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"Take heed to your spirit"

Text: Malachi 2:16

PREVENTION OF RECURRENCE OF SIN

The LORD had to address the problems of the returnees directly. The problems of the past must not recur! Every effort must be made to prevent recurrence of sins that would merit judgment from the LORD.

“‘For the LORD God of Israel says
That He hates divorce,
For it covers one’s garment with violence,’
Says the LORD of hosts.
‘Therefore take heed to your spirit,
That you do not deal treacherously.'”
Malachi 2:16

1. “For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce”

a) This was a strong and very direct statement from God.

b) This statement was made:

i) Emphatically

ii) Authoritatively

2. The problem of Divorce in this context

a) It was associated with “violence”.

b) The garments were tainted with “violence”.

i) To highlight the suffering caused to the women.

ii) Divorce was as bad as having done violence to the womenfolk.

c) The deeper problem was “the spirit” behind the divorce issue.

i) There was malice.

ii) There was evil.

iii) There was pre-meditation.

iv) There was hypocrisy.

v) There was deceit.

vi) There was treachery.

3. Divorce

a) Thus, God declared that He “hated divorce!”

b) God saw beyond the legal system that allowed divorce to take place.