Malachi 2:13-17
13 And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14 But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.” 17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?"
In the time of Malachi people often asked why God did not accept their offerings (verses 13-14). Malachi's answer is a rebuke to the casual promiscuity of our culture: "Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant" (verse 14). Sex is not something we do apart from others. It is a relational act, and God places high value on faithfulness and the covenant of marriage. That is why God is against divorce" (verse 16). The other sobering fact from this passage is that our behaviors affect our relationship with God. If we feel like God is not listening or present with us, it may be because we have put a wedge in the relationship by breaking faith in our marriage.
Lord, help me to be faithful to my spouse.
13 And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14 But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.” 17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?"
In the time of Malachi people often asked why God did not accept their offerings (verses 13-14). Malachi's answer is a rebuke to the casual promiscuity of our culture: "Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant" (verse 14). Sex is not something we do apart from others. It is a relational act, and God places high value on faithfulness and the covenant of marriage. That is why God is against divorce" (verse 16). The other sobering fact from this passage is that our behaviors affect our relationship with God. If we feel like God is not listening or present with us, it may be because we have put a wedge in the relationship by breaking faith in our marriage.
Lord, help me to be faithful to my spouse.