How does Deuteronomy 22:28 connect with the sanctity of marriage in Scripture? The Text under Consideration “If a man finds a young woman, a virgin who is not pledged in marriage, seizes her and lies with her, and they are discovered,” (Deuteronomy 22:28) Historical Setting • Ancient Israel treated sexual intimacy as belonging exclusively within marriage. • A virgin who was “not pledged” had no husband-to-be to defend her honor; the law stepped in to protect her future. • The subsequent verse (v. 29) required the offending man to marry her, pay her father fifty shekels of silver, and forfeit the right to divorce her “all his days.” Protection and Restoration • The command forced the man to provide lifelong security—financial, social, and emotional—for the woman he violated. • It upheld her dignity by insisting that she not be left disgraced or unmarriageable. • The hefty bride-price served as restitution to the family and a deterrent to others. Marriage as Covenant, Not Convenience • By demanding marriage, the law underscored that sexual union creates a bond meant to be permanent (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6). • Divorce prohibition in v. 29 emphasized that the covenant is indissoluble, echoing God’s unbreakable faithfulness (Malachi 2:14-16). Harmony with Other Scriptures • Exodus 22:16-17 required a similar payment and marriage when a man seduced an unbetrothed virgin—showing consistent concern for purity and protection. • Hebrews 13:4: “Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled.” • 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 calls believers to “abstain from sexual immorality” and to control their bodies “in holiness and honor.” The Sanctity of Marriage Highlighted • Sexual activity is never casual in God’s eyes; it carries covenant implications. • Violating purity invoked legal, financial, and lifelong relational consequences—signaling how precious marriage is to the Lord. • The requirement of marriage after the act emphasized that intimate union and covenant commitment are inseparable. Timeless Takeaways • God values marital faithfulness so highly that He embedded safeguards in civil law to preserve it. • Purity isn’t merely personal morality; it’s tied to community well-being and divine covenant. • Believers today honor the same principle by reserving intimacy for the lifelong covenant of marriage, treating every person with dignity, and upholding commitments once made. |
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