Now I know that eavesdropping isn't polite, but sometimes people talk so loudly that you just can't help it... and these two ladies weren't shy at all.
As the they chattered away, I gathered from my brief exposure to the conversation that one lady was talking about leaving her husband of 8 years to pursue a relationship with a man that she had met at a church bible study. She went on and described how abusive her husband was both physically and mentally and how she had prayed to be delivered from the marriage.
Friends, I don't condone spousal abuse in anyway, nor do I condone divorce and I don't believe the Bible allows either. I'm sure there were other avenues that this woman could have exhausted prior to seeking a deliverance from her marriage (which is "Christianese" for God approved divorce).
The woman proceeded to tell her friend that she believed God had sent the man from the Bible study to show her that He had granted her 'deliverance' and provided a new Christian man in her life. Unfortunately she was having a hard time leaving her husband because there was so much history between them.
Wow! Its almost unfathomable how ignorant people can be of our Loving Heavenly Father and of His nature, His will and His ways. Believe me when I say it breaks my heart and I feel the deepest sympathy for those people whose relationships are failing. But we must not allow our emotions to cloud the real issue. Divorce is a crucial subject and we must understand God's position concerning it.
The Scripture says that God HATES divorce (Malachi 2:16), and that men and women are bound together in wedlock until separated by death (Romans 7:1-3). Therefore God could never give His unconditional stamp of approval in this matter. When Jesus was questioned on the subject he said, "It has been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement (this was under Old Testament Jewish Law). But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication(unrepentant state of continual voluntary sexual intercourse with another; i.e. Adultery), causes her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her who is divorced commits adultery" (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:9). However, even if one's spouse has been unfaithful, if they are truly repentant, then reconciliation is the better way, the Biblical way (Luke 6:37; Matthew 18:21-22). So the general rule which God established is simply this: Divorce is only acceptable in the case of 'Unrepentant Marital Unfaithfulness.'
The exceptive phrase in this verse is obviously intended to bestow a right on one category of divorced persons. The Lord's rule now stands as this: no divorced person has the right of remarriage except for the one who has been faithful to his or her companion only to be betrayed by that spouse's sexual infidelity. To make it more simple, only the innocent parties in divorces for fornication may remarry.
Those who divorce for any other reason become guilty of adultery and if they remarry, they are in an Unlawful State of Matrimony whereby they engage in the act of fornication. The Greek verb for "commit" and "committeth" in those verses denotes the continual action of unrepentant cohabitation in the adulterous state.
Friends, in today's world it is so easy to justify divorce, especially if the other spouse was to blame. God allows divorce, but it is the remarriage that God has placed restrictions upon. I have often heard ladies say: "you know God doesn’t want me to remain single. My husband beat me often, or he was drunk all the time, or he abused me in so many ways." It is extremely sad to see someone in this condition. But the truth is God gives only one exception for divorce and remarriage. That is fornication. Weak kneed preachers can lie about what a person can and cannot do. But God is the ULTIMATE AUTHORITY! No preacher can change the word of God! We must follow what God says in His word, or else our actions condemn us.
This law of God is for every person upon the earth. For we will all be judged by God's word on the great judgement day Jesus said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48).
We are living in a very permissive society. The laws of our land allow things that God never approved. But if we hope to be saved in eternity, we must obey God rather than man. We must whole-heartedly believe that even if we do not agree with His laws, that God in His infinite wisdom and love for us knows best.
In the words of John H. Sammis' Hymn "Trust and Obey:"
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, Can abide while we trust and obey.
Refrain
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, But is blessed if we trust and obey.
Refrain
But we never can prove the delights of His love Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows, Are for them who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet, Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;Never fear, only trust and obey.
Refrain
God's blessings to you my friends!
Your faithful servant,
+Ernest A. Ross
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