Having considered the effects of misunderstanding the marriage relationship, I would now desire to consider the subject of the misplacement of the marriage relationship.
Marriage, as instituted by God and in accordance with God’s purposes and thoughts, is an honorable institution. “Marriage is honorable” (Heb. 13:44Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13:4)). Such marriages are looked at as a joining together by God into one flesh, the man and his wife (Gen. 2:2424Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:24); Eph. 5:3131For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (Ephesians 5:31); Matt. 19:5-65And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Matthew 19:5‑6)). These marriages are a cause of great joy in the realm of nature, here on earth. “For as a young man marrieth a virgin... and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee” (Isa. 62:55For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. (Isaiah 62:5)).
Marriage will also be a cause of joy in heaven when the marriage of the Lamb takes place. “Let us be glad and rejoice... for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready” (Rev. 19:77Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7)). How our Lord delights to use these marriage unions on earth to the help of His own in the “spiritual realm.”
We will call the reader’s attention to this by pointing out dear Aquila and his wife Priscilla, though I will not speak of them in this article (Acts 18:2-262And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. 4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 7And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 9Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 11And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 12And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, 13Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. 14And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: 15But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. 16And he drave them from the judgment seat. 17Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things. 18And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. 19And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; 21But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. 22And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. 23And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. 24And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. (Acts 18:2‑26); Rom. 162That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succorer of many, and of myself also. 3Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. 6Greet Mary, who bestowed much labor on us. 7Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. 9Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household. 11Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. 12Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which labored much in the Lord. 13Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. 15Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. 16Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. 17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 20And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 21Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. 22I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. 23Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. 24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. 25Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: (Romans 16:2‑26); 1 Cor. 16; 2 Tim. 4:1919Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. (2 Timothy 4:19)). Apart from their proper marriage union, they would not have been able to perform their valuable ministry on behalf of the Lord’s dear people. That ministry required them both, united in one.
Not All Marriages Are Acceptable
Unfortunately, however, not all marriages have this approbation of God. Such marriages are consequently without the intended joy and usefulness for God that accompany a marriage of which it can truly be said that it is “in the Lord” (1 Cor. 7). We will seek to identify some of these marriages, as they are brought before us in the Word, not to reprove, but to awaken an awareness of the important role I believe nature has especially the marriage relationship—regarding spiritual development. We will identify these marriages as misplaced marriages that are not according to or in keeping with God’s thoughts about this wonderful institution.
Misplaced Marriages in Noah’s Day
“For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe [Noah] entered into the ark” (Matt. 24:3838For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, (Matthew 24:38)). This description of the days just before “the flood came, and took them all away” would seem to depict a most normal condition of mankind. They seemed to be enjoying what God had given to man in the “realm of nature.” Eating and drinking, in themselves, certainly do not describe conditions upon which God looked and would be grieved nor, at first observation, would the matter of “marrying and giving in marriage.” No, it wasn’t these things, given by God to man in their proper place, that would have caused our God to judge this world by water. It was, I believe, the misplacement of marriage that was the chief cause of the judgment of “the world that then was” (2 Peter 3:66Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: (2 Peter 3:6)).
Those marriages were between the “sons of God” and “the daughters of men” (Gen. 6:22That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. (Genesis 6:2)). The “sons of God” were fallen angelic beings (Jude 66And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. (Jude 6); 2 Pet. 2:3-53And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; (2 Peter 2:3‑5)). We see that that “family,” in creation, is spoken of as “sons of God” in Job 1:66Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. (Job 1:6) and Job 38:77When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:7).
This coming to earth by angels and taking the daughters of men as wives turned what God had ordained as an “honorable” institution for man and woman into an apostate condition that brought the judgment of this world.
Judgment on the Violation of Marriage
A similar condition will reappear on earth again. The Lord Jesus Christ, as Son of Man, will bring judgments upon this world in preparation for His reign as rightful King (Matt. 24). Those “taken” at this time are taken for, or by, judgment, and those “left” will be “left” to enter into the kingdom that our Lord will establish through judgments.
We see in the Word that even prior to this time the “earth” will be marked by the violation in various ways of that first institution of God for man and woman. It will be in some cases by “forbidding to marry” (1 Tim. 4:33Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4:3)) while in other cases there will be a corruption by various means of the marriage relationship. This will especially mark this part of the world where the truth of marriage should have been most clearly known. That which the Lord calls His church, depicted in mystery form by Thyatira, suggests this: “In Thyatira... thou sufferest that woman Jezebel... to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication.... I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation” (Rev. 2:18-2218And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. (Revelation 2:18‑22)).
May every true child of God value and hold the blessed truth of marriage in the honor and in the purity as it is intended of God to be held. “Marriage is honorable... but... adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:44Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13:4)). Violation of this natural relationship affects our Lord’s dealings here below, even with those who are His own. “But let none of you suffer... as an evildoer” (1 Pet. 4).
Present Day Violation of the Marriage Union
While the conditions in Noah’s day reappear in this world, we may not see, however, the coming of angelic beings to our earth. Those who did so in that day are presently “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (Jude 66And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. (Jude 6)). I do not say, though, that this could not be repeated, for it could certainly be so, as all fallen angels are not yet bound (Rev. 12:77And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, (Revelation 12:7)).
The present acclimatization of man’s mind to the thought of visitors from outer space is, I do not doubt, a preparation for something. I had supposed this had to do with the rapture or the Lord’s coming out of heaven and the beast prepared for war against Him (Rev. 17; 2 Thess. 1). (These thoughts are only personal speculation.) However, we will see and are seeing the corruption and misplacement of the institution of marriage, as was done in Noah’s day. Sad to say, we see this even among the Lord’s own dear people.
Oh! May we hear His voice, “Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them... in the day of temptation in the wilderness.... Take heed, brethren” (1 Cor. 10; Heb. 3).
Misplaced Marriages—Marriage Abomination
The first example that we will consider I think will be more prominent at the last, just prior to our Lord’s judgments upon this earth. I will speak only briefly of it, for it is so shameful. Marriage that is of God was instituted for the “man” and the “woman” alone. Any “marriage” involving other than the union of a male and a female is wickedness and an abomination to Him who instituted marriage (Rom. 1; Deut. 22:55The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God. (Deuteronomy 22:5) in principle).
Misplaced Marriages—The Unequal Yoke
Perhaps the most dangerous “misplacement” of marriage for Christians is that of uniting in marriage with an unbeliever. When a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ marries, their “guiding” principle is found in a phrase recorded in 1 Corinthians 7:3939The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 7:39): “Only in the Lord.” Involved in that expression, “in the Lord,” is that He has had His authority as Lord in the determining of the one who is to be chosen as a marriage partner. The principle, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Cor. 6:1414Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)), would certainly apply to the marriage union.
God will hold the believer responsible for such a solemn marriage, even though it is not “in the Lord.” They are “bound” to that marriage union (1 Cor. 7:12-1312But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. (1 Corinthians 7:12‑13)). I do not doubt that the condition of a believer and unbeliever in a marriage yoke as found in 1 Corinthians 712But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. (1 Corinthians 7:12‑13) supposes that the believer was married before their conversion. But this must not be taken to show that a believer would have liberty to enter into marriage with an unbeliever. The Word is clear: “Be ye not unequally yoked together” with the unbeliever.
Many instances are found in the Word of God as to the children of God inter-marrying with those who know Him not. The results of these unions were disastrous and show plainly the effect of this violation in nature to our relationship with the Lord.
I call attention to but one which involved the children of Israel and the Canaanites. “They took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods” (Judg. 3:66And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. (Judges 3:6)). It will always adversely affect your relationship with your Redeemer God, if you choose to be united in marriage to an unbeliever. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:33Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)). It will be found common in such marriages that the family will be divided, for it is. “In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod... and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language” (Neh. 13:23-2423In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: 24And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. (Nehemiah 13:23‑24)). Notice it does not say the children “did not speak,” but they “could not speak” those marriages hindered their children from entering into God’s thoughts for them. May a believer never even consider marriage to an unbeliever!
H. Short
(to be continued)