But why can you interpret it as symbolism? Isn't the Word of God His law? According to His law, I have to marry my attacker because my life and my purity is only worth so much money..... I hate that part, but if I'm to become Christian, I have to follow all the parts of it, don't I?
that's not true. your attacker FORCED himself on you.
It may be different if you were promised to him by your male guardian.
But honestly, your body was taken from you, against your will.
You have the right to marry whomever you choose, when you commit to each other. How can you commit to someone who has already destroyed everything that marriage stands for?
It is the classic sin of men to take what we want by force. And the classic of women to withold from a man.
But that said, it is different within marriage.
You did not commit to this man, your attacker. nor him to you. And you said this happened as a child. You probably weren't even old enough to understand what was happening to you.
You need feel no shame. You have done no wrong here and the guilt isn't yours to bear.
I promise you, if it comes the day after we die, I'll stand in front of God and take the blame and punishment for you.
But honestly, I do not believe, with all my heart, that there willl be any waiting for you.
You were abused. Isn't a husband commanded to love his wife?
Let's say, even for arguments sake, that your attacker 'owns' you. Hasn't he already violated the marriage due to what he has done to you?
The commandment is not to refuse another person their marriage right. ie sex.
But that does not mean that it is okay to take it forcefully.
Jesus gives reasons for divorce. I think you should read them.
The marriage oblication is that a man is 'faithful' to his wife, and wife to her husband.
That faith, in English, denotes not cheating. But faith is more than that.
Violence toward a wife is certainly grounds for the bond to be broken. The minute that line is crossed, the man has already broken his oath to the woman. The marriage is defiled.
it can only be undefiled through her forgiveness and him changing.
But you and this man were never married in the first place.
His was an act of violence against you. It does not matter about the ins and outs of it. Whether he took your 'virginity' or not.
Think of it simply as that he has hit you. Struck you. Hurt you. Taken you against your will.
The simple matter is, the passage you refer to infers that the man who has done what he has done to you, must repay his sin somehow, and follow it up with commitment to change and to treat you properly.
And it would be wrong in God's eyes for him to divorce you. In essence, He owes you his life.
In the times of the old testament, the man always provided for the woman. So in essence, he is bound to provide and care for you for the rest of your life because of what he has done.
And NEVER allowed to divorce you.
However, that does not mean that YOU have to accept this offer.
You are speaking of Dueteronomy, aren't you?