Genesis 24:53 Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewellery and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother.
Abraham sent his trusted servant Eleazar to find a bride for his son Isaac from his native land and his father’s household. He did so as the Lord had promised to give the land of Canaan as an inheritance to his generation. (Taking a Canaanite woman in marriage would amount to making a covenant with them and violating the covenant of the Lord). The Godly protocol and etiquette of betrothal was by giving gifts, jewellery and costly clothing. The engagement ceremony was always preceded by honouring the bride with expensive gifts. Many cultures and countries have got this God given principle very wrong. Jewellery and dowry is demanded from the father of the bride. God describes the affection He had showered upon Israel in terms of a man showering his bride with gifts: “I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head” (Ezekiel 16:12).
The Lord God adorns us (His bride) with gifts, presents and talents. Jewellery in the Bible is interpreted as “spiritual gifts”. Isaiah 60:10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. No one can say that they have not received gifts from the Lord. Our gifts could be oratory and poetry or could be silent gifts of serving, encouraging and giving. Our gifts could be displayed on the stage or to serve behind the scenes. The unseen gifts are more esteemed in the sight of God than the ones exhibited and evident. 1 Corinthians 12:23b Our less respectable parts (of our body) have greater respect.
The gifts from King Jesus to His betrothed bride (You and me):
1. Clothing: Jesus has clothed us (His bride) with the costly clothing, the garment of salvation and the robe of righteousness. Sin and disobedience forced Adam and Eve to sew clothing from fig leaves which dried up and exposed their nakedness. Our works, charity or generosity cannot earn the spiritual covering, only the grace of God can give us what the blood of Jesus earned on the cross. Christ has clothed His bride with salvation, purity and righteousness.
2. Chain: The attire, ornaments, garlands and bracelets differentiates the bride from other women. Similarly, the spiritual gifts will distinguish us from the others around us. Spiritual gifts are not to attract people towards us but to draw the lost, longing and left behind into the fold of Christ. A gold chain is the sign of honour and authentication of our sanctification.
3. Crown: Crown is a sign of authority and power. Christ has placed a crown on our head as an ornament of authority. Crown is the authority that we have in Christ Jesus to trample over demons and disease.
We are the betrothed beautiful bride of Christ the King.
1 Peter 3:3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight..
Prayer: King Jesus we thank you for adorning us with spiritual clothing of salvation and righteousness and decorating us with divine ornaments of power and authority. Help us to use the gifts to serve and proclaim your love to those in darkness. Amen
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