Deuteronomy
chapter 24 discusses a variety of important topics; the two most
important are mentioned first. The chapter begins, “If
a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds
something indecent about her and he writes her a certificate of
divorce and sends her from his home…“.
First, it is important to understand marriage was intended by God to
be permanent– a symbol of the bond we, as believers, have with
Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 19:8: “Moses,
because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your
wives, but from the
beginning
it was not so“.
Genesis 2:24 declares of marriage, “and
the two will become one flesh“,
not just referring to the intimacy of marriage, but spiritually
knitted together as one. In fact, the Hebrew word for divorce
implies “a cutting apart”. A divorce is a painful amputation.
Next, I believe this verse implies that the “something indecent”
means sexual immorality. Again, according to Jesus, “whoever
divorces his wife, except
for sexual immorality,
and marries another, commits adultery”
(Matthew 19:9). Finally, the only other reason given in scripture
for allowing divorce is the abandonment of an unbelieving spouse (1
Corinthians 7:15). Perhaps we should also add abuse to the list
because God did not intend for a wife to “submit” to a man that
does not “Love
her just as Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for her”
(Ephesians 5:25). So, while God permitted divorce, He certainly did
not command it. Just as marriage is to be permanent and not entered
into lightly, divorce is to be permanent and not entered into
lightly. The certificate of divorce was a legal document and must be
recognized properly. Deuteronomy continues, “He
may not marry her again”.
(Stressing the permanence once again).
The
chapter continues with a reminder that newly-weds need to take time
to get to know each other. “If
a man has recently married, he must not be sent away to war… for
one year he is free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife
he married.”
Wow, that is some honeymoon! A strong family begins with mom and
dad, then the kids, in that order. Husbands, do not miss those
opportunities to ‘bring happiness to your wife’ regardless how
long you are married. 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 stresses the need for
intimacy in marriage. “The
husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife and likewise the
wife to her husband… Do not deprive each other except by mutual
consent and for a time, so you might devote yourselves to prayer.
Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of
your lack of self control.”
The
rest of the chapter includes much wisdom and compassion. Regarding
lending: do not “take
a man’s livelihood as security”
for how will he repay you? “Do
not take the cloak of a widow as a pledge.”
“Pay
a poor man his waged daily before sunset because he is counting on
it.”
God even set up a support system for the poor. “When
you are harvesting your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go
back and get it… when you beat your olives from your trees, do not
go back over your branches a second time…when you harvest your
grapes, do not go over the vines a second time. Leave what is left
for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. Remember that you were
slaves in Egypt.”
Our God is a God of compassion.