That's a bit vague.
You see, if one were married to the devil...they should not welcome them back.
But on the other hand, if one was just a backsliding wannabe christian looking for forgiveness, then it is a choice. The reason why I say it is a choice, is that if the bond is already broken, even God may have other plans. Now I know that goes against the common idea of Christian marriage, but look at the precedence set down by God...not only did He divorce Israel (not making void His salvation plans for them), but He also went on to another (the gentiles) after Israel had rejected Him. Of course, that does not give one license to divorce or have affairs according to "what God has joined together let not man separate." The point being, that it is God who determines any such course of action, not a man or his wife. Be careful! In fact, because of the seriousness of this seemingly unbiblical alternative, I would advise that anyone faced with any sort of discourse along these lines, first say NO to yourself, as well as NO to your spouse, and even say NO to God--and let it be Him who corrects you, if and only if He wills...just as Paul being appointed by Jesus to be an apostle to the gentiles first exhausted every effort to maintain relations with the Jews before moving on to the gentiles who would then predominately make up the bride of Christ.
In other words, there is a time perhaps for both, a time to forgive and reconcile, and a time to let the cord be severed--but not by our own hand. Which is also the case for possible remarriage after the death of a spouse. God decides. Therefore, resist both divorce and death, and yield only to God.
Really considering what you said. I am reading Hosea again. A few things stand out to me as they can’t be just random.
First) where Yahweh instructed Hosea to marry a harlot.
Is it random that Jesus Christ instructed the same? “Go make unto yourselves friends with the unrighteous mammon, so that (not if but) when it fails, they will receive you into everlasting habitations.” The same outcome of what Hosea was told of receiving her back and welcoming her in returning.
Yes. God put her away for her whoredoms but also (if I understand correctly) Hosea 2:19-20 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea,
I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. [20]
I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness:
and thou shalt know the Lord.
Second) abstinence.
Hosea 3:3-5 And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days;
thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee. [4] For the children of Israel shall abide
many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: [5]
Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.
To me the above helps with Abstinence/fasting.
1 Corinthians 7:3-5 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. [4] The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. [5]
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time,
that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
How could that possibly have anything to do with …remaining without a king, without a sacrifice, without an image? A lot (Imo). Clearer than the sexual indications when God was always instructing he was sick of their fasts and long prayers and speeches, sick of their sacrifices and burnt offerings. Where He asked them “is this the fast that I called for?” …or is “the fast I called for to set the captives free? To give sight to the blind?” Which is what Jesus Christ came to fulfill.
That the husband and wife give themselves unto fasting for a season …the season, time of the gentiles. that
when they come together again. Consider He said if the blinding of them be for us,
how much more the receiving of them will be. Life from the dead. Is this time of the Gentiles, the time of fasting, the time of setting the captives free? …Israel’s: Defraud you not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
When did they consent to the going of the Gentiles. What is “incontinency”? Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you:
but seeing you put it from you,
and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
But isn’t it for a season? They’re consenting by putting it away from them. For the fast that He called for…to set the captives free?
Maybe that doesn’t make any sense. It doesn’t to me either. But it is enough to show me God has a plan and it is good. They were made blind, so that we could see. Or that is the way I understand it. What does that have to do with marriage. It still shows me how much God suffers and endures and is patient.
Married to the devil? Aren’t we all while blinded?
