Solemn Obligations of Marriage

Solemn obligations of marriage

Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Genesis 2:18(NLT) Then the lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

Genesis 2:18(AMP) Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper (suitable, adapted, complementary) for him.

Genesis 2:18(GNS) Then the LORD God said, It is not good for the man to live alone. I will make a suitable companion to help him.

Genesis 2:18(Message) God said, “It’s not good for the Man to be alone; I’ll make him a helper, a companion.

Introduction: Welcome to another week of Speaking Scriptures at the feet of the Lord, The Balm of Gilead. His words will not be a parable unto us in Jesus name. Solemn is something that is very serious. Using solemn as an adjective to qualify obligations of marriage means very serious duties to be done in marriage.

Many if not all of us entered into marital relationship without the knowledge of solemn biblical obligations, that is, very serious duties that must be done in marriage.

I personally learnt some of these obligations after entering into the marital relationship.

Someone told me to pray for my friend who was married but separated as she looks for another husband. In my unpolitical manner, I quoted biblical principles and obligations expected of every child of God in marriage. From her tone, she considered me to be fanatic, unreasonable and unfair despite knowledge of my friend’s marital woes. Fortunately, I was privy to know that the woes started during courtship but her desperation to marry made her to close her eyes to those dangers and erroneously believe that everything will be fine after marriage. The same woes caused separation.

As Christians, I am bringing up those solemn obligations of marriage as found in the Bible the word of God. Carrying out these obligations will surely bring bliss into marriage. We can ask questions for all of us to learn because marriage is a continuous learning process that ends when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.

There are some questions that we may not be able to answer correctly but there are others that are obviously stated in the Bible which may not align with tradition of men. I have questions to ask God when I see Him in glory. Answers from man will surely be sentimental from the perspective of human nature, that is why I will wait until I see the Lord.

Let us see those solemn obligations of marriage.

1️⃣ Husband must leave his father and mother to cleave or be joined to his wife and be united into one.

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Genesis 2:24(NLT) This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

One of the very serious duties of marriage for the husband is to dissociate from parental apron or influence to be united with his wife. Apart from dissociation from parental control, any attempt to see property for either husband or wife as my own and not our own brings failure in the duty of unity in marriage.

2️⃣ Husband and wife have solemn obligation to be opened to one another.

Genesis 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

There should not be any secret between husband and wife. Some are brought up not to disclose all things to their spouse for whatever reason, they carry this ideas into marriage and this can scatter marriage. All things must be exposed to one another without covering up. This is another solemn obligation of marriage.

3️⃣ Hard truth is that any divorcee that remarries is an adulteress or adulterer.

Matthew 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Some think they can send away their wife caught in adultery. I had thought so too. The truth is Bible says “saving for the cause of fornication”, the married cannot commit fornication but adultery. Therefore, by interpretation, if she is caught during betrothal committing sexual immorality, then you have right to back out of marriage. Once you’re married, you have solemn obligation to remain married to that adulterous partner. This is another solemn obligation of marriage flouted even by children of God. If any Christian spouse cannot tolerate living with adulterous spouse, he or she can separate but shall remain single until the death of the spouse, otherwise reconcile with the spouse.

1 Corinthians 7:10-11(NLT) But for those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband. But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife.

4️⃣ Nothing must bring separation to anyone joined by Christian tenets.

Mark 10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Biblical obligation for anyone refers to as Christian is not to think of separation or allow money, job, human philosophical nonsense or tradition tear apart what God has joined together. Some Christian couples have separate rooms while some live kilometres apart. Solemn obligation of marriage is to be together at all costs. In getting job or planning to relocate, first priority is to be together as soon as possible.

When I was transferred to Lagos from Ibadan after marriage, I told God about this obligation of being together, He heard me and helped us by getting job for my wife in Lagos. For almost 32 years in marriage now, we live together. Once both know the solemn obligation and determine to carry it out, God will be willing to support.

5️⃣ The only freedom for husband or wife to remarry is at the death of spouse.

Romans 7:2-3(NLT) For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries.

Husband can only remarry when the wife is dead if he so wishes and likewise the wife can remarry at the demise of the husband if she so wishes. To remarry while husband or wife is still alive is adulterous according to the syllabus, the living word of God not according to human standards and sentiment.

Hear the Scriptures speak in Matthew 19:3-9 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

Notice that Jesus Christ had spoken about divorce during sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:32 as stated and explained above. There are several Christians with hardness of hearts that ignore this solemn obligation whereby making lie to be true to many.

6️⃣ God’s commandment is NO divorce

When God commands and there is disobedience, then there is assurance of hell for the disobedient. This may be hard to receive, I don’t have apology for the truth I believe.

Apostle Paul clearly stated that the command is from the Lord therefore flouting the command makes the person a rebel.

1 Samuel 15:23(NLT) Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the lord, he has rejected you as king.”

Once I got to know this aspect of God’s opinion in marriage, I purpose in my heart that nothing will make me to separate from my wife except death. We may have disagreement, no matter how strong the disagreement, at the back of my mind I know am stuck with her and this will make resolution possible.

When couples do not know this solemn obligation of sticking to wife or husband until death do them part, they flout God’s command concerning divorce and feel justified and argue it out.

Malachi 2:16(NLT) “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 Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”

Disregarding this solemn obligation of sticking to spouse will make a Christian to disobey God’s command and embarks on what God hates. Remember, under that command, if spouse needs to leave probably due to physical abuse, he or she is to remain single or else reconcile with the spouse.

The truth is, not many especially men can stay single without being subdued by adultery, then there will be self-justification that destroys destiny.

Finally brethren, these are the solemn obligations of marriage unknown to some and ignored by many Christians by relying on Grace.

Romans 6:1-2(NLT) Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?

Grace will be available to only those who determine to obey God no matter how difficult the situation seems to be. All that is needed is determination to obey God in carrying out these solemn obligations of marriage and also teach our children these biblical obligations for obedience to His words, and our own good for marital bliss.

2 Corinthians 12:9a(NLT) Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

Grace is available for any Christian who determines to abide by the solemn marital obligations given by God, the Originator of marriage.

✋ Maranatha.