Covenant Marriage

Covenant Marriage : 

Covenant Marriage

Introduction : 

12/1/2008 2 www.suscopts.org Introduction If God really got married, the logical question is, “When?” The answer emerged when we learn about an ancient ceremony used between two tribes to make a peace treaty or to promise a boy and girl in marriage. The fathers would slaughter a goat or other animal, cut the carcass in half, and then at sundown walk barefoot through the blood path. The slaughtered animals symbolized what would happen to either party if they violated the terms of the agreement.

Introduction : 

12/1/2008 3 www.suscopts.org Introduction This was the ceremony God chose to use when he entered into a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15. God asked Abram to take a heifer, a goat and a ram, plus a dove and a young pigeon, and slaughter them. But there was an unusual twist in this ceremony. While Abraham and his descendents were committed to this covenant with God, only God walked the blood path. Thereby signifying that if Israel violated the agreement, God would pay the price with His own blood.

Introduction : 

12/1/2008 4 www.suscopts.org Introduction Technically, Abram and his descendants weren't married to God in the same sense that we understand a wedding ceremony today. It would be more accurate to say they were betrothed, which means that they were promised to each other. It is the same for Christ and His bride, the church. The wedding feast celebrating this marriage remains in the future at the wedding supper of the Lamb.

Introduction : 

12/1/2008 5 www.suscopts.org Introduction In our culture, couples are first engaged — they declare their intent to marry — but either party may back out before the wedding day, and there is no legal consequence for breaking an engagement. Such was not the case with betrothal. A betrothal was an lifelong contract that could be severed only by unfaithfulness or death. Though a couple might not celebrate and consummate their marriage for years, legally they were still considered married.

Introduction : 

12/1/2008 6 www.suscopts.org Introduction Such was the case with Joseph and St. Mary when she was found with child by the Holy Spirit. If a girl who was betrothed was found not to be a virgin before the wedding feast, when the marriage was consummated, she could be executed. This explains why Joseph, upon hearing that St. Mary was pregnant, decided not to make a public spectacle of his wife but to put her away privately — that is, until God spoke to him and revealed the identity of the child in her womb.

Introduction : 

12/1/2008 7 www.suscopts.org Introduction I wonder what the impact was on the children who witnessed a covenant sealed in blood by their fathers. Though they might hardly know each other, and indeed it might be years before they were ready to celebrate the wedding, they surely understood the commitment being made. There was only one way to escape from this marriage — by death.

Marriage Today : 

12/1/2008 8 www.suscopts.org Marriage Today When a couple marries today, a lot of effort goes into the wedding. According to Bride's magazine, when the average couple adds up the costs of a wedding dress, tuxedos, dresses for the bridesmaids, rings, invitations, flowers, music, photographer, wedding cake and reception, they spend more than $19,000. But how many understand this mystery as an irrevocable commitment to each other with God as their witness.

Covenant : 

12/1/2008 9 www.suscopts.org Covenant Today most people don't understand what covenant means. Our culture is built on contracts, and everyone knows that any lawyer can find a hole if you really want out. So contracts get longer and longer as the parties try to close all possible holes, but litigation increases because people change their minds and want release from their agreements.

Covenant : 

12/1/2008 10 www.suscopts.org Covenant One contract that is increasing in usage is the prenuptial agreement. A covenant is not at all like a prenuptial agreement. For one thing, there is no escape clause. In ancient times, a covenant was a legal agreement, but with two major differences from contracts today. A covenant was made before Deity. And the penalty for breaking it was death. People might negotiate out of contracts, but not out of a covenant.

Covenant : 

12/1/2008 11 www.suscopts.org Covenant The covenant between God and Abraham was more binding than a wedding certificate is today. God impressed on Abraham the importance of the covenant: “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you.” While Abraham didn’t walk the blood path, there was a symbol of his acceptance of the agreement. The proof of Abraham’s commitment was that he and every male descendant was circumcised (Genesis 17:9-14).

Covenant : 

12/1/2008 12 www.suscopts.org Covenant But in the covenant of blood, God traveled the blood path alone. By doing so, He said that if Abraham or any of his descendants violated this contract, God would pay the price with His own blood. There would come a day when God would heroically have to keep that promise. For centuries in Liturgical churches the service of holy matrimony has been clearly spelled out word for word.

Covenant : 

12/1/2008 13 www.suscopts.org Covenant In several liturgies; it is amazing to notice the similarities between the church service of holy matrimony and the Biblical concept of covenant. For example, the marriage service is conducted before God. Historically a covenant was always a religious ceremony, made before God or gods as witnesses. It was the one treaty between enemies that was enforceable, because neither party was willing to risk the wrath of their deity.

Covenant : 

12/1/2008 14 www.suscopts.org Covenant In the Coptic Crowning Ceremony, the priest addressing the bridegroom and the bride says: “Now since you have been present at this blessed time before the sanctuary of the Lord of Hosts and His holy altar and this Orthodox gathering, and you have been joined by this blessed marriage and holy crowning…etc.” Again and again, the couple and witnesses are reminded several times that God is witness to this union.

Covenant : 

12/1/2008 15 www.suscopts.org Covenant Second, a covenant had witnesses. Likewise, the crowning ceremony is made before human witnesses. Why is that important? A priest challenged a man who had just announced he was leaving his wife of six years. "Oh no you're not!" said the priest. "You made a vow to love your wife until death. I know. I was there. Now you stay with her and work things out.“ The man was shocked, but he stayed, and today their marriage is much healthier. I wonder what would happen if, like this priest, more witnesses challenged couples to fulfill their wedding covenant.

Covenant : 

12/1/2008 16 www.suscopts.org Covenant Third, both a covenant and a traditional marriage ceremony declared the seriousness of the commitment. In the Coptic Crowning Ceremony, the priest utters these words in his opening exhortation to the congregation and the couple standing before him: “According to this rite and this law, so also the rest of the fathers, the believers, took one wife in purity and cleanness for the sake of descendants and childbearing. So, you should know each other’s rights and submit yourselves to one another, and let each of you be faithful to the other according to our teacher St. Paul the apostle: ‘the wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body but the wife does’."

Covenant : 

12/1/2008 17 www.suscopts.org Covenant As you reflect on the Crowning Ceremony, you will be struck by the one-sidedness of your commitment. There were no qualifiers or disclaimers. You had promised to love your spouse regardless of his/her actions or attitude, for as long as you both shall live, regardless of how well or poorly any of you behaved. No doubt there is a strong assumption that both of you would reciprocate in your love for each other. However, the Crowning Ceremony said nothing about being loved back.

Covenant : 

12/1/2008 18 www.suscopts.org Covenant By this covenant, each of you assumed 100 percent responsibility for the marriage. That's the nature of covenant. Each party makes an irrevocable vow. Fourth, something of great value was exchanged. God wanted to give Abraham and his descendents a country, but He did it in the context of family. Did Abraham realize he was actually getting the best end of the deal? He was entering into a long-term relationship with the God of the universe.

Covenant : 

12/1/2008 19 www.suscopts.org Covenant The land was very important, but it wasn't the most important thing — it was a symbol of the value of their relationship. I am impressed again by the nature of the exchange in the Coptic Crowning Ceremony. The priest says: “In the name of our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ we declare the union of the possessions (عقد املاك)and the marriage of …”

Covenant : 

12/1/2008 20 www.suscopts.org Covenant They give also their bodies to each other according to the teaching of St. Paul. In other words, the husband gave everything he had to his wife, including his body and his earthly possessions. No longer were there his or her possessions. Everything was theirs. Why is this important? Because in giving our all, we actually gain what we want.

Conclusion: Permanence of Marriage : 

12/1/2008 21 www.suscopts.org Conclusion: Permanence of Marriage Obviously millions of couples bother under the idea of covenant, feeling that the permanence fences them in. But instead they should feel secure within these boundaries. Without the possibility of divorce, the couple would know that regardless of their problems, they will be there for each other. And when they disagree or even fight, they have to better figure out a way to resolve their differences, for they are going to be together for a very long time.