June 6

Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. — Jer 2:2 BSB

Salvation consists of three parts: salvation past, salvation present, and salvation future. Salvation past refers to having our names written in the Lamb’s book of life before the foundation of the world. Salvation present is the manifestation of Jesus to the soul, by which He betroths it to Himself. Salvation future is the eternal enjoyment of Christ, when the elect will sit at the marriage supper of the Lamb and be forever with the Lord. Now, none will ever enjoy salvation future without having a saving interest in salvation past. In other words, no one will be with Christ in eternal glory whose name was not written in the book of life from eternity. Likewise, no one will enjoy salvation future who has not experienced salvation present. No one will live forever with Christ who has not been betrothed to Him in this life through the revelation of Himself to their soul.

In Jewish custom, a man gave his betrothed a piece of silver before witnesses, saying, “Receive this as a pledge that at such a time you shall become my spouse.” The couple would then exchange rings. This meeting of the betrothed parties, who likely saw each other for the first time at that moment, is a beautiful picture of the soul’s first encounter with Jesus. The bride had heard of the bridegroom, but had not seen him until this moment, just as a seeking soul hears of Jesus before the eyes of their heart truly behold Him. The bride had a veil on her face (Genesis 24:65), just as a veil lies over the heart (2 Corinthians 3:15) until Jesus removes it. The bridegroom gave his betrothed a piece of silver as a pledge that everything he had would be hers. In the same way, Christ gives the soul He betroths to Himself a pledge—a token, a testimony—of their eternal glory. The exchange of rings represents mutual affection and eternal faithfulness. When Christ reveals Himself to the soul in His dying love, mutual promises of faithfulness and love are exchanged between Him and the soul. The soul declares, “I am the Lord’s,” and Jesus affirms that it belongs to Him. During these precious moments, “in the day of the King’s espousals,” the soul can say, “I sat down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love.”