In The Word
Read: Malachi 2:10-3:6
10 Do we not all have one Father? Is it not one God who has created us? Why do we deal treacherously, each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers? 11 Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord which He loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. 12 As for the man who does this, may the Lordeliminate from the tents of Jacob everyone who is awake and answers, or who presents an offering to the Lord of armies.
13 And this is another thing you do: you cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and sighing, because He no longer gives attention to the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14 Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your marriage companion and your wife by covenant. 15 But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And why the one? He was seeking a godly offspring. Be careful then about your spirit, and see thatnone of you deals treacherously against the wife of your youth. 16 “For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with violence,” says the Lord of armies. “So be careful about your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”
17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, “How have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them,” or, “Where is the God of justice?”
The Purifier
3 “Behold, I am sending My messenger, and he will clear a way before Me. And the Lord, whom you are seeking, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of armies. 2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderer’s soap. 3 And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old, and as in former years.
5 “Then I will come near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, those who oppress the wage earner in his wages or the widow or the orphan, and those who turn away the stranger from justice and do not fear Me,” says the Lord of armies. 6 “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, the sons of Jacob, have not come to an end.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Marriage is a parallel of our relationship with Christ. We are not meant to deal unjustly and disregard His covenant. We are not meant to forsake the Lord and be joined to anyone or anything else. However, many do this and then weep and cry out to God because He no longer blesses and accepts their offering.
In the same way, we are not meant to forsake the covenant of marriage. God takes our promise made before Him very seriously when we enter into the covenant of marriage. We should not deal unjustly with our spouse; we should not forsake them and be joined to another. We are one with our spouse and one with our God. The Lord says plainly, “I hate divorce” (Malachi 2:16). We should not weary Him with our words of trying to justify our disobedience to His Word. We shouldn’t think that He will bless what we do when it goes against His Word. God speaks like He writes; those two things will always be in agreement. We must also be careful not to do as satan did and only quote a portion of God’s Word. We are to follow the sum of God’s Word, not just some of His Word. Only His word matters, and He does not change. “He is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He will judge those who deal unjustly with others and do not respect His Word. God desires the best for us: a faithful steadfast relationship with Him and with our spouse. Stay faithful and live the abundant life that He has for you.