Passage
Malachi 2:10-16 (ESV)
Hallelujah!
Revelation 19:1-10
Key Verse: 19:1
Faithfulness to God and Spouse
Date: Aug. 29, 2019
Daily Bread
Key Verse: 2:15
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.
1. Judah has been unfaithful (10-12)
Not only had God created the Israelites, he also established a covenant with them. God was their Father which meant they had a special, covenant bond with each other. But the Israelites were unfaithful to each other. Their unfaithfulness to God and each other was expressed by intermarrying with idol-worshiping women. Malachi prayed that those who intermarried would be removed from the covenant community.
2. You belong to God (13-16)
The people flooded the altar with their tears because God no longer accepted their offerings. They asked, "Why?" The answer was simple - men divorced the wives of their youth to remarry. The LORD likened it to committing violence against one's wife. God hates divorce. Marriage is a physical and spiritual union established by God for the purpose of producing Godly offspring. Thus, divorce is an affront to God and his covenant.
Prayer: Prayer: Lord, protect marriage, especially among Christians. Help us to be faithful to you.
One Word: Honor your covenants
