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Is Covenant One-Sided
- Thread starter Maddog
- Start date
Ezekiel 16:8 is not chronological... The bathing in water would be the crossing of the red sea. The covenant would be made at Mt. Sinai.
A covenant can be undertaken by an individual, by two persons, or by a group. Just because something is done one way doesn't require everyone to do it the same. God established a covenant with Abraham differently than Abraham established with Abimelech, for example. I think we need to be careful about placing restrictions or requirements on people that God doesn't place.
Indeed. I promise to protect my children. That's a promise between myself and my Creator.
Sometimes we don't choose to make a Covenant, but still exist in one, and have the duties thereofe.Indeed. I promise to protect my children. That's a promise between myself and my Creator.
For example, your children are required to honor you as their mother, and to obey your instruction.
Those are Covenantal responsibilities that they were born into, and raised in.
Our Father in Heaven gave them to you, and you to them.
I think citizenship is another example.
When Moriah and I got married she didn’t give any vows. Her agreement was total submission. She was surrendering her will. There was nothing to agree to.
I did make vows thiugh. I was voluntarily giving assurances to her and her father about what kind of husband I would strive to be.
The covenant was mutual but it was only expressive on one side. Her part was very simple. Mine was more complex and needed clarification.
I don’t know if that’s applicable to the question but I would think all covenants are mutual, one side offers terms and the other side agrees to them, but they can still only have terms expressed on one side.
I did make vows thiugh. I was voluntarily giving assurances to her and her father about what kind of husband I would strive to be.
The covenant was mutual but it was only expressive on one side. Her part was very simple. Mine was more complex and needed clarification.
I don’t know if that’s applicable to the question but I would think all covenants are mutual, one side offers terms and the other side agrees to them, but they can still only have terms expressed on one side.
So like one prepares the contract, other party signs?
One makes offer, other accepts?
One makes offer, other accepts?
I wonder how important the particular vows really are.
It seems to me that the essential nature of marriage is defined by God. Each party has roles and responsibilities, and these are written into the fabric of Creation itself, as well as the instruction of Scripture.
The husband is to lead, protect, instruct, correct, provide, and normally father children. The wife (or wives) follow, submit, help, and normally bear and raise children.
I suppose particular vows or promises might help clarify your understanding of these roles and responsibilities, and provide additional assurance that one is serious about fulfilling them.
On the other hand, even if one take vows that are totally contrary to these (such as totally egalitarian ones where the husband promises to submit to the wife), I think God still requires you to fulfill the roles and responsibilities that He has established.