Permanency of Marriage

[bearbear]

Originally Posted by Nell

What did Jeremiah have to say about divorce in the Old Testament? Does this mean that God himself divorced the Northern Kingdom?
... (Jeremiah 3:8) And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce;

This could be a good argument for why separation or divorce could be permitted. However, Jesus seemed to be more focused on forbidding divorce and remarriage together rather than divorce itself.

Luke 16:18
Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Paul also seemed to strictly oppose remarriage much more so than separation.

1 Cor 7:10-11
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

Even after divorcing Israel, God remains faithful to Israel and calls for Israel's return in Jeremiah a few verses later.

Jeremiah 3:12 (ESV)
“Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever.”

Jeremiah 3:14 (ESV)
“Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.”

In Hosea, God declares that one day Israel will call God "My Husband". So God never "remarried" another and Israel will be reconciled to God.

Hosea 2:16 (ESV)
“And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me ‘My Husband,’ and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’”