No Wonder

Before each young woman was taken to the king’s bed, she was given the prescribed twelve months of beauty treatments—six months with oil of myrrh, followed by six months with special perfumes and ointments.  When it was time for her to go to the king’s palace, she was given her choice of whatever clothing or jewelry she wanted to take from the harem.  That evening she was taken to the king’s private rooms, and the next morning she was brought to the second harem, where the king’s wives lived.  There she would be under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines.  She would never go to the king again unless he had especially enjoyed her and requested her by name. [Esther 2.12-14]

It seems, in the time of this event, that the transition from virgin to wife occurred when the act of sexual consummation took place.  There appears to have been no ceremony apart from the preparations of each virgin for that night of consummation.  

So, does the Bible teach that marriage consists of a night in bed (the act of sexual intercourse)?

If so, there are a lot of people commiting all kinds of adultery as they are technically married to multiple people!

Like so many other things in the Bible, this implication is largely ignored as it indicts entire cultures, alienating them from God and the work of His Holy Spirit.

It's no wonder that we don't see God at work in our current situations more!

Father, as a society, we have so strayed from You that we rarely ever actually see Your power manifest in and through our lives.  Please forgive us - revive us - make our lives conducive to Your power instead insulators against it!