Malachi 2:10-16

Relational Blessings

God’s Reprimands Are….In the Scriptures for a Purpose

They are NOT… designed to limit or constrain designed to demean or beat

down

God’s Reprimands Are….Designed to…

Challenge our Hearts Move us to evaluate ourselves

used by the Holy Spirit in the Gift of repentance/obedience

For our Blessing

Malachi 2:10-12Have 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? 11 Judah has been faithless, and

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. 12 May

the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who

brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

The Main IssuesBoth the Jews in Ethnic Judah and

the Remnant in Judah (Israel)… have relational problems with one

another have married non-believers

The Problem…

Deep relationships with non-believers

Malachi 2:11b For Judah has profaned the sanctuary

of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign

god.

Biblical RelationshipsTriune God

You Other

A

B

A

B

Un-Biblical RelationshipsTriune God

You OtherB

earlylater

Biblical RelationshipsTriune God

You Other

Christianattepts to connectunbelieverto God

Relational SummaryA Christian can have truly intimate

relationships only with other Christians

A Christian should not enter into an attempted deep relationship with a

non-Christian If you are in such a relationship, the

goal is to facilitate the non-Christian’s relationship with God

Providing Biblical Balance…

We should view non-believers with respect and dignity

We should be kind and loving towards non-believers

We should have a passion for the better good of all people

We should declare the glory of God to all people

Providing Biblical Balance…We should love our neighbors and

endeavor to serve them

Matthew 19:19 Honor your father and mother, and,

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Blessing Your Neighbor…

Romans 15:2 Let each of us please his neighbor

for his good, to build him up.

A Second Reprimand….Malachi 2:13-14

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. 14 But you say, “Why does he not?”

Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you

have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

The Main IssueBoth the Ethnic Jews in Judah and the Remnant (Israel) have

been faithless in marriage Adultery was rampant

Adultery Malachi 2:15-16

Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard

yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.

16 “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.”

The Biblical View…Remain faithful in your marriage

To not be faithful is to dishonor the other and to dishonor God

It is necessary to be faithful in order to serve the other

The Take Home MessageGod’s reprimands are designed to be a

blessing to us

The primary relationship in our lives is our relationship with God

All other relationships flow from our relationship with God

Triune God

You Other

A

B

A

B

Triune God

You Other

Christianattepts to connectunbelieverto God

Our Primary Pursuit…Is to seek after God…

and all other relationships will fall into place