The Lord's Delight

The Bible begins and ends with a wedding.
The rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:22-24
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2
Today's marginalized church is still the bride of the all-powerful, all-loving Christ. What does it mean to be married to him?

1. Righteousness: Martin Luther tells the story best. It's his righteousness.
   he has covered me [Christ] with the robe of righteousness, Isaiah 61:10 cf.
   until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, Isaiah 62:1
2. His brightness and crown to show to the world his identity as conqueror and sovereign.
3. His source of rejoicing, not some difficult charity case.
   for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, Hebrews 12:2
   Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; Revelation 19:7
4. Why creation? A wedding gift to the bride.
5. Warning: Don't flirt with the Bride: give him the glory,
   Also based on Luke 4:18, Ephesians 5:32, Isaiah 59:17, Philippians 4:1, and Proverbs 12:4.