“Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:1).
The previous article addressed a controversial topic that too often is either tolerated or condoned by even religious people: drinking of alcoholic beverages. The northern kingdom was plagued by such practice (cf. Hosea 4:11). Isaiah prophesied about this same time and said of the southern kingdom, “Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink” (Isa. 5:22). A second controversy that arose in that day (and is prominent even today) is the topic now to be considered.
2. Divorce and Remarriage. Unfaithfulness in marriage was a major problem to the northern kingdom. Idolatry brought whoredom (cf. Hosea 4:12-13). Malachi faced this issue in his day (cf. Mal. 2:13-16). Jesus faced such in his day (cf. Matt. 5:27-32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18). Society has come to accept divorce and remarriage so readily today that there is even “no-fault” divorce. The law of the state of Alabama sets forth this declaration concerning no-fault divorce reasons:
Alabama allows spouses to allege one of two reasons as a reason for the divorce:
- irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, or
- incompatibility. (Ala. Code § 30-2-1 (a)(7)(9).)
Irretrievable breakdown means that the marriage is broken beyond repair, and incompatibility means that the spouses simply do not get along anymore. Both no-fault grounds tell a court that at least one spouse wants to end the marriage, which is generally enough for a judge to grant your divorce. (divorcenet.com/resources/grounds-for-divorce-in-alabama.html).
Jesus gave only one exception for divorce and remarriage without the new marriage being adultery. “And 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” (Matt. 19:9). Such a restriction both safeguards the integrity of all marriages and sets a deterrent that would lead married people to work hard to solve their difficulties.
Think about such loosening of the restriction as is done today. For example, if it is Biblical for divorce and remarriage to take place for other reasons besides the one exception, what is to keep second and possibly other divorces and remarriages from also being dissolved upon irretrievable breakdown, incompatibility or any other cause? Mankind then determines what is permissible with the consequence producing a moral breakdown of the home in society. God forbid.
Jimmy Clark