THURSDAY August 3, 2017
The Holy Institution of Marriage
We would not give our daughters as wives to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons… - Nehemiah 10:30
At this time, Israel agreed not to allow intermarriage between their children and those of other nations. They broke all ties with non-believers and gave respect to God and His Word.In the past, the children of Israel were guilty of not obeying this command. They divorced their older wives for younger, heathen wives, who served other gods––idols.
In the book of Malachi 2, we learn that the priests had been given the responsibility in ministry to teach the people. They should have taught husbands to love their wives! God wanted the leadership to be pure and holy, loving and kind. These priests were corrupt. They should have been examples of obedience, but they caused the people to stumble. They needed to repent. The people’s offerings were not given in sincerity, and God did not accept them. The Lord tells them the reason:
…Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth (Malachi 2:14-15).
God hates divorce: “For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce” (Malachi 2:16). Marriage is “until death do us part.” Husbands, how are you treating your wives? They need to be loved and cherished:Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her… (Ephesians 5:25). Do you hold your marriage as sacred? Or are you defiling your marriage with adulterous affairs with other women?
[Marriage is]…the Lord’s holy institution which He loves….
~Malachi 2:11~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit Somebodylovesyouradio.org!
