood that He shed and the meal, His body that was broken.
If you would like to read more on this there are many sources online. This is one short article on Jewish weddings I found interesting.
I wear an actual gold band on the index finger of my right hand to remind me to whom I belong but also because I love telling this story. He used His chosen people and stories from their lives to help us to understand many things. I wish I knew more about ancient Jewish customs and traditions so I could know my Jesus better.
He is coming soon. While we wait for our Bridegroom, let us keep ourselves pure and holy. Watch for Him and be ready because we do not know when He will come.
In the meantime, guard your heart.
Happy Valentine’s Day! 
New International Version (NIV)
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