Marriage is God's creation ..... not man's. No study of what the Bible teaches about divorce can reach a right conclusion unless we first understand God's view of marriage.

In the garden of Eden, Eve was God's special gift to Adam, to provide companionship and help. They were joined in a dependant relationship in which their union was to be so complete that, in God's sight, they were no longer two, but one.

In answer to questions about divorce, Jesus restated his Father's purpose for marriage, and used that simple creation story to reject any human authority to separate a union joined by God.

"What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder." (Matt. 19:6)

The Christian marriage covenant is based on promises which express the purpose for which marriage was given.

Unconditional love is the first promise. The two partners commit themselves to each other, to live together with respect and care in all possible situations, whether in prosperity or poverty, sickness or health, good times or bad.

It is a covenant which promises that each partner will be faithful in a relationship which excludes all others.

It binds the partners irrevocably to each other for life. There is no room for a change of heart. Only the death of one party can end the obligation of the other.

It is a covenant witnessed and sealed by God.

Neither party's commitment to the marriage can be changed by the behaviour of the other. If one party sins against the other, the covenant provides a lifelong open door for repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation.

A further obligation is the sacrificial giving of each to the other in all situations. The love envisaged by the covenant and the extent of the sacrifice required is as great as Christ's love and sacrificial giving for his church. (Eph 5:25-28)

For those of us who are married, God says that our relationship with Him, and our place in eternity, depend on our continued faithfulness to our promises to our marriage partner, even when that is at the cost of our own comfort.

"Who shall dwell on thy holy hill? ...... He who swears to his own hurt and does not change." (Psalm 15:1-4)

Bible teaching about divorce has its roots firmly in the unchangeable obligations of the marriage covenant.