14 February | Youth
«Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant.» Malachi 2:14
Marriage is a serious thing. The word “covenant” appears in today’s verse to say that marriage is not a mere contract, but a covenant. And what is this? In the Bible, this term refers to a permanent relationship. We need to understand that marriage is a covenant relationship between God and the couple.
The Hebrew word we translate as agreement is berith. The root of this expression means “to cut in half” or “to cut in two.” In Old Testament times, when two people wanted to make a pact, they had to make a blood sacrifice. Those involved would take an animal and divide it in half. Then, they walked back and forth between the parts of the animal seven times. In this ritual, they were saying: “If I do not fulfill my part of this pact, may the same thing that happened to this animal happen to me.” Making an alliance was a serious matter.
At that time, there was a part of the wedding ceremony in which the bride and groom appeared before a priest. The priest took a blade and made a small incision on the bride’s and groom's hands. Then, he brought both hands together so that their blood mixed. According to Leviticus 17:14, blood represents life. When the couple's blood mixed, it was as if their lives also mixed. Then the priest tied their hands with a decorative cord. With this, it was demonstrated to the witnesses and to God that, from then on, they were not two, but just one. “What God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Marriage must be legalized in Heaven before it can be consummated on Earth. From the moment God turns two people into one, no one is authorized to undo this bond. Marriage is a metaphor to represent God's relationship with the church. God is faithful and never abandons us. Likewise, husband and wife must remain united in love until death parts them.