Commitment

Malachi 2:10-16

I have had the unfortunate experience of witnessing the marriages of several friends and family members end in divorce. Some ended because of abuse and/or neglect, some because of immaturity, and some because of “irreconcilable” differences. Every one of these situations is heartbreaking in its own way, but to me, the saddest reason for a marriage ending is due to infidelity. In those situations, it often feels as though one or both people in the marriage find it easier to enter into another relationship without making the effort of reconciliation with their spouse. These situations lead to feelings of betrayal and inadequacy, as well as the grief that accompanies any divorce.

Many of the men in Judah had commitment issues in the days of Malachi. It seems that a lot of these men had grown tired of their wives and decided that it was time to get a divorce and marry a younger woman. To make matters worse, these new wives were the pagan gentile women that God had expressly forbidden them to marry! Somewhat predictably, it didn’t take long for these men, who had so callously abandoned their Jewish families, to abandon God as well and begin to worship the pagan gods of their new spouses. They broke their covenant with God as thoughtlessly as they had broken their marriage covenant with their wives. To add insult to injury, they blamed God when he refused to honor their sacrifices in the Temple.

We may be tempted to judge those faithless men of Judah, but how often do we “cheat” on the Lord with the idols we tend to populate our lives with? Just as one of God’s goals in the institution of marriage is the creation of Godly children, so it is the Church, as the Bride of Christ, to help create new Believers! The Church cannot fulfill this mission well if it is based on anything (worldly power, monetary wealth, etc.) other than the blood of Jesus! God’s call to the men of Judah was one of repentance and an exhortation to guard themselves in their spirit so that they would remain faithful, and this is the same call he makes to us as well. We must practice regular self-examination of our hearts so that we can be restored through repentance. May we rest in the knowledge that Jesus, our great Bridegroom, is always faithful to forgive.

Walking by faith,

Mike