INTRODUCTION

The world justifies an almost unlimited range of reasons for divorce, but the Lord is much more narrow-minded. In fact, the Lord only offered one just cause for divorce in Matthew 19:9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
See All.... An excellent cross reference (Deuteronomy 24:1When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
See All...) indicates that the fornication mentioned involves an uncleanness found within the woman that took place prior to marriage. If this be true, even adultery fails to qualify as scriptural grounds for divorce. One might argue that the Lord broadened this scope when speaking of the unbelieving spouse leaving the believer, but even there the Lord said to the believing husband, “let him not put her away” (1 Corinthians 7:12But 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.
See All...) and to the believing wife, “let her not leave him” (1 Corinthians 7:13And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
See All...).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Abigail was a godly woman married to a wicked husband (1 Samuel 25:3Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
  See All..., 17c). She remained with Nabal until his death (1 Samuel 25:38And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.
  See All...). She then became David’s wife (1 Samuel 25:39-42 [39] And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. [40] And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife. [41] And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. [42] And Abigail hasted, and arose and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): What does God’s narrow viewpoint concerning divorce suggest about how highly He values the marriage relationship? Why is it important that we adopt His respect for the sanctity of marriage?
• Have you been divorced or know someone who has been divorced? Can God use those who have been divorced? Give some examples of God graciously using those with troubled pasts.

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to build strong homes within your church.
• Thank the Lord for placing such a high value on marriage.

HYMN

TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY

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