Devotional: Malachi 2:10-16
Reflection
- (Mal 2:10 ESV) Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?
- (Mal 2:11 ESV) Judah has been faithless, and 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.
- (Mal 2:12 ESV) May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts!
- (Mal 2:13 ESV) 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.
- (Mal 2:14 ESV) 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.
- (Mal 2:15 ESV) 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.
- (Mal 2:16 ESV) “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.”
Discussion
I think it is safe to say that marriage in America is disposable. It is not only accepted, but often expected that two people get married then later divorce when things are no longer sunshine and lollipops. How many times have you heard things like: “We just grew apart.” or “We just work better as co-parents.”
Marriage was never intended by God to be a trial period, a temporary arrangement, or a fun chapter in your selfish life. In fact, treating the covenant of marriage in that way is an abomination that God detests.
Connection
What does it mean for marriage to be a covenant between the husband, wife, and God?
Why is it vital to our faith to uphold a Biblical view of marriage?
How can you encourage others to feed and nurture their marriages?
Expansion
Mankind
God created mankind in His own image with two genders: male and female designed to compliment each in a monogamous marriage unit. At creation the first man and woman were sinless and tasked with tending God’s creation. While Adam and Eve were created to glorify God, they disobeyed launching themselves and all of mankind after them into sinfulness and separation from God. Because of our fallen nature, all of mankind is damned to hell and unable to justify themselves before God without the grace of God providing redemption of their souls through faith in Christ alone.
Genesis 1:27-28, Genesis 2:7, Colossians 1:16, Deuteronomy 6:5, Isaiah 43:6-7, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 5:16, Genesis 3:1-8, Psalm 51:5, Isaiah 6:5, Romans 3:9-23, Romans 5:12, Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 5:18, 1 Corinthians 15:22