The nature of covenant (I) The parable of marriage

When we are instructed to let our yes be yes, and our no be no (Matthew 5:37), we are essentially being told to say what we mean, and mean what we say, and stick to it. And if this needs to be true in our everyday life, how much more should it be true in our covenant agreements, and in particular in the marriage covenant? My purpose in sharing thoughts about covenant, is not to lay a guilt trip on those who have failed in this area, I myself have utterly failed not just once, but twice! No, my purpose is rather to shed light on God’s dreams, purposes and resources in this area. For our part it seems to me, that we give up far too easily, turning a blind eye to the consequences in our headlong rush to to try to get rid of the difficulties and the pain!

I am thankful that the blood of Jesus Christ covers all sin, and that God is actively at work for good even our failures (Romans 8:28 again). But we need to see that the thief, whose primary agenda is to kill steal and destroy, has done a stellar job in wreaking havoc in marriage and in the family. The church has largely conformed to the World in this, and we need to push back. We need to revisit the strong teachings of Scripture to help us to come back to the place where the example of awesome Christian marriages will bring hope to this wicked and hurting World. Such marriage exist, I have seen them. They had, with His help, to push through the difficulties, but with His help all things are possible.

The pledge “until death do us part” reflects the true nature of covenant. In the covenant God made with Abram, Abram cut a heifer, a female goat and a ram in two, and placed each half opposite the other. Then God and Abram essentially walked between the pieces. This signified the agreement that what had happened to the animals would happen to the one breaking the covenant (Genesis 15:8-16). Likewise the covenant God made with man on Sinai, could only be broken only if either mankind died, or God died. And since no one could keep that covenant (Romans 3:23), the only way for us not to suffer eternal death, was for God to die. And that is why out of incredible extravagant love Jesus, in His God nature, died. In this way He could bring in the New and better Covenant. God's dream is that the marriage covenant reflect and be a parable of His desire to be united with us in the New Covenant (Ephesians 5:32). In view of what it cost Him to reconcile us to Himself, is it unreasonable for Him to ask us to do the hard work of reconciliation in our marriages, and so fulfill His dream?

Father, I have said that I believe marriage is one of your primary tools to make us more like Christ. And this is true whether we fail or whether we succeed. But in either case, we do need to fully cooperate with You in Your intended character polishing. It’s not easy Lord, and I thank You for the many divorced Christians that I know who have turned their back on bitterness and allowed You to shine through their brokenness. Thank You Lord that Your plans cannot be thwarted. Thank You for Your mercy, and the grace that enables us to be the men and women You intend us to be. I give You praise and honour and glory again this morning Lord, in Jesus Name Amen