‘I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion.’ Hosea 2:19(NLT)
‘(But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the believing husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.) ‘ 1 Corinthians 7:15(NLT)
‘But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.’ Matthew 5:32(NLT)
‘And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.”’ Matthew 19:9(NLT)
‘“For I hate divorce!” says the Lord , the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty, ” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”’ Malachi 2:16(NLT)
Building a fierce marriage begins with understanding the higher purpose of covenant, which is an over-arching theme of the Bible. The entire Bible is an account of God’s pursuit of and love for us through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Every book, chapter, and verse adds texture to the story unfolding between God and his people—between Jesus and his Bride.
We serve a God who has always operated through covenant promises. It’s his chosen method for relating to his people. Love compelled God to make his covenants, and the same love compels him to keep them. Of the many covenants throughout Scripture, some are conditional: “If you do that, then I will do this.” But some of the covenants are unconditional: “I will do this regardless of what you do.” The gospel is the news that God kept his covenant with his people regardless of what they did—his promise to send a Savior was an unconditional one.
So what kind of covenant is marriage? Simply put, it’s conditional. There are two grounds for divorce given in Scripture: sexual immorality (Matthew 5:32; 19:9) and abandonment by an unbeliever (1 Corinthians 7:15). In either case, the conditional covenant is considered broken and the believer is permitted to seek divorce.
That being said, God hates divorce and it’s never the ideal (Malachi 2:16)—repentance and reconciliation are the ideal. Aside from the two exceptions provided in Scripture, the marriage covenant is meant to be permanent and unwavering—unconditional in every other way—because through it, we more vividly experience the unconditional love, grace, and forgiveness of God.
Covenants are a major way that God establishes his sovereignty, displays his everlasting love, and draws his beloved— his people—into deeper relationship with him. From Eden to eternity, every covenant is a pivot point in the story of redemption for God’s people in Christ.
Your marriage covenant is as important to God as his own covenants with his beloved people. He cares about your marriage because he cares about you! The marriage covenant is not an arbitrary framework invented to make your life harder. It is God’s design for human flourishing and a tool he uses to mold you and your spouse into images of Christ.
How does the idea that God designed marriage to be a reflection of a covenant with his people change how you view your marriage? What freedoms exist within covenant?
from Fierce Marriage by Ryan And Selena Frederick