Continued from Remarriage Part 1—concluding part
There may be cases of young and unfortunate widows who need support with remarriages. They may have children to support. A remarriage with a divorced man may light up their lives. Or a remarriage with a poor virgin girl sustains a desirable life. What could be better than this? If a woman had been unjustly divorced, then it will be a good thing if a man married her irrespective of his background.
Sex is the strongest built-in urge, given by God, which both man and beast experience. Therefore, God can understand this weakness in a person. David committed adultery culminating in deliberate ending of the life of a person. Nevertheless, he was greatly used by God for other positive attributes of him. It is not that I want to quote this as precedent to seek forgiveness for such kinds of grave sins! What I mean is that one should not think that broken marriage is the end of life of a person! He may find another genuine person who can help in the rest of his life. The person might have been unjustly treated in a previous marriage. Here is an opportunity to make good what was missing in the previous arrangement. Life should go on. One broken relationship should not become a dead end. It should be treated as a bend meant for deviation to get back to a new life. Our life should not be allowed to be decided or ruined by a wicked and egoist person. We should allow God to work on us; certainly, He can understand our needs, weaknesses and feelings.
Clergy and ministers who have not really received any authority from Jesus Christ to marry two people, cannot say they cannot grant divorce to a couple when one of them violated the vows of marriage and not willing to repent sincerely with humility even advised several times by the elders involved and concerned.
All are not like Socrates. Perhaps, he became a philosopher married to a shrew! How can the world run effectively and usefully if all became philosophers?
An ideal wife is clearly pictured in Proverbs 31:10-31 as follows:
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates” (Proverbs 31:10-31).
Of course, it may not be always possible to get a woman as wife who will satisfy all the characteristics listed above. There ought to be ‘give’ and ‘take’ policy to keep the family chariot moving without bumps and breakdowns. It should not be ‘you give’ and ‘I take’ condition all the time!
“Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands” (Proverbs 14:1).
A righteous man will have to detach himself from a wife who is driven by a devilish intent of destroying the family to satisfy her satanic ways, desires and means.
-0-0-0-
Remarriage part concluded
