Spring
2001
The Cry of
our Heavenly Bridegroom
Sharon Carlson
Pinecrest Student
“… His Bride has made herself ready” Rev
19:7b
“… for the days of her preparation were completed
as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six
months with spices…” Esther 2:12b.
For two thousand years, our heavenly Bridegroom has been
waiting for the Bride to become fully prepared for her union
with Him.
It may seem somewhat strange, or even uncomfortable, to think
of our relationship with our Lord in such an intimate way.
But, through the Spirit of God, there is a cry within the
Church for closeness with Him. He is actively involved in
drawing us closer.
“Draw me, and we will run after Thee. The King has
brought me into
His chamber. We will be glad and rejoice in Thee.” Song
of Solomon 1:4.
Do we have hers to hear the cry of the Lord? Recently, I
have heard several prophetic pleads from His Spirit …
“I cannot make you love Me, please love Me. I promise
to never leave you. Please do not leave Me.” The cry
of the Bridegroom is that the Bride will desire Him and will
make herself ready.
Easter was chosen from among the most beautiful women to
go before the King. She was required to go through a process
for one year of separation, for her sanctification with myrrh
and spices, in order to be ready to go into the presence of
the one she was being prepared for.
Myrrh is a bitter plant used as an astringent, which tightens
the skin and removes toxins, and which is used as an antiseptic
to keep skin free from any soil. It is used to bring “deep
cleansing” beneath the surface. The Brides garments
will be woven with fine white linen (Rev 19:8), which is without
spot or wrinkle (Eph 5:27). All this may sound nice, but the
process can be painful, as is includes much scrubbing by the
fuller’s soap (Mal 3:2). This is done using much steam
(water of the word) and much pressure (from the hand of God).
We must not despise the chastening, scourging, and dealings
of the Lord, as this is the unpleasant part of our being made
ready. We must be willing to go though the process of the
bitter of dying to self, in order to enter the process of
becoming one with our Beloved.
The Lord often takes us through the wilderness before He
will lead us beside the rivers of life and blessing, and into
the large grassy fields of revelation and spiritual understanding.
Esther’s time had come to be presented to the King.
She could choose to take whatever she desired for that meeting;
yet Esther “required nothing, but what the Kings chamberlain
appointed for her.” Let us not dictate to God what we
require, but only yield ourselves to His chamberlain, the
Holy Spirit, to prepare and present us as He appoints.
In this special day of preparation … He is working
self out (myrrh) and working Himself in (sweet spices), so
we will be ready in “that day.”