RESTORATION
God is the one who ordained marriage. He has established the marital law: these laws concern a male lying with a virgin female (Ex. 22:16, Dt. 22:13-20, 28, 29). Thus marriage of a virgin female occurs in one of three ways: choice, seduction and rape. (The only other type of sanctified marriage that may occur is due to the death of a spouse, concerning a person as distinguished above, as is referred to in Rom. 7:3. The death of a spouse does not desecrate an opportunity to marry; fornication does and devastates.) When a couple enters into marital unity according to God's specified marital establishment, then it is God who has joined them together. The Lord warns that no one should separate this marital yoke (Mk. 10:9). Therefore, concerning a case of choice, it is very important that a man and woman soberly cherish one another as a prospective future mate and perhaps offer prayer before ever completing the sexual act which constitutes marriage. (It is a blessing to the soul for a person to establish the practice of reading, praying and fasting before his or her pre-marital years.)
Now let's consider a less mutual happy case. For instance, in a case of seduction of a virgin female who is not betrothed (pledged to some man by the father of the female), the issues of virginity and non-betrothal, and bride price are essentials according to Ex. 22:16. Even if the father refuses to give his daughter to the man (the father has the authority to finalize the decision), the bride price is still due from the seducer and hypothetically, the daughter would be directed to live a single life as a bride separated from her husband (Ex. 22:17).
By the way, the ancient, but good and healthy tradition of betrothal needs to be learned, practiced to some extent and revived in our apostate era. It would be wise for a father to anticipate a bride price for his daughter. Suggestively, for instance, a father before giving his daughter in marriage so that he could have some assurance that she will be taken care of by a faithful man with a good Biblical foundation could demand first that a prospective son-in-law read the New Testament in Greek. Imagine what a difference this would make! Ignorance of this custom and coming short of its principles has caused family leadership and unity to deteriorate, and unchastity to abound. Esau caused his parents to have grief when he married (Gn. 26:34, 35). Today many parents bring grief to their children by not caring and preparing them for marriage. Rules alone will not work; there must be parental love and example. It is almost rare today if you find men and women knowledgeable and firm enough to train their young women according to the standards set forth in Tit. 2:2-4. However, even though most people, including many Christians, have not been well acquainted nor properly understood this custom, at least, always remember female virginity is an essential factor in marriage and virgin female chastity is prerequisite to an opportunity for marriage. Look unto the Bible for spiritual direction; do not be misled by the leaders of our time. Many of the people today who are esteemed great in religion have been irreligious, and social prosperity has been neglected and trampled upon in this area. Furthermore, modern law courts have added to overlook consistently the issues concerning the Biblical institutions of marriage.
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