Matthew 19:3 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? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 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? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
The purpose of marriage vows is to keep a man and his female wife together for as long as life shall last, with the sacredness of the vow being observed, especially when things are not going too well in the relationship. As with any relationship that is entered into by God and the human agent, a covenant must be agreed upon, and adhered to, so that the longevity and stability of the union may be maintained. As a matter of fact, we can trace this principle throughout the pages of holy writ, for without a covenant, no special relationship with God ever takes place. Let's read:
Genesis 6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. 18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
Genesis 9:11 And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. 12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
Thus, in harmony with the sacred principle of covenant relationships, the marriage vow is meant to keep man and wife together, through thick and thin, ups and downs, and throughout all of the changing circumstances and situations of life. In other words, the covenant enables us to stay with the choice of a spouse, as the various unknown elements in the character are unfolded from time to time.
Living with a person for the rest of our lives is much different than dating that same person, for it's only after the knot is tied, that the real individual begins to be seen. And there are many people who, upon learning of characteristics that were previously unknown, decide that they would throw in the towel, rather than find a working compromise so that each other can grow.
But if God were to deal thus with us in our covenant relationship Him, then none of us would be saved, because from time to time, evil tendencies and unholy characteristics do surface in us, and it is sometimes the case that we cause our Redeemer great embarrassment. But not once does God ever think of casting us off because of our failings, but instead He seeks to bind up the broken-hearted and set the captives free. Therefore, in our own interaction with our spouses, we should endeavor to do the same, for we all have our faults and weaknesses, which need to be overcome by the grace and power of God. Let's read:
[Fundamentals Of Christian Education pp. 502] God is fully able to keep us in the world, but not of the world. His love is not uncertain and fluctuating. Ever He watches over His children with a care that is measureless and everlasting. But He requires us to give Him our undivided allegiance. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Let us therefore seek to incorporate God's love and His principles in our daily interaction with our spouses, for it is the will of God that marriages mirror in miniature form, the relationship between Christ and His church, whose members we are. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to emulate Christ in these and all other matters, because His enabling power is promised to all who endeavor to follow in His footsteps. Let's read:
Ephesians 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!