MALACHI SERIES 4: GOD’S SECOND AND THIRD CHARGES OF SIN (2:10-17) I. GOD’S LOVE FOR JACOB (1:1-5) II. GOD’S FIRST CHARGE OF SIN (1:6-2:9) III. GOD’S SECOND AND THIRD CHARGES OF SIN (2:10-17) A. THE PEOPLE’S SIN OF UNFAITHFULNESS TO THE COVENANT (2:10-16)

1. The Sin of Unfaithfulness Revealed (v. 10) a. Through the sin of mixed marriages (vv ) b. Through the sin of hypocritical tears (v. 13) c. Through the sin of divorce (vv )  Read Mal 2:16.

 V. 16 contains one of the strongest objections anywhere in Scripture against divorce. ~ God does not mince words in expressing His loathing of divorce and its disastrous results. ~ “Hate” comes from Heb., sanei, which means to detest. ~ Plus this pronouncement was made by none other than “the Lord God of Israel.”

~ If God hates a practice, it certainly should not be done.  It is shocking to many today to hear that God is able to hate. ~ One reason behind this is because most people either fail to see or just simply deny that God is holy. ~ And among many of those who say that they do acknowledge that God is holy do not understand that holiness in the light of Scripture.

 However, in the biblical teaching of God’s holiness, God is portrayed to be wholly Other – completely separate and different – from His creatures, someone to be deeply revered, even feared, and worshipped. ~ In His holiness, God many times is shown to be so opposite and opposed to sin and wickedness (He is actually offended by it!) that He does not hide His hatred of wickedness and actually promises to deal severely with unrepentant sinners.

 Some things God hates: ~ Deut 12:31 ~ Deut 16:21-22 ~ Isa 1:14 ~ Isa 61:8 ~ Zech 8:16-17  Other words describe what God hates, like “loathe” and “abominable” and “abomination”. ~ Prov 6:16-19 ~ Amos 6:8

~ Prov 20:10 ~ Prov 29:27 ~ Lev 18:22 ~ Deut 22:5 ~ Deut 27:15 ~ Prov 3:32 ~ Prov 11:20 ~ Prov 12:22 ~ Prov 15:26 ~ Prov 16:5 & 12 ~ Prov 17:15

 Divorce is a very serious issue with God! ~ Yet in spite of this, divorce today in countries where it is legalized is so ordinary and no longer shocking and is the most common solution to marital woes.  Jesus essentially taught that sinfulness causes divorce (Matt 19:1-9). ~ This is the root reason for why God hates divorce.

~ Divorce merely becomes the solution – the “way out” – for the sins that refuse to be dealt with between a couple.  Moreover, divorce is the breaking of a covenant promise between a man and woman – a covenant they made before God who is witness to that covenant. ~ What makes it even more tragic is it leaves many broken, hurting lives in its wake.

 Read Mal 2:16b. ~ Recall the story of Ruth, in which Boaz spread a garment over Ruth (Ruth 3:90). ~ In doing so, Boaz was indicating his intentions to claim her as his wife. ~ “covers his garment with wrong”: acting unfaithfully and unjustly towards one’s spouse and one’s marriage vows.

~ Divorce does violence to human relationships and the covenant of marriage.  Read Mal 2:16c. ~ Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.: “Few issues in today’s world are more revealing about moral integrity than that of maintaining our covenant with our spouse, with whom we exchanged vows in the presence of God, a witness to the ceremony.”

 Married couples are expected by God to work toward the lofty ideal of marriage that He originally set forth in Gen 2:24 – this is especially true for those who have the indwelling life of Christ! ~ There is no denying of the fact that married life will be filled with challenges and difficult and painful times. But that is why God makes all His grace abound toward those who are His. ~ But that is why God makes all His grace abound toward those who are His.

~ Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.: “Believers must maintain their loyalty to the God who created them, the body of believers to which He has joined them, and the marriage partner He has given them. Anything less than this challenges our claim that He is our Father, Lord and Master.”