Divorce and remarriage

Dear Jolan, you have asked a question that is a sensitive subject especially for young believers. I will try to be gentle. A question I would like address is “Is marriage for life?” Please consider the following scriptures. 1 Corinthians ch7:39 “A wife is bound as long as she lives, to her husband; but if her husband dies, she is at Liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.” Romans ch7: “For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.” So, I trust you agree that marriage is for life. This leads me to my next question, I would like to address. Can a lawful marriage ever be released prior to death. Jesus said “What God has joined together, let not man separate. (Mark ch10:9) I trust you believe this as well. But can God forgive a forsaken covenant of marriage. Or as you put it, divorce and remarriage and allow you to start fresh after the New Birth. Please consider 2 Samuel ch21:1-6 A covenant had been broken. A covenant which Joshua had made with the Gibeonites (Joshua ch9). Saul had broken the Covenant and David paid for it. I believe breaking a covenant especially a marriage covenant is serious. Not only has a lie been told but a flesh which God has joined together has been separated. (Mark ch10:6-8) There are certain sins which God calls for reconciliation, for David regarding the Gibeonites, several of Saul’s descendants had to die. If God upheld the covenant made with the Gibeonites, perhaps over Centuries, with multiple changes of leadership, does it seem likely that he would forget about a marriage covenant simply because we ask God to forgive us our sins? Please consider Philemon ch1:10. I appeal to you for my son, whom I have begotten in my chains, Onesimus. Who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and me. You therefore now receive him, that is, my own heart. Whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might to be by compulsion, but voluntary.  I do not Paul, believed that Onesimus was a freeman simply because he had converted to Christianity. He still belonged to his Master, Philemon. I do not believe Onesimus had ever made a covenant with his Master. But he still belonged to him. Did Christ teach reconciliation? Please consider Matthew ch5:23-24. “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you. Leave there your gift before the altar, and first go and be reconciled to your brother. And then come and offer your gift.” I hope this helps. God bless you.

1Corinthians 1:7 "32 But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33 but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord."