Context No. 3385 of 4322 · Malachi

Malachi 2:13-17: in context

13“This again you do: you cover the LORD’s altar with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, because he doesn’t regard the offering any more, neither receives it with good will at your hand. 14Yet you say, ‘Why?’ Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and the wife of your covenant. 15Did he not make you one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16One who hates and divorces”, says the LORD, the God of Israel, “covers his garment with violence!” says the LORD of Armies. “Therefore pay attention to your spirit, that you don’t be unfaithful. 17You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, ‘How have we wearied him?’ In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the LORD’s sight, and he delights in them;’ or ‘Where is the God of justice?’

God tells the people why their worship is rejected. They weep and sigh at the altar, but he will not accept their offerings, because they have been faithless to the wife of their youth, the companion and wife of their covenant. God was a witness to that marriage, and treachery against a spouse is treachery he sees.

God takes the marriage covenant with utmost seriousness. He made husband and wife one, and he seeks godly offspring from that union, and so he says, guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none be faithless to the wife of his youth. The words are strong: the man who breaks faith covers his garment with violence. Faithfulness in marriage is not a private matter indifferent to God; he witnessed the vows and cares deeply how they are kept. And the closing sin named is a hardened heart that calls evil good and doubts God's justice, excusing its own faithlessness. God sees both the broken vow and the excuses made for it.

Do I keep faith in my closest commitments, especially marriage, knowing that God himself is witness to my vows and cares how I keep them?

Sources

Malachi 2:14: "The LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and the wife of your covenant."
Malachi 2:15: "Take heed to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of his youth."
Malachi 2:16: "One who hates and divorces... covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of Armies."