Deuteronomy 24:1-4
Deuteronomy 24:1-4
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour 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. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
When I read this scripture, it seems pretty clear to me that once a couple divorces and one or the other or both remarry other people then they are not free to marry one another again for any reason. Is this scripture really that cut and dried, or is there more to it than meets the eye and the couple ARE free to marry each other again?
What say some of you? Why do you think that the Lord does not want the couple to remarry? Why is this an abomination?
Labels: Biblical Law, Divorce, Remarriage
posted by Dawn @ 6/27/2006 08:39:00 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Dawn,
I would agree with you. Seems to me that the issue is one avoiding a legal adultery and maintaining marital purity (Deere, Dallas Bible Knowledge Commentary page 305) . I am sure that perverse minds would like to have opportunity to manipulate the law to their own ends, e.g., multiple partners. This statute would eliminate such actions, hence abominations. I am sure too that the Lord was considering the purity of His devotion to Israel and expected the same in marriages which pictured the former.
It is interesting that the Lord in Matthew 19:8 seem to direct them to Genesis to show that divorce was never intended as an option. The Deuteronomy 24 passage is given because of the hardness of their hearts. Though the scriptures do allow divorce and remarriage by implication for various reasons e.g., immorality Mt 19:9 and desertion 1 Cor 7:15.
Dawn,
Please remember that this is the Mosaic law given to the nation Israel. You are not under the Mosaic law. Not that it is not a beneficial study filled with applicable principles, but if you apply this commandment to your life, it would be inconsistent to NOT apply the whole 613 commandments and ordinances of the Mosaic system.
The law of liberty in Christ states that divorce (except for under extreme circumstances) is not permitted. And Paul is quick to note that the divorced ought to stay divorced or else reconcile to their spouse.
This of course is the situation with a couple who are both believers.
In a situation where one is a believer and one is not, as long as the unbeliever wishes to stay married, the believer must stay married. If the unbeliever chooses to leave, the believer is free and able to marry another.
I hope any of this helps.
Antonio
Hey guys, thanks for your comments. I don't have to time to reply right now. Just wanted to say thanks!
Dawn
Dawn,
I agree with you that the Scriptures appear very clear -- once someone is married and then they divorce, they are not to remarry their former spouse after they have been married to someone else while all are alive. Leviticus 18 goes into great detail in outlining 'Social Abominations' before God. What I find interesting in Leviticus 18:24 - 25 and following, is the statement that the very land will vomit the inhabitants out of it for performing these things.
As God's chosen people, the Jews were to keep God's commandments and live a 'set apart' life from those of other nations and religions that did not believe in God. Nor were they to adopt the pagan practices of these lands.
My take on the passage you raise is perhaps it teaches at a deeper level the very commitment God has for each of us who belong to Him. He will never divorce us. Therefore the concept of a marriage being dissolved and then reinstituted at a later time makes a mockery of a real Biblical covenant -- His marriage is once and for all to those who are the bride... Certainly it would be an even greater abomination to suggest that God is not capable of protecting and keeping His own when He says: My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.
Therefore, from a covenant teaching, it would be an abomination to teach that once we are truly married to Him, we could then be divorced and marry another and then married to Him again...
Just my thoughts...
In Him,
Eye
Leo, great point about the Lord avoiding the issue of legal adultery. I had never thought of that aspect of it. I also see the correlation between purity and our earthly marriages and God's marriage to His people. Thanks for your input.
Antonio, I agree that we are no longer under the curse of the Moasic Law, but that doesn't mean that God doesn't still expect us to follow His law. If the law of God is no longer in effect, then we are lawless and I don't believe God expects us to be lawless. In fact, it is the law of God that we must follow. Jesus came to fulfill the law, not do away with it. Loving God with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves are the two commandments on which the law and the prophets hang.
We are still expected to apply the spirit of the law and ordinances. Jesus' life, death, burial and resurrection has done away with the ceremonial parts of the law and through Him we can come boldly to the throne. However, we do still obey the law, even if it is in principle that we do so.
I agree with you that divorce is not permitted except for under extreme circumstances such as adultery or desertion. Some even teach that iolatry, witchcraft, etc. is grounds for divorce because it is a spiritual form of adultery. I struggle with that one, but it does make sense.
I think that Christians who divorce for unbiblical reasons ought to stay divorced. I don't fault a person for remarrying when they've divorced on biblical grounds.
Anyway, thanks for your input on the subject. I really do appreciate your taking the time to respond to my post.
Eye, great points. I agree that from a covenant standpoint the covenant is for life. And like Leo pointed out, divorce was never an option from the beginning, but God allowed it due to the hardness of our hearts. It shows just how loving and merciful God is to His people even when THEY fall short.
You said, "...once someone is married and then they divorce, they are not to remarry their former spouse after they have been married to someone else while all are alive."
I would take that even further and say that even if everyone involved is dead except for the original partners that it is still prohibited for them to remarry.
Thanks for taking the time to comment.
You all have really helped me to see the reasoning behind God's statute here. Especially the abomination part.
Post a Comment
<< Home