Ever paid attention to the joy at weddings? No matter whose it is or the circumstances of that union, I’ve never attended a wedding where joy of some degree wasn’t present.
Joy is so much a part of most wedding celebrations that it’s almost as visible as the flowers or even an extra guest.
If you haven’t particularly noticed it other people’s weddings, think back to your own. Remember the effervescence bubbling through your veins? The happiness that made your steps so light, you wondered if someone had spiked your Post Toasties with helium?
And that smile. You couldn’t banish it, could you? You know the one I mean. It stayed on your face so long, your cheeks cramped and ached. But you still couldn’t get rid of it because something inside you wouldn’t let it die.
That’s the joy I’m talking about.
Joy such as that is all through the Bible, especially when speaking of weddings.
Jeremiah 33:11–
–the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD, saying, “Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever.”
And Solomon had joy by the tail. Of course, he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. (Who knows how many children and GRANDCHILDREN!)
He had joy multiplied many times in his life.
Song of Songs 4:10–How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume more than any spice!
Okay, the sister thing makes me a little anxious, but I’m sure if I were any kind of Bible scholar, I could explain it.
I’m not.
If you kind of skim past the sister thing, isn’t that a description of joy without ever using the word? She gives him so much joy, he’s light-headed.
John 3:29–The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
That’s John the Baptist
talking about Jesus. Even that guy who lived and preached in the wilderness, who wore camel-hair and ate grasshoppers (ick!) knew about the joy at a wedding.
We’re within a couple of weeks of our third son’s upcoming nuptials, and joy is already buzzing around, looking for a place to land.
(That could be because I’ve found my ensem and shoes for the wedding, so I’m ready to go.;) )
We’re thrilled for Brad. He marrying into such a nice family, we all love them.
And we’re ecstatic for us–we’re getting a third daughter who we already love as if she were our own.
Psalm 30:5–For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Brad and Nicole, I wish you a lifetime stuffed full of rejoicing.
Susan Spess Shay 