Pastor Stephanie
The most recognized word for happiness in Hebrew is SIMCHA.
It’s considered a GIFT to Mankind.
ECCLESIASTES 2:26 NKJV
For GOD GIVES wisdom and knowledge and JOY to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God.
H8057 joy
Original: שׂמחה
Transliteration: ŚIMCHÂH
Phonetic: sim-khaw' From H8056; BLITHESOMENESS or GLEE, (religious or festival):- X EXCEEDING (-ly), GLADNESS, JOY (-fulness), mirth, PLEASURE, rejoice (-ing).
H8056
Original: שׂמח
Transliteration: ŚÂMÊACH
Phonetic: saw-may'-akh
Showing joy From H8055; blithe or gleeful:- (be) glad, joyful, (making) merry ([hearted]), rejoice (-ing).
H8055
Original: שׂמח
Transliteration: ŚÂMACH
Phonetic: saw-makh'
to BRIGHTEN UP, that is, be (causatively make) blithe or gleesome:- CHEER UP, be (make) glad, (have make) JOY (-ful), be (make) MERRY, (cause to, make to) rejoice, X very.
The Torah advocates, “vehayita ach sameach, you should have nothing but joy”..
DEUTERONOMY 16:15 AMP
Seven days you shall CELEBRATE a FEAST to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that YOU WILL BE ALTOGETHER JOYFUL.
DEUTERONOMY 16:15 EASY
Eat this feast to worship the Lord your God at the special place that he chooses.
Do it for seven days.
He will bless you in everything that you do, so that you grow plenty
of food.
So you should all ENJOY this FEAST!
The noun SIMCHA is mentioned in the Bible 94 times and is derived from verb samach, which appears 154 times in the text.
It is rooted in the Akkadian word shamahu meaning sprout or flourish.
In Hebrew, the verb received two opposite meanings.
Most of the times simcha means rejoicing, happiness, gaiety, contentment, joyful occasion and festivity.
But occasionally the word is used negatively, expressing mockery, ridicule and malice.
The Modern Hebrew idiom simcha laaid, malicious joy, is based on the old teaching, “Sameach laaid, lo yinakeh, He who rejoices in another’s misfortune will not go unpunished (Prov 17:5).”
On the bright side, simcha is a word laden with EXHILARATION and FESTIVE activities.
Simcha expresses not only the joy of an event, but it is also the noun which means a happy event.
A holiday is a simcha, a family gathering is a simcha, a wedding is a simcha, the birth of a child is a simcha and a Bar or Bat Mitvah is a simcha.
The host of an event is a baal simcha and the sound of joy resonating from the event is kol simcha.
Simchat yetzirah, a joy of creativity, is a way to describe the exhilaration one feels while being engaged in a creative process.
SIMCHA also points to the inner self as the source of contentment and joy. “Aizehu ashir?
Hasameach bechelko, Who is rich?
He that rejoices in his own Portion ..”
TRADITIONAL JEWISH MARRIAGE reflects the relationship between
JESUS - The BRIDEGROOM,
and THOSE who love GOD and have made Jesus Lord of their life, called The BRIDE.
Selection of the Bride:
She is chosen
JOHN 15:16 TPT
You didn’t choose me, but I’ve chosen and commissioned you to go into the world to bear fruit.
And your fruit will last, because whatever you ask of my Father, for my sake, he will give it to you!
Wedding Agreement (Ketubah):
The bride is offered a cup of WINE for her ACCEPTANCE from the groom and his father.
MATTHEW 26:27-28 TPT
Then taking the cup of WINE, he gave thanks to the Father, he entered into covenant with them, saying, “This is my blood. Each of you must drink it in fulfillment of the covenant.
For this is the blood that seals the new covenant.
It will be poured out for many for the complete forgiveness of sins.
(Luke 22:20).
Bride has the Right of Refusal:
She does not have to accept the offer of the wine and the marriage offer would be off.
GENESIS 24:57-67
The consent of the bride-to-be is an important consideration.
Rebekkah (Rivkah), for example, was asked if she consented to go back with Eliezer to marry Isaac, the son of Abraham, and she went willingly.
Holy Spirit give us the free choice to choose if they want to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour.
Likewise, we cannot be forced into a relationship with the Son, Jesus (Yeshua).
In the same way that Rebecca was asked if she would go with Abraham’s servant, the Holy Spirit (RuachHaKodesh) asks us if we are willing to respond and to be joined in a covenant of love with Jesus (Yeshua).
Traditionally, in preparation for the betrothal ceremony, the bride (kallah) and groom (chatan) are SEPARATELY IMMERSED in WATER in a ritual called the mikvah, which is symbolic of spiritual cleansing.
Marriage “Mikvah” or Baptism:
The bride is immersed as a symbol of the covenant.
Matthew 3: 13–17 we read that Yeshua (Jesus) was immersed (baptized) by Yochanan (John the Baptist) in the waters of mikvah at the Jordan River.
As the Bride-to-be, we are also asked to be immersed.
Mark 16:16 “Whoever believes and is baptized (ritually immersed) will be saved.”
MARK 16:15-16 EASY
Then Jesus said to them, ‘Go to all people everywhere in the world.
Tell God's good news to everyone.
If a person believes in me, then you should baptize that person.
And God will save that person.
But if a person does not believe, God will judge that person to be guilty.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:13 EASY
When they baptized us, we all became parts of one body.
It was the one Spirit who brought us together.
It made no difference whether we were Jews or Gentiles.
It made no difference whether we were slaves or free people. God poured his one Spirit into all of us.
A groom rejoices by dancing with his friends after immersing himself in the mikvah (symbolic of spiritual cleansing).
The water for this mikvah bath is outside and fed by spring, from which the natural water runs down a hill into the mikvah, just outside of Jerusalem.
Spiritually we have been cleansed from our sins.
Eyrusin (Betrothal)
Proverbs 18:22 “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favour from the LORD.”
After the immersion, the couple would enter the huppah (marriage canopy)–symbolic of a new household being planned, to establish a binding contract.
A Jewish bride and groom stand under the chuppah.
Bride Price:
The groom offers the best price he can, and it must be in keeping with the father's stature.
The bride of Christ has been bought with the most expensive price possible.
1 PETER 1:18-19 NKJV
knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Staying Faithful:
As his bride, she honors the covenant and the price he paid.
Both the groom and bride are in a COVENANT RELATIONSHIP, stay faithful to one another and the groom provides provision for his betrothed.
We are in a covenant relationship with our bridegroom, Jesus.
Here, the groom would give the bride money or a valuable object such as a ring, and a cup of WINE was customarily shared to seal their covenant vows.
In this public ceremony under the huppah, the couple entered into the betrothal period, which typically lasted for about a year.
Although they were considered married, they did not live together or engage in sexual relations.
To annul this contract, the couple would need a religious divorce (get), which had to be initiated by the husband.
Matthew 1:18–25 provides an excellent example of this.
During Yosef (Joseph) and Miriam’s (Mary) eyrusin, Yosef discovered that Miriam was pregnant, and he considered divorcing her, although he had not yet brought her home as his wife.
Matthew 1:19-20 “…he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’”
The Groom:
He must prepare a new home for their future.
This home must meet the approval of the father.
It must be up to the standard of his name and honor.
JOHN 14:2-3 TPT
My Father’s house has many dwelling places.
If it were otherwise, I would tell you plainly, because I go to prepare a place for you.
And when everything is ready, I will come back and take you to myself so that you will be where I am.
During the eyrusin period, the groom was to prepare a place for his bride, while the bride focused on her personal preparations – wedding garments, lamps, etc.
Although the bride knew to expect her groom after about a year, she did not know the exact day or hour.
He could come earlier, and it was the father of the groom who gave final approval for him to return to collect his bride.
This is a shadow of, and relates to:
Matthew 24:36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Jesus said: "The day and the hour I don't know, only my Father know."
This is speaking of the return of JESUS (the groom) to collect His bride - the church - the true GOD-loving Christians.
For that reason, the bride kept her oil lamps ready at all times, just in case the groom came in the night, sounding the shofar (ram’s horn) to lead the bridal procession to the home he had prepared for her.
In the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13), Yeshua (Jesus) likened the Kingdom of Heaven to this special period of eyrusin, when the groom comes for his bride:
MATTHEW 25:6-7
“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom!
Come out to meet him!’
Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.”
In Jewish weddings today, there are TWO CUPS of WINE during the wedding ceremony.
After the rabbi recites the betrothal blessings accompanying the first, the couple drinks from the cup.
Since wine is associated with Kiddish (Marriage,) the prayer of sanctification recited on Shabbat (Sabbath,) and since marriage is the sanctification of the bride and groom to each other, marriage is also called kiddushin.
1 CORINTHIANS 11:25-26 TPT
He did the same with the cup of wine after supper and said, “This cup seals the new covenant with my blood.
Drink it—and whenever you drink this, do it to remember me.”
Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are retelling the story, proclaiming our Lord’s death UNTIL HE COMES.
The Call for the Wedding:
When all criteria is met to his standards, the father of the groom decides when the wedding will be.
As he sets the preparation in motion, people know the wedding is close. When the father gives the word, the son goes and gets his bride.
The Wedding:
It is more of a celebration.
There is a short ceremony, the consummation of the marriage and a banquet is given.
The Marriage Supper:
The groom and bride have the 2ND CUP of WINE TOGETHER.
It is called the “SIMCHA”.
Everyone gathers for a time of JOY, FEASTING and CELEBRATION.
The Jewish marriage culture is to show us what it is like to be married to Jesus?
To accept Jesus as Savior and to have SIMCHA.
When one person receives the Lord, Heaven rejoices.
MATTHEW 26:29 AMP
But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it NEW with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
We will drink the 2nd cup at the marriage supper of the Lamb together with Jesus.
ISAIAH 54:5 NKJV
“For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.”
ISAIAH 61:10 NKJV
I will greatly REJOICE IN THE LORD, my soul shall be JOYFUL IN MY GOD;
for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a BRIDEGROOM decks himself with ornaments,
and as a BRIDE adorns herself with her jewels.
We have receive the garment of salvation.
This SIMCHA has nothing to do with anything on this earth, it's from God.
It is the joy of entering into the Covenant where Jesus becomes our husband.
We have become God's jewels.
ISAIAH 62:5b NKJV
“And as the bridegroom REJOICES over the bride, so shall your God REJOICE over you.”
God is rejoicing over one sinner that receive the Lord and come back to Him.
HOSEA 2:16 NKJV
"And it shall be, in that day," says the Lord, "That you will call Me 'my Husband,' and no longer call Me 'my Master’”
HOSEA 2:19-20 NKJV
"I will BETROTH you to ME FOREVER;
yes, I will BETROTH you to Me in RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTICE,
in LOVINGKINDNESS and MERCY;
I will betroth you to Me in FAITHFULNESS,
and you shall KNOW the LORD.”
Christianity is not about trying to do good or be good but it is a relationship to know more about Jesus.
JOHN 3:29 NKJV
“He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, REJOICES GREATLY BECAUSE of the BRIDEGROOM'S VOICE. Therefore this JOY of mine is fulfilled.”
Hear Jesus' voice through the Word.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:2 NKJV
For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy.
For I have betrothed you to one husband,
that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
EPHESIANS 5:27 NKJV
that He might present HER to HIMSELF a GLORIOUS CHURCH, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
First, He made us holy and then we live it out.
We see the BRIDE arriving in HEAVEN, after the RAPTURE...
REVELATION 19:6-7 AMP
Then I heard something like the shout of a vast multitude, and like the boom of many pounding waves, and like the roar of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “HALLELUJAH! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all] reigns.
Let us REJOICE and SHOUT for JOY!
Let us GIVE HIM GLORY and HONOR,
for the MARRIAGE (WEDDING FESTIVAL) of the LAMB HAS COME [at last] and HIS BRIDE (the redeemed) has prepared herself.”
At the end, Jesus comes for His bride.
REVELATION 19:8-9 NKJV
And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Then he said to me, “Write: ‘BLESSED are those who are CALLED to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ”
And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”
DEUTERONOMY 28:47 KJV
Because thou SERVEDST NOT the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
2 SAMUEL 6:12 KJV
And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God.
So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with GLADNESS. SIMCHA
1 CHRONICLES 29:9 KJV
Then the people REJOICED, for that they OFFERED WILLINGLY, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also REJOICED with GREAT JOY. SIMCHA
1 CHRONICLES 29:17 KJV
I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness.
As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have WILLINGLY offered all these things: and NOW have I SEEN with JOY SIMCHA thy people, which are present here, to offer WILLINGLY UNTO THEE.
EZRA 6:22 KJV
And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with JOY: SIMCHA for the LORD had MADE THEM JOYFUL, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the WORK of THE HOUSE of GOD, the GOD of ISRAEL.
Holy Communion is a celebration.
LUKE 10:17-18 GNT
The seventy-two men came back in GREAT JOY.
“Lord,” they said, “even the demons obeyed us when we gave them a command in your name!” Jesus answered them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
LUKE 10:19-20 GNT
Listen!
I have given you authority, so that you can walk on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the Enemy, and nothing will hurt you.
But don't be glad because the evil spirits obey you; rather BE GLAD BECAUSE YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN in HEAVEN.”
LUKE 10:21 TOJB2011
In the same hour Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach was full of SIMCHA BY the RUACH HAKODESH.
And he said, Baruch Hashem, Avi, Adon HaShomayim vHaAretz, that You concealed these things from those with chochmah and seichel and You revealed them to yeladim.
Ken, Avi, for thus it was well pleasing in Your sight.
LUKE 10:21 GNT
At that time JESUS was FILLED with JOY BY the HOLY SPIRIT and said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth!
I thank you because you have shown to the unlearned what you have hidden from the wise and learned.
Yes, Father, this was how you were pleased to have it happen.
Joy is expressed out with laughter.
G21 joy
Original: ἀγαλλιάω
Transliteration: agalliaō
Phonetic: ag-al-lee-ah'-o
- to exult, rejoice exceedingly, be exceeding glad
- From ἄγαν agan (much) and G242; properly to JUMP FOR JOY, that is, exult:- be (EXCEEDING) GLAD, with EXCEEDING JOY, REJOICE (GREATLY).
G242
Original: ἅλλομαι
Transliteration: hallomai
Phonetic: hal'-lom-ahee
Thayer Definition:
to LEAP
to SPRING UP, GUSH UP: of water
- to JUMP; to gush:- LEAP, SPRING UP.
Out of our belly will flow rivers of living water.
Let the Holy Spirit do what He wants to do.
We conclude with the old idiom, which exclaims,
“Ain simcha ela beyayin,” There is no joy without wine.
Therefore, let us raise a cup and say l’chayim (to life) together with those who are celebrating a special simcha.
We have the new wine.
When we come under the Holy Spirit anointing, we are drinking new wine.
Jesus' first miracle is turning water into wine at a wedding at Cana.
The Ceremonial Second Cup Of Wine/THE SIMCHA -
This 2nd cup of wine was shared during the marriage ceremony with the bride drinking after the groom, thus the ketubah has been COMPLETED (the first cup of wine having been drank at the ACCEPTANCE of the ketubah).
MATTHEW 26:29
"And I say to you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink this with you anew in My Father’s kingdom.”
When MESSIAH RETURNS for US, and everything in the world today indicates that this will be very soon,
we will CELEBRATE the MARRIAGE SUPPER of the LAMB with HIM and OUR JOY (SIMCHA) will be BEYOND MEASURE.
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