Musing -- Part 3 – What’s the Real Problem with Divorce?

Hebraic Musing -- Part 3 – What’s the Real Problem with Divorce?

This is part 3 of a three-part study –  How do we view Marriage & Divorce Today?  
Part 1 – Why is Marriage Important to God?            
Part 2 – How does God Define Marriage in His Bible?
Part 3 – What’s the Real Problem with Divorce? (Today’s message)

Considering the increase in the divorce rate in today’s world, we cannot discuss marriage without recognizing the increasingly pervasive issue of divorce.  After all the discussions/teachings about Marriage in the Torah, Moses had to deal with the problems of divorce, especially in the last book of the Torah, Deuteronomy, as he prepared the Israelites, God’s chosen children, to enter the Promised Land (where we are symbolically)!  Divorce is referenced 34 times in the Bible, and ten of those warnings are in red letters by Jesus Himself. 

Jesus had this to say re divorce (Red Letters!)  “But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.” Matt 5:32    And again in Luke 16:18  "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”  And He repeated it in Matt 19:9  “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."  And Jesus made it very clear when He said "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.  And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." Mark 10:11-12 

These statements from Jesus are hard to swallow because of things done in the past; please remember – Satan wants us to look back, while Jesus came so we could forget the past and look forward.   Philippians 3:13-14 “Forgetting what is behind  and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on  toward the goal to win the prize  for which God has called  me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” NIV

I was recently challenged to identify my Life’s Purpose.  A key focus for me is to “Promote Biblical Marriage”.   Q.  What is it that really bothers me?   A.  The increase in number of divorces and many failures of the Church to take a stand! 

Our society has been moving away from traditional, biblically based marriages.  How have we drifted?

·      In my lifetime I have witnessed Divorce become common starting after WWII; and divorce has now become acceptable with virtually no resistance anymore from the “Church”! 

·      As a result of both divorce and the trend toward free sex, more and more children are not being nurtured by a home with parents in a Biblical marriage.  Boys are raised without fathers!  How can they be expected to become men?  And girls are raised without the parental examples and guidance they need.

·      Free Sex was advocated, or prophesied, in Orwell’s book 1984.  Many today deem marriage to be unnecessary – States eliminating Marriage Licenses!!!

·      Abortion availability has also opened the doors to Free Sex, especially on college campuses where our future leaders are coming from!  Is it 1984 yet?  

·      Young people, and old, are asking “Why get married?”

·      The LGBT activists are no longer asking for acceptance, they want approval and endorsement.  Why? 
The CHURCH & society has accepted and tacitly approved the sin of divorce; so the LGBTQs reason “Why can’t society accept and approve of our LGBTQ lifestyle?  How dare the Church call us sinners!?!?”

·      Since the door to “Free Sex” is wide open, what’s next?  Pedophilia?  What’s next in the sexual revolution?

The sinful direction of our society bothers me.  I asked myself “What are you going to do about it?”   Answer – I’m going to promote Biblical Marriage and its many many benefits.  Thank you for listening.

 Point to ponder

What about you?    How can you support Biblical Marriage(s)?   I’d love to hear your plan.

Marriage is one of God’s greatest gifts to us!  Enjoy it Biblically.

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                  January 30, 2018 

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
and “Biblical Marriage”   Amazon search – “Biblical Marriage Yosef”