Let us examine various examples of covenants in the Bible.
We have established that Salvation from sin and death is a covenant.
(Heb 12:24a Weymouth New Testament "and to Jesus the negotiator of a new Covenant")
Tithing has also been established as a covenant. (see part 8)
Another key example of a covenant is marriage.
That marriage is a sacred agreement between 2 people is rarely disputed. The ceremonies and exchange of vows make it difficult to call it anything other than a covenant.
The question is, does the physical covenant entered into between a man and his wife at the point of marriage constitute a spiritually bona-fide covenant?
Malachi 2:14-16 NLT says
14. "You cry out, “Why doesn’t the LORD accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.
15. Didn’t the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.
16. “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 Heavens Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”"
In V15 above, we see that it is the Lord who consummates marriage. V14 calls God a witness in the contract. V16 says God hates divorce, and V14 alludes to divorce/adultery being a cause of ineffectual worship.
A child of God should be wary of doing anything God hates.
In Genesis 1:27-28 NIV, we read,
27. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
28. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
After God created both man and woman (V27), he blessed them and mandated them to follow a process of growth(V28).
Fruitfulness, numerical increase, saturation of the earth, authority, and finally dominion.
What are the consequences of the breach of the Covenant of marriage?
As all covenants are stipulated biblically, it's breach inevitably brings a curse.
As stated in Malachi 2:14 above the Lord refuses to accept the worship of such a person.
Another effect of divorce is that it breaks the hedge of protection around God's children and allows the enemy run amok over their lives.
Galatians 6:7 NLT
"Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant."
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