"When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be liable for any other public duty. He shall be free at home one year to be happy with his wife whom he has taken.
This passage tells us several very important things about what God wants for us:
- God understands our practical needs - a newly married person will be distracted and pulled in many different ways, especially when children come along. He wisely commands Israel not to pull a man from his wife.
- God places much importance on marriage - this condition allows a marriage to begin on a solid foundation of companionship, fellowship, and service towards one another. While some might say that you can get these things without marriage, anyone observant who has been married will know that these things become much, much deeper during the early years of marriage than they can ever be for the unmarried. Also, marriage as a symbol of Christ's relationship with the church in the New Testament rests upon the understanding of marriage created in the Old Testament. God desired to make this a valuable and stand-out relationship above all others so that we would have some idea of the value of Christ's relationship with his bride, the church.
- God places much importance on the happiness of his people - marriage is a blessing and God would have us enjoy his blessings.