The Sanctity of Marriage Vows

 

Malachi 2:13-14

13 Here is another thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, weeping and groaning because he pays no attention to your offerings and doesn’t accept them with pleasure. 14 You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.

Marriage is established through vows spoken before God, and the people of God. God is a witness to this solemn promise and covenant of faith. Marriage is a solemn covenant of a lifetime commitment between one man and one woman. God does not want us to break those vows.

Here’s a sample reminder of the marriage vows that are normally spoken by the bride and the groom:

The minister addresses the groom:

(Groom), do you take (bride) to be your wife? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and protect her, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?

The groom says: I do.

As the groom places the ring on the bride’s finger, he says:

With this ring, I, (groom), take you (bride) to be my wife, 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 do us part, according to God’s holy Word. I give you this ring as a sign of constant faith and abiding love. With my body I honor you, all that I am I give to you; this is my solemn vow.

Marriage is solemnized by vows in the presence of God and God’s people. It is a holy union between a man and woman. Your wife is yours because of the vow (solemn promise) or covenant you made with her in God’s presence. God is a covenant keeping God, and so God does not want us to break those vows.

Have you been filling the place of worship with your weeping and wailing because you don’t get what you want from GOD? And then you ask, ‘Why?’ The Lord may be saying to you take a look at your marriage vows, and keep your solemn promise.

I know there is no perfect marriage, and so we may have falling short in our marriage vows in one way or more. If you agree with me, walk up to your loving spouse and say these three simple words “I am sorry”.

Shalom!