A Complete REST and a Complete BRIDE
Shabbat means ‘to cease/stop’ all forms of creative work just as G-d did since it had been already completed/finished, in order ‘that it could itself produce’:
Genesis 2 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, along with everything in them. 2 On the seventh day God was finished with his work which he had made, so he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 God blessed the seventh day and separated it as holy; because on that day God rested from all his work which he had created, so that it itself could produce.
Parsing of the Text:
Genesis 2:1 – ‘Completed (כלה KLH) the heavens and the earth and the total/entire hosts.’
Genesis 2:2 – ‘Completed (כלה KLH) G-d the seventh day His work which He produced and so ceased the seventh day on account of the total-work which He produced.
Genesis 2:3 – ‘Blessed (for fruitfulness) did G-D (The Preeminent, Powerful, Prevailing King) the seventh day and set it apart for specific use because He ceased on the account of the total-work since created G-d (it) to produce (asah).
Above we see the word COMPLETE. Today, let us consider that the word BRIDE (kallah) is rooted in our being ‘complete’!
And furthermore, since it ties back to CREATION (like all else does!), what must we CEASE in order for G-D to bring INCREASE…both on this Beautiful Shabbat AND on the other ‘six days of GOOD work/seed sowing’?
The Hebrew letters Kaph-Lamed כל, pronounced ‘kal’, means something complete, a vessel that contains something, and something whole. Kal is the root for the word ‘BRIDE’, or כללה (kallâh).
Understanding the Hebrew pictographs, kal can also be transliterated as ‘the firm hand of the Shepherd’s staff’. It is The Firm Hand of The Shepherd’s Staff that makes one WHOLE/COMPLETE, a GOOD VESSEL. It is the idea of ‘taming, calming, training’ that which is unmanageable, disordered or untaught.
Kallah (bride), then, means we married women (as well EKKLESIA ‘church’, Bride of Christ) COMPLETE our Ish (husband, and The Messiah!) as we ourselves are ‘made whole by the firm hand of the Shepherd’s staff’, The Messiah Himself!
Kal (complete) can also be in the negative sense…as in ’completely bad’. The KIND of BRIDE we are and will be is ultimately determined by whose staff we choose to come under to complete us. Will it be The Shepherd’s Good Staff or the enemy’s crooked staff?
The HOLY QUESTION we need to confront ourselves with daily, but ESPECIALLY on The Day of SHABBAT, Ishah (wife), is
‘Will I humbly and sacrificially come under The Firm Hand of The Shepherd’s Staff that HE COMPLETE me in His Holy Image?
Or will I continue making excuses for my poor behaviors, my missing the mark that colors my mind and all of my relationships?’
‘She does him GOOD and not evil all the days of her life’ ~ Mishlei 31:12
In Jewish households, it is the woman who welcomes the Shabbat by the lighting of the two candles and saying The Blessing.
And so it is fitting that as woman ceases all work (and mankind’s forms of slavery) related to this world – as did G-D Himself (thus, joining Him) – and so enter into her DIVINE REST IN MESSIAH, she invites her husband and her children into that glorious REST through a ceasing.
Ultimately, this CEASING is for our INCREASING (fruitfulness!) by The Spirit of Grace and Truth just as it was ‘in the beginning’.
When SHE enters into her Divine Rest through experiencing a Clinging to The King, her husband gets closer to his rest as well. ‘They shall become ONE FLESH’ (basar echad) – Genesis 2:24.
A soul’s RESTING/CEASING will foster greater TRUST in ADONAI our G-D’s Provisions because of His Presence.
SHABBAT SHALOM, KALLAH!!