You have to pick your wedding encouragements carefully.
The story is told of an uncle who could not make it to the happy day and so telegrammed his greeting as a simple bible reference. It was 1 John 4:18:
“Perfect love casteth out fear.”
A word in season, as the good book says (Proverbs 15:23). Except that the telegram left off the all-important “1” at the beginning. So instead of reading out from First John – the letter – the best man read out the verse from John – the Gospel.
“For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband.” (John 4:18)
If that verse is scandalous, here’s one that’s mischievous:
Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 9:9)
The verse is pure Ecclesiastes! Live joyfully… it’s vanity! Here is an “encouragement” for marriage “under the sun.”
Yet while few would put Ecclesiastes 9 on the wedding card, many write Ecclesiastes 4, which is strange:
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. 7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
In verse 6 Solomon begins by listing the benefit of singleness – quietness! But he observes from verse 7 and 8 that labour alone “is a sore travail.” Verse 9 is not, therefore, the most romantic vision of coupledom. It sees the benefits of togetherness in terms of “industries of scale”! And verse 11 envisions your other half as a human hot-water bottle.
The benefits of two “heads” – which is how the saying has most famously passed down to us – are not mentioned. The benefits of two are economic, militaristic and thermal.
It’s amazing how people will tend to sentimentalise sayings from Ecclesiastes. “There is a season” is not a beautiful protest song but a total resignation to the status quo. “A little bird told me” is not playful but sinister when on Solomon’s lips. Yet it’s interesting how much of Ecclesiastes finds its way into common parlance. Our culture resonates with this vision of “life under the sun”, which is unsurprising but also sad.
However, even “under the sun” we do not escape living in Christ’s world. And in Christ’s world it is perfectly explicable why two are better than one. From the beginning, the LORD said of Adam, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” (Genesis 2:18). And of course Adam was picturing for us Christ and His desire for a bride. We live in a world where the “travail and vexation of spirit” of community is – in the main! – outweighed by the benefits. Because we live in a world reflecting Christ’s desire for a bride.
In eternity He has determined to have a wife at all costs. Not for economic purposes – it would cost Him everything. Not to make Him stronger – at the cross He would be infinitely weakened to win her. Not simply to keep warm. He desires a bride because in His grace He delights to share all that He has.
Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for her (Ephesians 5:25)
This is the ultimate marriage. And it’s why, in our experience also, two are better than one.
King's English – the poem
By Glen on May 13th, 2011
108 Biblical Phrases with references. (Video here).
God forbid the powers that be
Forgetting the begetting of the KJV
It’s put words in our mouth for 400 years,
Turned the world upside down , so here’s my three cheers.
As a sign of the times , I’ll sing its praises,
Shout from the rooftops one hundred phrases.
Miserable comforters may cast aspersions,
I’ll do this in remembrance of the Authorised Version.
Like a fiery dart I made haste to start
Then fell by the way side, was cut to the heart
In the beginning, it seemed easy game
How the mighty are fallen, I was put to shame.
This labour of love turned a worldly care.
My dream became my cross to bear.
I wished to wash my hands of the suff’ring,
To find a scapegoat, pay a peace off’ring.
The years of plenty gave way to famine,
I counteth the cost, had to re-examine.
I’d girded my loins then bitten the dust
Put my house in order as needs must.
I’d led myself like a lamb to slaughter
Success was as likely as wine from water
With this thorn in my flesh, crying “Woe is me”
With weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
I got carried away, knew not what I did.
Twas a task that mastered, a bottomless pit.
Beside myself, sore tempted to chuck it,
My tally remained just a drop in the bucket.
Twas a beast of burden, grievously borne.
I needed shelter from the storm.
I could not find what I did seek,
The Spirit was willing, the flesh was weak.
It’s written, “Pride goeth before a fall”
And for me that writing was on the wall.
At my wits end, thought none could save it,
This task was Goliath and I was David.
The time was short, my days were numbered,
This stumbling block had me encumbered.
The kingdom of God may come with great power,
My grapes had become decidedly sour.
The sweat of my brow began to glisten
He that hath ears, let him listen
There’s a time for everything, but first check
That it’s not a millstone around your neck.
I fear it’s too long to fight the good fights
If it takes 40 days and 40 nights.
Tis vanity of vanities, but I should have figured
Doesn’t it say “No rest for the wicked”?
In sackcloth and ashes, and laughed to scorn,
I wished to high heaven I’d never been born.
I was stiff-necked, hard hearted with feet of clay,
Awaiting my own private judgement day.
Then before I gave up the ghost
The Lord appeared with heavenly host.
As fast as you can say “Let there be light”
In the twinkling of an eye, like a thief in the night.
Twas my road to Damascus, my burning bush,
For this doubting Thomas needed a push
Behold the Man! From heaven He came
The Word become flesh, one and the same.
With tender mercies He casteth out fear,
And said unto me, “Son be of good cheer!
I suffer fools gladly, and that’s where you’re standing
This task indeed passeth your own understanding.
“You’re sore brokenhearted and none too smart
But clearly a man after my own heart.
Dearly beloved, to me you belong
And I will grant you to speak in tongues.”
So the truth set me free, Alleluia, Amen.
Out of the mouth of this babe who’d been born again
Phrases were fruitful and multiplied further.
The Lord as my helper, my cup runneth over.
O me of little faith, I didn’t fall short.
Just look at what my God hath wrought!
By the skin of my teeth? No we’ve done it in style
And even gone the extra mile.
So long live the King – Jesus we mean
But thank God King Jimmy has sown the seed.
So verily, verily we say unto thee
Happy birthday KJV
Some of the phrases originate from earlier translations, some from later, and some have evolved from their biblical roots into more modern idioms. I hope you’ll forgive the odd bit of poetic licence.
🙂