Marriage vs. Divorce

O. T. #417  "Marriage vs.Divorce"
December 5, 2014
Deuteronomy 24
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in he eyes, because she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.  Deuteronomy 24:1

LET IT GLOW

Well, here we with a common topic, divorce. What family is not touched by divorce? It has become such a common thing in our society, that it is very saddening. The extended family is effected-parents, grandparents, children, not just the two married people involved. Chances are you can figure out my opinion on this subject. My husband and I just celebrated 42 years of marriage. Therefore, I know it is hard to keep our vows faithfully, but it is possible. It takes the Lord Jesus helping us love and forgive each other. We just have to humble ourselves to both God and our spouse.
Moses says it is because of the hardness of our heart that divorce is permitted. Why do we get a hard heart? Why can't we treat each spouse with respect and love like we do others?

So I turned to wise men who wrote Bible commentaries for their insight on this touchy subject.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary has this to say:

This passage does not command, commend, condone, or even suggest divorce. Rather it recognizes that divorce occurs and permits it, but only on restricted grounds. The case presented here is designed to convey the fact that divorce produced defilement. Notice the sequence:

1. If a man finds an uncleanness (some impurity or something vile)in his wife, other than adultery, which was punished by execution;
2. If he legally divorces her (although God hates divorce),as in Malachi 2:16 says; He has designed marriage for life, as Genesis 2;24 declares; and He allowed divorce because of hard hearts, as Matthew 19:8 reveals);
3. If she then marries another man;
4. If the new husband subsequently does or divorces her; then, that woman could not return to her first husband (verse 4).She is considered defiled.

What constitutes that defilement? Only one thing is possible-she was defiled in the remarriage because there was no ground or the divorce. So when she remarried, she became an adulteress (Matt. 5:31-32) and is thus defiles so that her former husband can't take her back. Illegitimate divorce proliferated adultery.

What's our attitude toward divorce? Is it always an option? Or is it not entering the mind?

LET IT GROW

Liberty Bible Commentary tells us:

Jesus noted hat Moses did not abolish the tradition "because of the hardness of the (people's) hearts" (Matt. 19:8). The basis for a divorce occurred when a man's wife did not find favor in his sight because he found some uncleanness in her.

The word uncleanness means shame or disgrace.

Its interpretation has been disputed among the rabbis. If the uncleanness was adultery, it would be punished by death (Ex. 20:14). Because its meaning was unclear, the Pharisee tempted Jesus by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" (Matt. 19:3) It is though that the meaning was attached to nakedness, disgrace, or some other action having to do with sexual uncleanness which would bring shame upon the family, but was short of adultery.

Loving each other as yourself is what is need in our marriages. Do we think it too convenient to have divorce as an option if things don't work out. Marriage vows are to betaken seriously because they are repeated before God. It is He to whom we are saying our vows and the spouse.

LET IT GO

Renew my commitment mad to my husband and God with marriage.

Remain a faithful wife.

Love, forgive, care, respect my husband.

Joyfully live a married life honoring God.