Malachi 2:13-17

Last week: God rebukes Judah for being unfaithful to God and their wives

The two issues were, first, they broke their vows to their wives by divorcing them. Secondly, God forbid the Jews from marrying outsiders. God knew the women would lead the men to worship false gods.

(In the past, King Salomon and King Ahab)

(V13) Their offering is not accepted because of their sin

The men of Judah defiled the Lord’s sanctuary by offering sacrifices on the same alter the wives wept on, due to their infidelity

A) God takes vows seriously

Vows are promises or an agreements between two or more people

B) When two people get married, they exchange their vows to love one another until death do us part

God rejected their sacrifice because they broke the vows and were unfaithful to God and to their wives

Their sin caused separation between them and God. / God would no longer accept their worship because of their sin

Often times, people are guilty of only living for the now. They do what is pleasurable now, forgetting the consequences of tomorrow

2. (V15) The Lord makes two people one

Gen 2:24 “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”

A) The Bible is very clear that marriage is between a man and a women

B) Anything God loves, Satan comes to destroy

Marriage is under attack today:

A large part of society doesn’t find value in marriage, bf and gf living together without the marriage covenant

Marriage is no longer only between man and women

Divorce rate is through the roof

2.2. One of the purposes of marriage is to produce Godly children

A) Two believing people come together in marriage, it should produce Godly children

Godly offspring is the fruit of a stable and nourishing home environment

According to ifstudies.org, studies show young men who did not grow up with their father in the home are about twice as likely to have spent time in jail by the age of 30

2.3 Guard your heart and remain loyal to your wife

A) A significant amount of proverbs speaks of temptation and the necessity of guarding your heart and remaining faithful to the wife of your youth

If anyone knows about this subject it would be King Salomon