When God designed marriage, He created a physical relationship which would illustrate God’s spiritual relationship with His people. The covenant of marriage parallels the covenant of union with God.
When God made a covenant with His people at Mount Sinai, He clarified the guidelines which would best nurture a healthy relationship. The Ten Commandments were given as principles which would guard the covenant.
Just as there are principles which protect our relationship with God, our Covenant Partner, so there are principles which protect our relationship with our earthly covenant partner. The guidelines are very similar since the two covenants are parallel relationships.
May I suggest, then, the Ten Commandments for Marriage?
The Ten Commandments for Marriage
- Thou shalt have no other lovers in your life.
- Thou shalt have no affections or priorities which displace thy spouse.
- Thou shalt not speak of thy spouse in a dishonoring way.
- Remember to schedule a date with thy spouse. Guard it, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but on the seventh day, thou shalt relax and recharge with thy spouse.
- Honor the father and the mother of thy spouse.
- Thou shalt not wound with anger, cut with cruel words, or kill hope.
- Thou shalt not commit adultery, in thought or in deed.
- Thou shalt not rob one another of attention, esteem, affection, or kindness.
- Thou shalt not lie or deceive.
- Thou shalt not compete or resent. For you “are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Mark 10:8-9, NIV)
(Modeled after Exodus 20: 1-17, KJV)
