Deuteronomy 24:1

Deuteronomy 24;1 says, When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.  Moses said that if a man got married and no longer found favor in his wife because of some uncleanness in her, though what this might be was not specified, he was to give her a written bill of divorcement and put her out of his house.  It was not adultery, because for this she was to be put to death.  Verse two adds, And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.  After the woman was divorced, she was free to go and become another man’s wife.  Still, divorce was never God's plan, but as Jesus said, was only allowed by God because of the hardness of man’s heart.  Verse three continues, And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;  Moses then referred to what would happen if the second husband divorced her or died.  Verse four concludes, Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.  In this case,the first husband could not marry her again, because this would be an abomination to God.  At that time, the woman had very few rights.  We have made divorce too easy to obtain I believe, and therefore both the husband and wife often enter into a marriage, in which God is not the center to start with, thinking that they will just get a divorce if things don't work out.  Verse five states, When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.  Moses said that when a man married, he was not to go to war or to be chatged with any business that took him away from home a lot for a year.  He was to use this time to make his wife happy.  It would be nice if we had this luxury to take that time off to get to know one another today, but most often both the husband and wife have a job that they must get back to.  Verse six adds, No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man’s life to pledge.  Moses said that the man should not expect to gain materially from his marriage, because he had taken his wife's life for his pledge.  Verse seven says, If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.  Moses said that anyone caught stealing from a fellow Israelite would be put to death.  We today debate the death penalty for murderers, but God has never said that the death penalty should not apply for murder, and often it was specified for much lesser crimes for those who were a part of His people, because these crimes would bring dishonor to Him.  Verse eight states, Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.  Moses said they were to obey the laws concerning leprosy, because it was contagious and could spread through the whole congregation.  Many today, even Christians, would likely say that no one had a right to tell them that they had to separate themselves, even if it would benefit others.  Verse nine adds, Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.  Moses said that even Miriam was not exempt from following the law concerning leprosy.  Our position in the church should never be used to attempt to exempt us from God's laws.