In Isaiah, in reference to the New Covenant – that covenant of which Jesus is mediator and Lord – God says,
“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” [Isa 55:3]
Again, in Jeremiah, He says,
“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.” [Jer 32:40]
This “everlasting covenant,” which The LORD has brought us into by the blood of Jesus, (as Jesus said, “this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” [Mt 26:28]), yes, this “covenant of peace,” [Ezek 37:26] that God has entered into with us is everlasting. It cannot be altered nor changed, for He who “cannot lie” has promised. [Titus 1:2] As it says,
“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” [Heb 6:17-19]
This covenant is exceedingly sure; for it was promised by God to God, as we have read, “by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie.” And because this is so, we have a strong and everlasting consolation in Christ Jesus upon whose blood these promises have been sealed. We can be everlastingly assured of this good hope, this “everlasting consolation and good hope, [given to us] through grace,” [2 Th 2:16] and rest our lives upon it.
Having seen briefly of God’s covenant with us, let us now consider a husband’s covenant with His wife, and meditate thereupon. For if God has been so faithful to us, who has said, “I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness,” [Hos 2:20] and who has also promised sweetly, “He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee;” [Deut 31:6] and, “[The LORD] forsaketh not His saints,” [Psa 37:28] then surely we can take the promise He gave to Moses, “certainly I will be with thee.” [Ex 3:12] Certainly, in thick or thin as it were, in affliction or ease – yes, no matter where, sickness or health, any place whatsoever – always and forever The Lord Jesus Christ will be with us. Therefore, as husbands, we too must be steadfast in marriage, abiding in that covenant which we have entered into. As Jesus said, “what therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” [Mt 19:6]
Regarding marriage, Paul tells us, “But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.” [1 Cor 7:17] And, “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.” [1 Cor 7:20] As we see here, marriage is not simply a covenant, entered into of our own free accord, but also a calling given to us by God Himself. And if we are called into marriage, we ought to abide in marriage, just as The Lord has called: for The LORD “hateth divorce.” [Mal 2:16] So then, let us, whether we be married or whether we be single, as Paul admonishes, “therein abide with God.” [1 Cor 7:24] For we shall, if we strive to obey God in our calling, receive the necessary grace for such a task. As Paul wrote in the first chapter of the same letter, “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are brought to fulness by him, in all speech, and in all knowledge.” [1 Cor 1:4-5] Through Christ we are brought to fulness and given what we need, given the necessary grace for what He calls us to, so that even if we presume ourselves without strength, or feel lacking for a certain trial, event, or whatsoever it may be, we must in faith continue to abide in the calling: surely, The Lord will provide that which is necessary, even as we are promised, “The LORD is my shepherd; I am not lacking.” [Psa 23:1]
Whatever circumstances God has placed us into as it relates to marriage, we must abide in God. For if we are to truly claim that promise, “I am not lacking,” we must abide in Christ Jesus, in God; as we are also promised, “they that seek The LORD shall not lack any good thing;” [Psa 34:10] and, “The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him [to bind oneself to The LORD and His will], to the soul that seeketh Him.” [Lam 3:25] Yes, abide in Jesus through His word and through prayer, binding yourself tightly to Him; because Jesus tells us plainly, “without me ye can do nothing.” [John 15:5] And if we find ourselves in great need; if we find ourselves quite lacking for what our marriage requires, the solution is to, as we have seen, “therein abide with God,” for it is by this constant practice that we can do all things, as it is written, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” [Phil 4:13]
Further, let us abide in marriage, in that sacred promise which we have entered into with “the wife of [our] covenant,” [Mal 2:14] with contentment. That is, we are not to having wandering eyes nor heart, but firmly and resolutely “cleave unto [our] wife,” [Gen 2:24] even as Christ has done and still yet does for us, even as it says, “He loved them unto the end.” [Jn 13:1] Have you, good husband, found Christ to be steadfast and faithful? Have you tasted and seen that He is good in this way also: that He shall never leave us nor forsake us? How then, if we are to picture His love in marriage, to leave our wives – or, if not leaving them in divorce, leaving them emotionally or spiritually? My good man, dear husband, place your gaze upon Christ Jesus and His love, and His steadfastness! How would you fare if Jesus your Lord were as you were to your wife? Would He still be fulfilling that age-long promise, “He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee[?]” [Deut 31:6, 8] Therefore, In all points of marriage we are to be content; for God has distributed these circumstances to us. We are to abide in this calling, for which we have given an oath before God, with contentment, not looking for something better, but faithfully loving our wives as Jesus does for us. We are to walk, as Jesus walked on earth for us: faithfully, willingly, and joyfully. Moreover, in the Psalms we are encouraged, “trust in The LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.” [Psa 37:3] And in Hebrews, “…be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never fail to uphold thee, nor leave thee in a situation without aid.” [Heb 13:5b] Therefore let us dwell in the “land” of marriage and do good to our spouse. as we are admonished in Romans, “..persist in a fixed dedication to that which is good,” [Rom 12:9] and let us be content with what and who God has given us.