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. 13:4). Such marriages are looked at as a joining together by God into one flesh, the man and his wife (Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:31; Matt. 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. 62:5).
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. 19:7). 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 18:2-26; Rom. 16; 1 Cor. 16; 2 Tim. 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. 24:38). 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 3:6).
Those marriages were between the “sons of God” and “the daughters of men” (Gen. 6:2). The “sons of God” were fallen angelic beings (Jude 6; 2 Pet. 2:3-5). We see that that “family,” in creation, is spoken of as “sons of God” in Job 1:6 and 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. 4:3) 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. 2:18-22).
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. 13:4). 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 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. 12:7).
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. 22:5 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 7:39: “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. 6:14), 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. 7:12-13). I do not doubt that the condition of a believer and unbeliever in a marriage yoke as found in 1 Corinthians 7 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. 3:6). 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 3:3). 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. 13:23-24). 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)