Dear Doves,

Question: What season is a good time for the Wedding of the Lamb?  Since it is Spring – what about Spring?  I even have a typology for you to consider.  It concerns David, Abigail and Nabal (see 1 Samuel 25). 

Abigail was married to Nabal, whose name means “fool.”  It was sheep shearing season and David sent some of his men to Nabal to request hospitality for David and his men.  Nabal responds with hostility.  “And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.  Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?”  1 Samuel 25:10-11.  When David hears this report, he gets angry and tells his men to take up their swords.  However, when Abigail gets wind of it, she gathers up rations of food for David and secretly rides out to meet him.  She bows before David and apologizes for her husband’s behavior and gives him the rations. David receives her, graciously, and thanks her for keeping him from bloodshed. The next day, Abigail tells Nabal about what she had done.  As a result, his heart fails him and he becomes like a stone – he dies 10 days later.  Once David hears of Nabal’s death, he asks Abigail to become his wife.  “And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.” 1 Samuel 25:40.

“And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.  And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.”  1 Samuel 25:41-42.

Remember, Abigail was married to Nabal, whose name means fool.  Nabal represents an unbelieving world.  “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”  Psalm 14:1.   At one point, we were “married to the world.  Until God reached out to us.  Here, David sends his servants out to propose to Abigail (whose name means “My father is joy”).  Likewise, we hear of God’s offer of salvation to us through the witness of others, His servants.  Note that Abigail and her five damsels go out to meet David for the wedding.  In the parable of the 10 Virgins (in Matthew 25) only five virgins were found ready to accompany the Bride.  Coincidentally, five is the same number of damsels that accompany Abigail to her wedding.

There are also many parallels between David, the bridegroom, and Jesus, the Bridegroom,.  Both were born in Bethlehem.  Jesus is called the Son of David – a direct descendant in line for kingship.  David was a shepherd and Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  David was a king and Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.  David was promised an everlasting throne and Jesus shall reign forever, fulfilling the promise made to David.

Finally, this passage occurs during sheep shearing season –which is Spring.

So, if this is a typology, Spring might be a good time for the Wedding of the Lamb.  Hope so.

I don’t know if David’s spring wedding is prophetic or applicable to us.  I have heard Song of Song 2:11-13 used to support Spring nuptials: “My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.  For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.”

It’s a wonderful thought that we will hear the Bridegroom calling us to arise and come away with Him.  I think we are all impatiently waiting for what comes next.  Our new normal is going to be absolutely wonderful!

Maranatha – Lisa Taylor