The Dowry

The dowry is a payment made by the bridegroom and his family for the privilege of marrying a bride. It is sometimes referred to as the price of a bride. The father of the bride had to be compensated for the loss of his daughter for several reasons. Her labor would be missed, she had required extensive social and domestic training, and she was a family member who would be missed. Compensation was demanded to let her go.

The dowry was a pre-wedding payment to transfer her membership from one family to another. It wasn't exactly purchase payment, as if the woman was being bought and sold as property, though it often functioned as a business transaction, but it more represented her worth, both personally and of service, to her family. The bride had intrinsic value and the family must be compensated for her loss.

In some cultures a woman was rated in value against things like cattle, land, or service. Was she an 8 cow wife? Would she be worth 7 years of hard labor? A dowry payment was figured estimating her worth with a currency or property amount being finally determined, and then paid to her family so that she could marry.

In the light of this ancient marriage practice, consider the plan of Redemption. Because of the treason in the Garden, the human family became the property of the prince of the power of the air, that is, the devil. The god of this world became our father. Unredeemed mankind is called in Ephesians 2:2, "Children (the sons of) of disobedience."

When Jesus came, it was to undo the works of darkness. When we are born again, we change our citizenship from one kingdom to another. Our country of origin becomes a past issue because we inherit all rights and privileges of our new country. Colossians 1:13 "He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son." We go from being citizens of the kingdom of darkness to becoming citizens of the kingdom of light. Our allegiance changes as do our rights and privileges.

Consider the payment for our Redemption. We were not redeemed with gold or silver, but with the spotless blood of the Lamb of God. Revelation 1:5 "From Jesus Christ… who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood." The payment of the shed blood of Christ settled our debt of sin, freed us from the powers of darkness, saved us from the wrath of God, and made us members of a new household, the household of faith.

Jesus' blood was the dowry payment that enabled us to leave membership in one family and join another. It was the payment in full to allow us the privilege of becoming the children of God, the Bride of the Lamb, the Bride of the Bridegroom. His blood paid the price in full for our Redemption. Who paid our dowry? The Bridegroom!

I have heard woeful saints bemoan their worthlessness before God using such self-depreciating terms as worm, dirt, and dung. This is a brazen, hellish lie. Are we unworthy? Yes. Worthless? No, we were worth the payment of the blood of the Christ. This was the ultimate demonstration of his extravagant love for his intended. His blood is our dowry payment, our purchase price for the honor of becoming His beloved. 1 Peter 1: 18-19 "You know that you were ransomed… with the precious blood of Christ."

The Son of God came to planet earth to seek and save that which was lost, to cull out a people for Himself who might enjoy his love and company forever. The dowry payment was made "once for all," by his shed blood, and now the Spirit of God is wooing whosoever will come that they might be guests of honor at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.

Isaiah 62:5, "As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." Revelation 22:17, "The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.'"

Used with permission from:
Bryan Hupperts
© 1999 SheepTrax Ministries
4744 Stone Hill Drive
St. Louis, MO 63128
Sheeptrax@saintly.com
http://members.igateway.net/~bryanh

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