Topical Bible: Marriage: The Bride: Called to Forget Her Father's House

◄ Marriage: The Bride: Called to Forget Her Father's House ►

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In the biblical context, marriage is a sacred covenant that reflects the relationship between Christ and the Church. One of the profound aspects of this covenant is the call for the bride to leave her father's house and cleave to her husband. This concept is rooted in the biblical narrative and carries significant theological and relational implications.

Biblical Foundation

The call for the bride to forget her father's house is poignantly expressed in Psalm 45, a royal wedding psalm that is often interpreted as a messianic prophecy. Psalm 45:10-11 states: "Listen, O daughter, consider and incline your ear: Forget your people and your father’s house, and the king will desire your beauty; bow to him, for he is your lord." This passage highlights the transition from the bride's former life to her new identity and role within the marriage covenant.

Theological Significance

The instruction for the bride to forget her father's house symbolizes a complete and wholehearted commitment to her husband. It signifies a shift in allegiance and priority, where the bride's primary loyalty and devotion are now directed towards her husband. This mirrors the call for believers to leave behind their former ways and fully commit to Christ, as seen in 2 Corinthians 5:17 : "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!"

Relational Implications

In the context of marriage, the call to forget one's father's house underscores the importance of unity and oneness between husband and wife. Genesis 2:24 articulates this foundational principle: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." This leaving and cleaving establish a new family unit, where the couple's relationship takes precedence over previous familial ties.

Cultural Context

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the bride's departure from her father's house was a significant rite of passage. It marked the beginning of a new chapter and the establishment of a new household. This cultural practice is reflected in the biblical narrative and serves as a metaphor for the spiritual journey of believers who are called to leave behind their old lives and embrace a new identity in Christ.

Practical Application

For contemporary Christian marriages, the principle of leaving and cleaving remains relevant. It encourages couples to prioritize their relationship, foster intimacy, and build a strong, unified partnership. This involves not only physical separation from one's family of origin but also emotional and spiritual dedication to one's spouse.

In summary, the call for the bride to forget her father's house is a profound biblical principle that underscores the sanctity and exclusivity of the marriage covenant. It serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative nature of marriage and the call for believers to fully commit to their relationship with Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 45:10
Listen, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear; forget also your own people, and your father's house;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Portrait of the Bride
... the Bride, the Lamb's wife,' and 'the marriage supper of ... this"the all-surrendering
Love that must mark the Bride. ... birth of the queen, who is called upon to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the portrait of the bride.htm

St. Ambrose Exhorts Parents to Train their Children to virginity.. ...
... to have grandchildren, and to be called grandfather. ... 35. I do not then discourage
marriage, but recapitulate the ... gold, either because thou art the bride of the ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vii st ambrose exhorts.htm

The Marriage Feast in Cana of Galilee - the Miracle that is a Sign ...
... in this light, what passed at the marriage in Cana ... on the general ground that the
so-called Sepphoris measurement ... exclusively for the use of the bride and of ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv the marriage feast.htm

The Story of Jacob
... The people who came from Esau lived in a land called Edom, on the south ... At last the
day came for the marriage; and they brought in the bride, who, after ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of jacob.htm

Faustus Rejects the Old Testament Because it Leaves no Room for ...
... Thy doctrine turns marriage into an adulterous connection, and ... In this sense the
law is even called the strength ... Jerusalem, the holy Church, the bride of Christ ...
/.../faustus rejects the old testament.htm

Bands of Love; Or, Union to Christ. "I Drew them with Cords of a ...
... to redeem, nor could they have been called the ransomed ... Kedar; but she is even now
the bride, the spouse ... it cannot divide the links of this immortal marriage. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/bands of love or union.htm

Chapter xxiv
... there is first of all a gift to the bride, then a gift to those who gave her in
marriage. ... Like gifts, in value, here called "costly articles," are given to ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxiv.htm

After Eutropius Having Been Found Outside the Church had Been ...
... The virgin is the root of marriage: thus all things ... on this account indeed is it
called love because ... Since then the ungracefulness of the bride was not physical ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily ii after eutropius having.htm

Psalm XLV.
... that is to say, an union of marriage, [1374] without ... more clearly expressed than
by His being called "God the ... full of rejoicing, comes forth the Bride herself. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlv.htm

Letter Liv. To Furia.
... be fairer than a soul which is called the daughter of ... lately weeping widow dresses
herself once more as a bride. ... A marriage-settlement is made in your favour to ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter liv to furia.htm