What Is The Purpose Of Introducing The New Couple

God began marriage in the Garden of Eden when He covenanted one man and one woman into a lifelong union - GEN. 2:24. Biblically, a covenant is an agreement between God {the stronger partner} and humanity which He initiates and upholds - GEN. 17:4. In a marriage covenant, the three-fold cord is a covenant that God never breaks. Even in the fall, He zealously honoured His covenant obligation in the marriage of Adam and Eve by providing them a better covering than they improvised – GEN. 3:7, 21. A covenant has irrefutable features that differentiate it from a contract:

1. A covenant is based on trust between parties
2. A contract is based on distrust between parties
3. A covenant is based on unlimited responsibility
4. A contract is based on limited responsibility
5. A covenant cannot be broken if new circumstances occur

6. A contract can be voided by mutual consent if new circumstances occur

God upheld various covenants with Adam {GEN. 2:16-17}, Noah {GEN. 6:9-21; 8:22; 9:1-17}, Abraham {GEN. 12:1-13, 15, 17; 22:15-17}. Designed to be held in honour, God made marriage for the happiness of humanity, as a route for love to be intimately expressed and for fruitfulness. A couple in God’s marriage covenant is guided by well specified responsibilities and benefits. The husband must totally devote himself to his wife’s good and the wife must totally yield herself to him in mutual submission – 1 COR. 11:3-16.

WHY DOES THE GROOM ENTER THE SANCTUARY BEFORE THE BRIDE AND MAKE THE VOWS FIRST

The groom signifies that he is the covenant initiator, has greater responsibility in seeing it fulfilled. Christ will soon appear with the sound of trumpets to consummate the wedding with His bride, the Church – 1 THESS. 4:14-17.

WHY DOES THE MINISTER ASK THE QUESTION: “WHO GIVES THIS WOMAN TO BE MARRIED TO THIS MAN?”

This question and its response symbolizes not only the full blessings of the parents, but the transfer of responsibility to the groom by the father. A daughter is under the authority and responsibility of the father until she is married – GEN. 3:16; NUM. 30:4-8; ISA. 3:18; JN. 16:21; 1 COR. 11:3; EPH. 5:22.

WHY DO THE BRIDE AND GROOM TAKE EACH OTHER’S RIGHT HAND DURING THE WEDDING VOWS

The open right hand symbolizes their strength, resources and purpose. By clasping each other’s right hand, they are pledging these to each other. Just as we depend upon the “saving strength of God’s right hand, so each partner can depend upon all the resources that the other brings to the covenant relationship – PSALM 20:6.

WHAT IS THE REAL SIGNIFICANCE OF WEDDING RINGS
In Scripture, the ring is a symbol of authority and the resources which go with it – ESTA. 8:2. Also wherever two parties make a covenant or commitment, they exchange something of value as a token of their pledge – 1 SAM. 8:1-4.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF INTRODUCING THE NEW COUPLE
The introduction of the new couple establishes their change of names. In the marriage, the wife takes on the name of the husband and he becomes known as the husband of the wife. This name change is clearly illustrated in the covenant between Jehovah and Abram – GEN. 17:4-5.

WHY DOES THE COUPLE SIGN THE WEDDING PAPERS
The couple signs wedding papers to establish a public document. It is a continuing public record of the covenant. God wrote out the testimony of His covenant in Scripture.

WHY IS A SPECIAL INVITATION GIVEN FOR THE WEDDING
The invitation for the wedding symbolizes the initiation to salvation. In the teaching ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, He used the invitation to the wedding feast as an illustration of inviting people to partake of salvation. The wedding feast was free to invited guests, just as salvation is free to all who will receive it – ISA. 55:1. THE MARRIAGE COVENANT

God began marriage in the Garden of Eden when He covenanted one man and one woman into a lifelong union - GEN. 2:24. Biblically, a covenant is an agreement between God {the stronger partner} and humanity which He initiates and upholds - GEN. 17:4. In a marriage covenant, the three-fold cord is a covenant that God never breaks. Even in the fall, He zealously honoured His covenant obligation in the marriage of Adam and Eve by providing them a better covering than they improvised – GEN. 3:7, 21. A covenant has irrefutable features that differentiate it from a contract:

1. A covenant is based on trust between parties
2. A contract is based on distrust between parties
3. A covenant is based on unlimited responsibility
4. A contract is based on limited responsibility
5. A covenant cannot be broken if new circumstances occur

6. A contract can be voided by mutual consent if new circumstances occur

God upheld various covenants with Adam {GEN. 2:16-17}, Noah {GEN. 6:9-21; 8:22; 9:1-17}, Abraham {GEN. 12:1-13, 15, 17; 22:15-17}. Designed to be held in honour, God made marriage for the happiness of humanity, as a route for love to be intimately expressed and for fruitfulness. A couple in God’s marriage covenant is guided by well specified responsibilities and benefits. The husband must totally devote himself to his wife’s good and the wife must totally yield herself to him in mutual submission – 1 COR. 11:3-16.

WHY DOES THE GROOM ENTER THE SANCTUARY BEFORE THE BRIDE AND MAKE THE VOWS FIRST

The groom signifies that he is the covenant initiator, has greater responsibility in seeing it fulfilled. Christ will soon appear with the sound of trumpets to consummate the wedding with His bride, the Church – 1 THESS. 4:14-17.

WHY DOES THE MINISTER ASK THE QUESTION: “WHO GIVES THIS WOMAN TO BE MARRIED TO THIS MAN?”

This question and its response symbolizes not only the full blessings of the parents, but the transfer of responsibility to the groom by the father. A daughter is under the authority and responsibility of the father until she is married – GEN. 3:16; NUM. 30:4-8; ISA. 3:18; JN. 16:21; 1 COR. 11:3; EPH. 5:22.

WHY DO THE BRIDE AND GROOM TAKE EACH OTHER’S RIGHT HAND DURING THE WEDDING VOWS

The open right hand symbolizes their strength, resources and purpose. By clasping each other’s right hand, they are pledging these to each other. Just as we depend upon the “saving strength of God’s right hand, so each partner can depend upon all the resources that the other brings to the covenant relationship – PSALM 20:6.

WHAT IS THE REAL SIGNIFICANCE OF WEDDING RINGS
In Scripture, the ring is a symbol of authority and the resources which go with it – ESTA. 8:2. Also wherever two parties make a covenant or commitment, they exchange something of value as a token of their pledge – 1 SAM. 8:1-4.

The introduction of the new couple establishes their change of names. In the marriage, the wife takes on the name of the husband and he becomes known as the husband of the wife. This name change is clearly illustrated in the covenant between Jehovah and Abram – GEN. 17:4-5.

WHY DOES THE COUPLE SIGN THE WEDDING PAPERS
The couple signs wedding papers to establish a public document. It is a continuing public record of the covenant. God wrote out the testimony of His covenant in Scripture.

WHY IS A SPECIAL INVITATION GIVEN FOR THE WEDDING
The invitation for the wedding symbolizes the initiation to salvation. In the teaching ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, He used the invitation to the wedding feast as an illustration of inviting people to partake of salvation. The wedding feast was free to invited guests, just as salvation is free to all who will receive it – ISA. 55:1.

WHY DOES THE COUPLE FEED EACH OTHER
This act symbolizes their becoming one flesh. By feeding cake to each other, they are saying, “this represents my body. As you eat it, I am becoming a part of you, and as I eat the cake that you give to me, you are becoming a part of me.” A New Testament illustration of this type of symbolism is in the Lord’s Supper. Jesus took bred, broke it and gave it to His disciples saying, “Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you ….. After the same manner also, He took the cup ……” – 1 COR. 11:24-25.

A Pastor, historian, and writer, Joseph Emeka Anumbor is the author of THE INTERCOURSE OF TROUBLED THOUGHTS, a critically acclaimed discourse on homosexuality published by AuthorHouse Inc, Indiana, USA.