Key theme we have been seeing through Malachi is God’s glory
We talked about “how God loves”, “what we are trying to do on our own” “how we should respond in worship” “and what should be taught” and “what the call to the leaders are” all to lift up Jesus
The passage moves us away from church type glory to God into our personal lives. One aspect of life that can consume our lives is our spouse.
Vrs 10-11 One Father Malachi is talking to the Jewish people and reminding them they are God Chosen people, why would they deal treacherously with one another.
What was going on was they were showing disloyalty to God by marrying unbelievers which then led to divorce
“Treachery” or traitor. The law in Exodus 34 and Duet 7 prohibited marrying a heathen or pagan.
1. For the Single
11b reminds us that marriage is “The Lord’s Holy institution” Gen 2:24
If you marry out of the faith you are saying that God is not important. Your desire to bring glory to God is someone else that also brings glory to God. 2 Cor. 6:14
THE LIST non negotiable
I would say that the main reason why people would start to date someone who is not a believer is they are not willing to wait or don’t have faith that God has someone for them.
As we have learned in the previous weeks we are supposed to bring glory to God list everything we learned.
Now what you are doing is taking “God’s holy institution” and saying God I am going to bring glory to you but marry your enemy
Malachi is saying “how is this bringing glory to God”? The answer is… its not
Because you have unified yourself with God’s enemy
I want to tell you single people something “Your marriage becomes your life”
Vrs 12 The result… For them “Cut off” “Awake and aware” “brings an offering” A believer who is aware of their sin in this area would be rebuked and cast out of the religious community.
For us- don’t willfully sin and don’t be a hypocrite
Reap what you sow there will not be a blessing, it is unlikely that you will have a good marriage if you are trying to follow the Lord and your spouse is not
So what do you single people have to do?
Psalm 27:14 Wait- not like for a bus
What do we do while we wait?
-remain pure for God’s Glory
-commit to service for God’s glory. This is a great time to immerse yourself in ministry you will never have this kind of time again.
-Pray
-look, there is nothing wrong with looking. (Creepy stalker) Ruth and Boaz is a good example
The second thing that they did wrong was not only the marrying of the pagan women but they divorced their believing wives.
What does God say about divorce in this passage? Vrs 16 “He hates it” My life ill
What leads to broken marriages?
2. For the Married. All you single people don’t check out because if you learn this you are eventually going to start you marriage one day, why not start off right
Vrs 13a “tears” the offended women were crying out to God.
Men…it is not going to go well for you if you hurt a women and she goes crying to her father
13b When we are living and acting in sinful ways it effects our worship of God. It is very hard to worship the Lord when you are at odds with your spouse. “Hinders your prayers” 1 Peter 3:7 God is ticked you messed with His daughter
Vrs 14 “for what reason” Defiance. Does not us coming here cancel that stuff out?
1 Sam. 15 “Obey is better then sacrifice”
This was a vow before the Lord
Companion = equality in sharing Covenant=agreement
Vrs 15a
The oneness and covenant of marriage and Malachi is also speaking about the covenant God made with Israel to be the chosen people.
15b “Take heed” watch carefully “and let none” There is a responsibility among one another to hold marriage and one another accountable.
“Community Groups” come in handy here. Place for accountability
Vrs 16 “Hate” is not only to reject but detest
“violence” there is much trouble that will come from divorce
“You” personalizes the call to each person
***How to bring glory to God in your marriage is to treat your wife or husband right.
Practical principles in SOS to safeguard your marriage and have it bring glory to God
Chapter 1
1. Mutual Adoration, lavish praise on one another through life
2. Long to be with one another
Chapter 2
3. Reassure wife that she is the only one
4. Sense of place is together
Chapter 4
5. Marriage has to be protected. No flirting and no open doors (foxes) can be inlaws, work, children anything that gets in the way.
Chapter 5
6. Praise of their partner to other people. Way of safeguarding marriage
The unfortunate thing is people complain about their spouse
Chapter 6
7. At ease with one another
Chapter 7
8. Recapture their initial love, relive that exciting time
Chapter 8
9. Erase the memory of bad things happening to someone. (She had a bad experience with her brothers making her work hard in the vineyard)
Solomon was there for her emotionally
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