Malachi 2:10-16 — Malachi
Malachi: Prophet of Faithfulness
This sermon examines God's intensity regarding marriage through Malachi's rebuke of covenant-breaking. It calls believers to understand marriage as a sacred covenant modeled on God's faithfulness, rejecting the illusion of greener grass and recommitting to spiritual leadership within families.
Introduction
Malachi is written to those who have returned from exile and their passion for God has waned. The temple has been rebuilt and sacrifices have resumed, but the passion for God is not present. The people begin to wonder if God still loves them. God reaffirms his love for his people but he does not allow them to go on believing that everything is okay. The people are just going through the motions when they approach God. They have made the holy common. They have acted as if coming into God’s presence is no big deal. But not only is there a lack of passion in meeting with God, there is a lack of passion in marriage. By passion I do not mean sexual relations, but the men particularly have lost the sense of commitment in marriage.
Today as we study part of the second chapter of Malachi we want to be strengthened in our marriages and in our commitment to being faithful to God in our marriage. Let us once again enter in God’s presence recognizing his greatness and his majesty.
Look at Malachi
In our text, Malachi is concerned with the lack of commitment to marriage and to him. Verse 10 is the key. The people are breaking a covenant with one another. The idea of a covenant is similar to a contract but it is much more profound than that. It is an agreement which binds two people beyond circumstances and feelings. It binds people at all costs. Covenants are kept no matter what. It is honored at all costs.
Israel was breaking faith with each other. God despised their breaking of the covenant. According to verse 14 the covenant being broken was the marriage covenant. Men were divorcing their wife and marrying foreign women. These marriages meant that the men were turning their backs on God and desecrating God’s temple. These men worshipped foreign gods along with their new wives and then still came to the temple. Such a practice desecrated God’s intent. Their hearts were not devoted to God.
Their allegiance was split. A covenant had been made between Israel and God and these men were breaking that covenant by brining in foreign gods. And they were bringing in foreign gods because they were breaking the marriage covenant. This is what leads to God’s explosive statement, “I hate divorce.” God hates divorce because it breaks a covenant. It goes against his intended will and the promise made by the participants to remain together. And, in this case, God hates divorce because it leads away from him. This breaking of the covenant was a sign of faithlessness. God expected the covenant to be kept.
Look at Us
I am very much aware that the subject of divorce is a touchy one. I am also aware that many families in this audience have experienced divorce either personally or within your extended family. I know that the sense of loss, pain, and grief are very real. I know from what others have told me that divorce is a very painful experience. And I know that some of you may struggle with how God views your current state in life. For some guilt is an ever present enemy that leaves you doubting yourself and your relationship with God. The last thing I want to do today is deepen that guilt. But I want to be fair and honest with the text. I find three lessons for us in this text.
First, there ain’t no greener grass. Part of the problem in Israel may have been looking for greener pastures. Notice the text in verse 14 that the covenant is broken with the wife of the man’s youth. Perhaps the man wanted a new wife in order to fit in with the surrounding peoples. Perhaps the man wanted a new wife because the wife of his youth no longer looked appealing. We aren’t told except that the man puts away his wife from his youth.
Some believe that by changing partners they will put an end to their problems. Every survey I have ever seen quotes people saying that they wished they had tried harder to make things work out in their marriage. Some are too stubborn to work out problems; some are too prideful; some don’t know where to start. But the answer is not looking for answers in another person. We must learn to make the best of what we have. In changing partners we end up changing problems. We must learn to work through problems looking for solutions rather than a way out. There are a number of written helps available. Too many give up too easily rather than searching for solutions.
Second, divorce does not mean that one’s spiritual life is over. Malachi leaves no doubt about God’s desire to see marriages maintained. But God is calling Israel to return to him and his ways in terms of marriage. The people want to know why God is not blessing them when they are offering sacrifices. The reason is very simple—their hearts are not near to God. This is why God hates divorce. The real tragedy of divorce is when people give up on God when he hasn’t given up on them.
God hates divorce when that which was holy has been put away for that which is unholy. The men cheapened marriage. They exchanged the important for the unimportant. Their minds were not set on spiritual things. As a result, people were being led away from God. Men, we have a responsibility to bring our wife and children closer to the Lord. Our job is to look out across the horizon and see the future for what it can be and what it will be. We are to plot the course for our family and lead them closer to God. Relationship with God is what matters. We must be spiritual thinkers. We must discern good and evil. We must protect our families. We must not allow the culture to dictate how we lead. Our families must see our passion for God in our lives.
Third, marriage is a covenant. Based upon the oneness of God, our marriage simulates the oneness of God and the covenant he has with us. According to verse 14, God is the witness to our marriage. It is God who testifies to the union of two people. Like God we are to be people who keep promises. God’s intention is that those who engage in marriage are to understand that a binding covenant is being made which should be kept. There is no doubt that every marriage will have difficulties at times. But we do not make a covenant lightly nor do we break it lightly. But we are to treat our marriages in much the same way as God treats the covenant that he makes with his people. We make promises and such promises are not easily broken.
This is what God did with us through Jesus. He made a covenant through Jesus that all who come to him will be his children. This covenant was made and sealed through God’s initiative. Will you accept the covenant?
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