Marriage 101: Marriage is a covenant (Pt. 1)

(Part 1)

Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said:

“This is now bone of my bones

And flesh of my flesh;

She shall be called Woman,

Because she was taken out of Man.”

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” -Genesis 2:22-25

There is a very real battle that is taking place in our culture regarding the definition of marriage; one that is threatening the very sanctity of this sacred institution. An institution, mind you, that according to Genesis Ch. 2 was established by God. 

Marriage, which was once accepted as a union between one man and one woman, has been redefined (by our government) as being acceptable between two consenting adults regardless of gender.  Television shows like, Sister Wives, challenge the idea that we should be limited to only one spouse. Thousands upon thousands of couples living together, outside of the bond of marriage, have diminished the value of the marriage bed to where it has become more of a formality than something to aspire towards. Couple those things with the relative ease of divorce and you develop a society that perceives marriage as disposable rather than a lifelong commitment. 

Part of the reason for this downward spiral can be seen in our failure to teach, train and hold to marriage as a covenant. Did you know that your marriage is a covenant? In the eyes of God, marriage is a covenant. A covenant that He personally acts as a witness over.  

What is a covenant? In the minds of many it is simply a binding agreement between two people (a legal union). In contrast, biblical covenants, are treated with greater honor. They were upheld as an unbreakable commitment between individuals or peoples that provides for the mutual benefit of both. 

 In Genesis 9-God established a covenant w/ Noah/and all mankind that He would never destroy the earth with flood water again. In Genesis 15-God established a covenant with Abraham declaring he would be the father of many nations. In Exodus 12-God established a covenant with Israel through the passover, and in Matthew 26:28-God established a new covenant with all believers through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. 

 However, the very first covenant God established was the marriage covenant! The Old Testament book of Malachi 2:14-15 declares this: “Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been witness, between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.”

            Malachi confirms for us that we are in a covenant relationship with our spouse. A covenant that was established by God! After establishing all of creation, the first thing God established was the marriage covenant; emphasizing the significance of this sacred God-ordained institution. 

Pastor Scott Burr

Dayspring Community Church