The Wedding Cake Exchange

Wedding Cake Exchange

Today I wanted to refresh my memory about something I'd read in the June 30th entry in How Can I Live by Kay Arthur.  On this day, Mrs. Arthur writes about exchanging cake at the wedding party.  For a full account of entering into a covenant begin reading with the June 1st entry.  On that day she begin writing about covenants and the elaborate steps that entering into a covenant entailed in Biblical days.  There are strong similarities between the ritual of the Holy Communion and the steps followed in an ordinary covenant.  This is because the Communion represents the New Covenant between God and his people. The June 30th entry in the book outlines the history of exchanging bread as part of the covenant ceremony.

Here's what Kay Arthur wrote about the covenant meal.

After all these things had taken place, they sat down to partake of a covenant meal.  At this meal they took bread, broke it, and then placed it into the mouth of their covenant partner with these words, "You are eating me."  Then a cup of wine was offered to the covenant partner along with the words, "This is my blood; you are drinking me."  Often, unless of course they were Jews, they mingled drops of their own blood in with the wine.

Does all this ring a familiar sound?  Remember the little ceremony at the wedding reception, remember wondering if you should order the photographer's ridiculous shot of you with your mouth wide open while your mate fed you a piece of wedding cake?  Did you ever wonder where that custom came from?  Now you know.  Isn't it beautiful!  It is a picture of giving yourself to another -- unconditionally, totally, eternally.

An unqualified committal of oneself to another, this, beloved, is covenant.  This is salvation.  They are one and the same.  This is what God means when He says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." (Acts 16:31).  It means to give yourself to Christ unconditionally, without qualification; to cease from your independent living; to become one with Christ, bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh.

Oh, there is so much more to share with you on covenant.  There are so many rich, precious gems that will so graciously adorn your salvation as their facets brilliantly reflect the light of Truth. ...

Now you know why I object to seeing any bridal couple mash cake in each other's faces.  It reflects ignorance of  long-standing covenant customs and disrespect for each other and for the marriage covenant which the bridal couple have just made.  Please give serious consideration to what Kay Arthur wrote if you are planning to exchange wedding cake as part of your wedding ceremony.  (Richard E. Henthorn, 6 Feb 2006)