Almost anyone who has been to a wedding is familiar with the “The Wedding March”. It’s saved for the most important part of the processional. All attendants are standing at the front of the church, the organ sounds with the familiar notes, the doors of the sanctuary are flung open and the bride walks down aisle to her waiting groom!
Most people don’t know the words to this music, or think the lyrics are the same as the irreverent children’s rhyme that starts with “Here comes the bride, all dressed in white”. But actually (and thankfully) the words are far more beautiful and meaningful. They originate from an opera by Wagner. As I was raised in a church that frequently sang acappella music at weddings, this was a song I heard often. Here are some of the lyrics –
“Faithful and true, We lead ye forth.
Where love triumphant, Shall crown ye with joy.
Star of renown, Flower of the earth.
Blessed be ye both, Far from all life’s annoy.
Champion victorious, Go thou before!
Maid bright and glorious, Go thou before!
Earth’s noisy revel Ye have forsaken,
Tender delight for you now awaken.
Fragrant abode, enshrine ye in bliss
Splendor and state, in joy ye dismiss.”
Isn’t it romantic and tender? Even regal?
So why am I sharing this with you?
I almost always wake up with a song in my head. Most of the time it’s a hymn. Sometimes it’s a song from my childhood – usually an annoying camp song that’s irritatingly catchy. Recently, it was this song. (I have several friends getting married soon so I am thinking that was the trigger.)
As I found myself humming it though the day it occurred to me how these lyrics could represent our love story with God. What if, instead of a wedding, it represented our relationship with Him and the promises He gives us? What if instead of being sung to a bride and groom, it was being sung to the beloved of God?
Here are scripture verses that came to me as I thought about this:
Faithful and True
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True” Rev. 19:11
He Leads Before.
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deut. 31:9
Where Love Triumphant
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” John 15:13
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15: 55-57
Will Crown thee with Joy
“Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; Everlasting joy will crown their heads” Isaiah 35:10
Star of renown, Flower of the earth
“I, Jesus…. am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” Rev. 22:15
Blessed thee are filled, far from all life’s annoy
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:25-26
Champion Victorious, Go thou before!
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37
Maid bright and glorious, Go thou before!
“You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14
Earth’s noisy revel, thee have forsaken.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2
Tender delight for you now awaken.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived, the things God has prepared for those who love Him”—1 Corinthians 2:9
Fragrant abode, Enshrine thee in bliss
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
Splendor and state, In joy thee dismiss
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Phillipians4:12-13
So, what do you think? It’s still romantic and tender, but now it’s coming from the One who created Love.
May you look for Him today and find Him in work, in song, in sorrow and joy. And know, He’s always here.
Ginger