[Biblemat] S) SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE, TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS AND CIVIL LAWS (2)

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is the second port-
ion of this particular subject.  Use to the glory of God.

SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE, TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS AND CIVIL LAWS  (2)

SCRIPTURAL MARRIAGE IS A COVENANT: -- According to Mal. 2:10-15, we learn 
that marriage is a covenant.  Particular-
ly in vs. 14, we read, "Yet ye say, wherefore? Because the
Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy you-
th...yet is she they companion, and the wife of thy covenant."
The etymology of the word "covenant," according to Bible
scholars, is somewhat unclear.  However, there are very clear
ideas about its meaning and this goes a long way in sharpen-
ing our understanding of what marriage is according to the
Will of God.  A covenant rests on a tripod.  These are:  1. Terms  of 
agreement.  2. An oath or a promise.  3. A seal of
ratification.  Let us briefly examine these essential componen-
ts of a covenant:

     Terms of Agreement: -- A covenant is basically an agree-
ment between two or more parties.  We cannot conceive the
idea of a covenant without an agreement.  The terms of agree-
ment between two or more parties may be settled by negotiat-
ion or by the impostition of the will of a stronger party upon
the weaker party.  A good illustration of the latter was the var-
ious treaties signed between the British imperialists and the 
various Nigerian ethnic groups in the 1800's and the early 
1900's.  The Old Covenant, for example, was an agreement 
arranged by God to which the nation of Israel acquiesced
(Exo. 19:1-8).  In the making of a covenant, terms of agree-
ment is rule number one.

     Oath or Vow or Promise: -- The second component of a
covenant is an oath or a promise by the two parties to fulfill
the terms of the contract.  God promised the nation of Israel
that "if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant,
then ye shall be a peculiar (special) treasure unto Me above
all people..." (Exo. 19:5).  To this divine promise, the nation
of Israel responded, "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do"
(Exo. 19:8).  This is an oath, vow or promise.  God also swore
to Abraham at another time to confirm His promise (Heb. 6:16-
18).  So, a vow or promise is rule number two in the making
of a covenant.

     Seal of Ratification: -- The third and final component of a 
covenant is a formal seal of ratification to authenticate it.  The Old 
Testament was ratified by the sprinkling of the blood
of sacrifices upon the people, the altar and the book of the
law (Exo. 24:1-8).  Today, covenants are ratified by signat-
ures and, or , seal.

     A marriage covenant, like every other covenant, is also tri-
podal in nature.  It has its terms of agreement.  It has its oath
or vow and its seal of ratification.

     The terms of agreement of marriage are stated by God
Himself Who designed it:  "Therefore shall a man leave his
father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one 
flesh" (Gen. 2:24).  That it was God Who
made this proclamation is evidenced by our Lord Jesus in
Matt. 19:4,5.  According to the Designer of marriage, the two
parties involved are the man and his wife.

     Leave: -- The agreement between the two is: to leave fath-
er and mother.  L.A. Stauffer states this so beautifully: "Leav-
ing one's original family is a decisive action...Jesus used an
intensive form of the word "leave."  the word (kataleipo) means "to forsake 
completely," or "to abandon."  Abandon-
ment of father and mother in no way annuls the responsibility
to honor one's parents, but does underscore the need to re-
nounce totally the rule and place of subjection once occupied
in that family.  A definite and final break is to be made between the new 
family of the two families from which the
couple came.  Fathers and mothers must not be permitted to
interfere, regulate, dominate or control the marriages of their
children."  This is rule number one.

     Cleave: -- A male and female must cleave to one another.
The idea here is "to glue or weld together" and this emphas-
izes the marriage vow or promise.  This implies acceptance of
the oneness in marriage and a commitment to that union.
This is rule number two in the marriage covenant.

     Unite In One Flesh: -- The final action of marriage, "they
shall be one flesh."  L.A.Stauffer notes: "the uniting of the two bodies as 
'one flesh' is a fitting expression of the intimacy, boundless sharing, and 
total merging that marriage
demands of a male and a female."  This is the point where the marriage 
covenant is ratified.  That is the seal of ratification.

     Another point that calls for emphasis here is the fact that
it is God Himself, the Author of marriage, that does the join-
ing of a male and a female together.  When parents or the
officers of a State, or preachers or Chairmen of marriage
ceremonies (or marriage receptions) proclaim that newly wed-
ded couples are joined together, it should be understood that
that joining at that level is merely ceremonial.  The true, real,
and authentic joining togeter is done by God when all of the
commitments of marriage are fulfilled.  "What therefore God
hath joined together, let not man  put asunder" (Matt. 19:6).

     This is marriage according to the Will of God.  Every tradit-
ional custom of man or civil law is subordinate to this divine
law.  --------- Sunday Ayandare in Words of Life, Vol. 15, Nos.
2 and 3. April - Sept. 2007.  (These postings have been adapt-
ed, not including the many customs and traditions practiced
by the Nigerian people, that Sunday had included in his writ-
ings. JWS).   </HTML>
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