THE MEANING OF COVENANT

THE MEANING OF COVENANT

ANY COVENANT – including the marriage covenant—is a binding, weighty obligation.  In Proverbs 20:25, we read, “It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, and afterward to reconsider his vows.”

When couples speak their vows to each other during the wedding ceremony, they are pledging to faithfully enter the estate of holy matrimony.  It’s holy because God has set it apart and blessed it. The Old Testament declares, “For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce”  (Mal.2:16), and in the New Testament, Jesus proclaims, “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matt.19:6).  As others have so rightly pointed out, the Lord didn’t stutter when He spoke these words!

It is time for us to embrace and proclaim God’s sacred view of marriage, as well as His holy hatred for divorce.  We can best do that by first committing our marriages to the Lord.  God wants to demonstrate to the world through our marriages that He is indeed alive and active in this most important of all human relationships.  Second, we can help others succeed at marriage.  We live in a culture of divorce which not only accepts divorce, but also expects it.  Why not try to come alongside friends and family members who are having difficulty in their marriages?  Too many marriages are dissolved far too quickly over what ultimately are insignificant matters.  We all need cheerleaders and coaches!  Why not become one?

NOTE:  This article came from the book Family Life and Marriage Bible by Dennis and Barbara Rainey.

NOTE:  Daily there is a new post to help your marriage succeed.