COVENANT SECURITY

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.

(Eph 5:31)

The battles we fight are not against flesh and blood. Scripture clearly states that our battles are against unseen forces of darkness, (Eph 6:12). These entities belong to a well-organized kingdom under the control of Satan, the father of all lies (John 8:44), and in each and every attack, the schemes are refined and evil, (Eph 4:14; Eph 6:11). First and foremost, these schemes are aimed at the core of our society – family relationships. To be more precise, if the enemy succeeds in distorting the relationship between a husband and his wife, he immediately and effectively distorts the core of every child’s security, namely his family.

Almighty God instituted marriage as a sacred relationship between a man and a woman to ensure security, not only in the relationship between the spouses but also for the children. The only witness unifying Adam and Eve in holy matrimony was Almighty God, establishing a covenant between them with these words, ‘For this cause, a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh,’ (Gen 2:24). This ancient basic covenant established between a man and a woman before God as a witness has never changed, for the principle stands – ‘what God puts together no man can separate,’ (Mat 19:6).

There are three very important elements in this covenant phrase, namely to leave, to cleave, and to become one. If a man and a woman would adhere to these basic covenant principles, they would not only ensure security in their personal relationship, but they would also create a family environment with an emotional safety net for their children.

The phrase “to leave” indicates the important principle of leaving ‘any other’ human relationship, even your father and mother, thus honoring the opinion and needs of your husband or wife above the opinions and needs of others. (This principle does not nullify the instruction to honor our parents.) In essence, every marriage relationship should lead to a new beginning, creating a new unity and unique family setting based on the principles truths of the Word, yet separate from any other family unit.

Moreover, the phrase “to cleave” is a very strong expression derived from the Hebrew word ‘devek,’ meaning, ‘to glue together.’ It is the foundation of devotion, for a covenant relationship is a relationship based on an attitude of ‘endurance and patience.’ If only we could re-establish this essential principle in the most basic relationship in our society! We are all human and none of us are perfected in our characters. It is required of us to practice patience towards our fellow believers, and it is required of us to endure hardship in conquering the hardships of life. Yet, how quickly we fall from being patient with our spouses, and we easily give up when we face hardship together.

Last, but not the least, when we are yoked together in the closest human relationship ever, we do so with the knowledge that we do not have the same personality, the same upbringing, or the same background. Without a doubt, these differences will always affect our unity. It is here where we enter into the unique opportunity of personal refinement in our walk with Jesus Christ our Messiah. Iron sharpens iron, (Prov 27:17). If we are willing to allow our heavenly Father to prune us, and our Messiah to wash us with His Word, our closest and most intimate earthly relationship will render us mature in Christ, bearing an abundant fruit of the Spirit, (John 15:1-11). Whatever the Word require in a relationship with our neighbours, are first and foremost required of us in marriage (Luke 6:27-45), thus ensuring unity on the deepest level of any earthly relationship.

The apostle Paul encourages us ‘to submit to one another’ (1 Peter 5:5), and not to seek our own interest first, (1 Cor 13:4-7). Surely, if we adhere to these basic covenant principles and lay down our lives for one another, the unique unity between a man and a woman in holy matrimony will not only render each one a garment without spot or wrinkle (Eph 5:25-27), but will ensure a secure family environment for the children.

The relationship between a husband and his wife is, in essence, a very clear picture of the relationship between Jesus Christ and every member of His body, (Eph 5:22-33). Applying the aforementioned covenant principles to our personal relationship with Messiah, will render security in our personal walk with Him and produce abundant fruit in our lives. Let us thus not only strive to keep our covenant in holy matrimony, but let us also keep covenant in relationship with Messiah, our Bridegroom, (2 Cor 11:2).

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