This week I was listening to Alistair Begg’s messages on
marriage, which I expect will provide a good parallel to our pastor’s upcoming
sermons from 1 Corinthians 7. As one who anticipates remaining single for life,
the marriage vows could create a twinge of regret at never hearing someone
pledge to me, “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse,
for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till
death us do part.” But as I thought about it, I realized that God has vowed all
that and more to His children, and He’s the only One who can keep His vows
perfectly.
“To have and to hold” – “You did not
choose Me, but I chose you…” (John 15:16 ESV) “I give them eternal life, and
they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John
10:28). He will hold on even when we want to give up.
“For better for worse”
– “But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more
excellent than the old as the covenant He mediates is better, since it is
enacted on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). He gives us far more than we can
ever deserve.
“For richer for
poorer” – “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He
was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become
rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Our poverty is the occasion for His riches to be
poured out upon us.
“In sickness and in
health” – “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives
all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the
pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy” (Psalm 103:2-4). In Christ
the worst disease, sin, is already cured.
“To love and to
cherish” – “In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved
us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). His love
for us enables us to love Him and to love others.
“Till death us do
part” – “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no
more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the
former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Not even death can sever God’s
covenant!
As with Noah in Genesis 8 and Abram in Genesis 15, God makes
Himself the party responsible for the whole covenant. He knows we will fail
many times, but “it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has
mercy” (Romans 9:16). He extends love to the unlovely, mercy to the sinner, and
grace to the hurting.
No matter how good and enduring a marriage might be, it is only
temporary. It will end either in death or at the Second Coming. But God’s
covenantal love will never fail and will continue throughout eternity.
Several times in Exodus and Deuteronomy, the Israelites are
reminded “God has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession” and
that phrase has stuck with me this past week. No matter what my marital status,
I can say “I am His treasured possession” and “I am my Beloved’s and His desire
is for me” (Song 7:10). His covenantal promises are far greater than anything I
can imagine or can expect from man.
“And I will betroth
you to Me forever. I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in
steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness” (Hosea
2:19-20).
©
Dawn Rutan 2016
