Malachi 2: 10 -16 Covenant Breaking Intermarriage and Divorce North York (Chinese) Baptist Church ESC Sunday School, October 16, 2011 NYCBC Pastor Lu-Lu Ling
Situation: Israelites were marrying pagan women which led to divorcing their Israelite women.
Historical Background: DATE 458 B. C. BOOK DETAILS Ezra 9 -10 everyone did it, Ezra had violate reaction, prayed 9: 3 -7; people repented, sent wives away, made oath, priest/levites guilty 445 - 432 B. C. Nehemiah 10: 30 People promised no intermarriage after 432 B. C. Nehemiah 13: 23 -27 rebuked, cursed, beat, pull out their hair, took oath 500 - 430 B. C. Malachi 2: 10 -16 accused , harmed done to
Breaking faith = being treacherous, betrayed, being faithless, act violently, faithlessly, and rebel (Is 21: 2; 24: 16; 33: 1) Occurred 5 times: 2: 10, 11, 14, 15, 16
2: 10 Do violence to each other NIV NASB ESV Have we not all one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our fathers by breaking faith with one another Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers? Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? Each is linked to the one father, the one creator via the covenant. We are all linked together through the same covenant to the same Father and Creator Spiritual unity is achieved with God and with each other by keeping the covenant. Specific commandments regarding intermarrying: Ex 34: 11 -16; Deut 7: 1 -4 Record of post exilic agreement to keep the covenant: Ezra 10: 3 to send away foreigns wives; Neh 10: 30 promised not to intermarry Breaking faith is a serious act against each other and makes the covenant ceremonially unclean. Sin against each other and against God.
2: 11 Do Violence to God Judah: The chosen tribe, the kingship Israel: The covenantal name Jerusalem: God’s reign What the people did: An abomination, a detestable thing: Married women who worshipped other gods (Jer 2: 27). The meaning: made dirty the sanctuary (holiness) of God. Two completely incompatible state.
2: 12 God will do them violence “As for the man who does this, may the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who awakes and answers, or who presents an offering to the Lord of hosts. ” (NASB) Those concerned: everyone, no exception, no offerings (whether blood or produce of the land) would redeem the violence done to breaking the covenant, making it unclean, making God unholy. Even those who witnessed the intermarriage and did nothing. God’s action: will be cut off -- premature death by God or excommunication from the community.
2: 13 God will reject their offerings The people rejected the covenant by their treacherous act of intermarrying with those who worshipped other gods. God will reject all their attempts to call attention to their offerings. Wailing and weeping are done with fertility rites and worship to pagan gods (1 Kgs 18: 27 -29). They seem to be in dire distress, even the priests blessings became curses.
2: 14 The reason given (1) • the people did not seem to know what they have done wrong • God is stepping in as a witness against the people • broke faith (dealt treacherously, divorced) first wife • wife as: partner; in covenantal relationship (Prov 2: 17; Ruth 4: 11 -12)
2: 15 The reason given (2) • Husband wife as one in flesh and in spirit • • God desired holy offspring from intermarriage will not be holy The example of Abraham will not hold up because God rejected the offspring from Hagar. The first command given in this passage: • to guard your spirit (what about the flesh? ) • do not do violence with your first wife
2: 16 The reason given (3) • • God hates divorce (to send away) hates the covering (reason/excuse) used (De 24: 1; compare Mt 19: 6– 9) • garments with violence has social injustice implications • the command in v. 15 is repeated “guide yourself in your spirit” “For I hate divorce! says the Lord, the God of Israel. It is as cruel as putting on a victim’s bloodstained coat. ” NLT “It is not just the divorce that God hates, but is the remarriage that is really detestable. It is horrible to kill someone but it is despicable to then take the person’s blood stained coat as well. ”
2: 10 -16 Reflection • • • relational theme is very prominent national unity and spiritual unity is related worship theme is very prominent Relationship with spouse and fellow believers is true reflection of my relationship with God. If anyone says, “I love God, ” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4: 20 -21 ESV)
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