Divine Husband and Wife in an Everlasting Covenant

We praise you, our Maker, God of the whole earth! For you are the Faithful Husband to your people, and the Lord of hosts is your name; as the Holy One of Israel, you are our Redeemer. You have pledged yourself as our everlasting husband to us in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. You faithfully remain in covenant relationship with your people.

Faithful Husband, may we know you more intimately as we read your Word. Amen. (Isaiah 54:5, Hosea 2:19-20)

Scripture Reading - Mark 10:1-13 (ESV)
     And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.
     And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said,“Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
     And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
     And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to live in us. He continues to teach us all truth from your Word, helping us to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. By the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, we are being prepared as your bride. (Titus 3:4-7)

Lord Jesus, by your Spirit soften the parts of our hearts that are hard due to unbelief. We call on your Spirit to convict us of the sins committed in our unbelief. We confess our sins of infidelity in our relationship with you and others, pride, arrogance, self-righteousness...Please forgive us.

Father, the beauty of our relationship with you is to be reflected in the marriage of a husband and wife. May our marriages honor you, displaying the mystery of the marriage between Christ and the Church. Just as husband and wife become one flesh, may we remain in Christ, bearing much fruit for your glory! Amen. (Ephesians 5, John 15)


English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.