Malachi: The Last Prophet

Sunday, March 16^th 2025

Malachi 2:10-16

Introduction

Let Us Love and be Loyal to God, so We can Love and be Loyal to Others

Especially Our Spouses

1. Let’s Love and be Loyal to Each Other because We are Family (v.10)

“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?”

Created – same Hebrew word as God created the heavens and the earth

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8

Faithless – bagad - treacherously, deceitfully, unfaithfully, break faith - 5x in verses

How did they profane the covenant of their fathers?

• They have one Father and not acting like it – we deceive, each other
• They have been created by the same God – different set of rules for us
• They are faithless toward one another – no love for others; selfish

1. Let’s Love and be Loyal to God’s Covenant (v.11-12)

“Judah has been faithless, an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves and has married the daughter of a foreign god.”

 Abomination – toebah – abhorrent; worst of evils

 What Malachi is saying is they did not just marry the unbelieving woman, but they also "married" her idolatrous gods! 

 Let’s Love and be Loyal to the Wife of Our Youth (v.13–16)

“And this second thing you do. You cover the LORD’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. But you say, ‘Why does he not?’ Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to who you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring.

 Marriage is a purposeful covenant:

1) Marriage is intended to provide companionship between a husband and wife.

2) Marriage is intended to be a picture of the believer’s relationship with God.

3) Marriage is intended to reproduce godly offspring.

“So, guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.” For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not be faithless.”

‘Guard yourselves’ - command calling for urgent, immediate action

Are you growing in your relationship with God? Are you growing in your marriage? Are you guarding your marriage?

1. Conclusion