*WHAT ABOUT MARITAL RESTITUTION*? (b)
In the previous teaching, we established the fact that polygamy is not God's will. It is not in God's design for marriage. When God gave Adam a wife, it was one woman not a harem of wives.
Genesis 2:24 says, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, and they shall become one flesh". The word "wife" is singular not plural, denoting God's monogamous plan for marriage.
Same applies to the issue of divorce. It is not God's perfect will for anyone to divorce. It is written clearly in scriptures.
Paul says, "But for those who are married, I have A COMMAND that comes not from me, but FROM THE LORD. A WIFE MUST NOT LEAVE HER HUSBAND. [11] But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. AND THE HUSBAND MUST NOT LEAVE HIS WIFE" (1 Cor 7:10-11).
From scriptures, we have established two things about marriage: Monogamy&permanence of marriage. This is God's will for marriage.
There wouldn't have been an issue about marital restitution If man had stayed monogamous and avoided a divorce. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
In the bible, we do not have examples of those who did marital restitution except King Abimelech of Gerar who restored Sarah back to Abraham (Genesis 20). Depending on how we want to look at the issue, it may or may not be termed a restitution.
Abraham lied that Sarah was his sister instead of declaring that she was his wife. He did that for fear of being killed. In the long run, King Abimelech took Abraham's "sister" in with the intention of marrying her. It was an ignorant decision he made until God warned him to return the woman to her husband. He did not know she was another man's wife.
Do not forget that Abimelech was a pagan king. Polygamy was normal to him and others. He probably had other wives yet God did not rebuke him not until he took the wife of a man under Yahweh's covenant. If we'll cite an example of a man who restituted maritally, Abimelech comes close.
There is a great lesson there. When a man/woman is in the world under Satan without relationship with God, his marital actions will not be questioned by God because he is not under God but the moment he comes under covenant with God or tampers with a covenant person, God steps in.