2. Yet you ask, "For what reason?" Because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have acted treacherously against her, though she was your marriage partner and your wife by covenant.

3. Marriage is not a CONTRACT it is a COVENANT Marriage is a life time covenant. There is only one thing that RIGHTFULLY breaks this covenant and that is death.

4. For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband.

5. Essential elements of a covenant marriage: I. Bible - From the Bible comes convictions, the thing we are missing today.

6. II. A Willing Heart Essential elements of a covenant marriage:

7. I Cor. 13:4 Love suffereth long (Love never gives up) I Cor. 13:4 Love envieth not (Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have). It doesn’t covet another man’s wife or another woman’s husband. I Cor. 13:5 Love doth not behave itself unseemly (does not behave rudely) I Cor. 13:5 Love is not easily provoked, (Doesn’t fly off the handle) I Cor. 13:5 Love seeketh not her own, (Isn’t always “me first,”) I Cor. 13:5 Love thinke t h no evil; (taketh not account of evil; Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others) Essential elements of a covenant marriage:

8. IV. Trust One of the Old Testament words for trust, "BATACH", has a meaning of careless or free of concern- with him or her. One of the Old Testament words for trust, "BATACH", has a meaning of careless or free of concern- with him or her. Even in relationships were trust hasn’t been breached, trust has to be maintained. This is done through… This is done through… 1. Honesty 2. Accountability 3. Respect 1. Honesty 2. Accountability 3. Respect Essential elements of a covenant marriage:

9. V. Work - Great marriages don’t just happen. Essential elements of a covenant marriage:

10. The Covenan t That Binds