Sacred Engagement
" But if a man finds a betrothed young woman in the countryside, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die ." (Deuteronomy 22:25 NKJV) The Mosaic law underscores the sacredness of engagement vows by providing different judgments to the same sin of raping an unmarried lady, depending on the status of the victim. If the victim is not engaged, the offender gets an unprepared marriage contract; but a death sentence is offered, if the victim is engaged. Obviously, the forceful breaking of other's open engagement vow is considered the murder of fellow's dream and the termination of the anticipated blessing of his union with the victim. Although this law is irrelevant in many of today's jurisprudence, the disregard of other's sacred engagement is still a significant setback to marital bliss. However, God's grace is sufficient for unlawful victims of secret spiritual engagements.