Jeremiah 3:8-10
New International Version
8 I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. 9 Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. 10 In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the Lord.
OK, bit of an obscure place to start – lets get closer to familiar territory – here’s a verse from last week’s passage:
10 “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands!
That’s what Malachi 1:10 says.
Imagine delivering that message to the so-called people of God. Us speakers, we get to take our turn up here, try and think of something clever to say, something motivating and encouraging, challenging too but generally palatable.
Imagine if God laid that message on a speakers heart to present to Medway.
That was Malachi’s job – Malachi probably not even his actual name – the word Malachi just means messenger - he had to deliver a harsh, hard to swallow message to his own people.
God is not pleased, you might as well shut up shop. Shut the doors! Your worship does not honour God.
Malachi Chapter 2 please – last couple of weeks we begun brief study in Malachi – last book in your Old Testament there – Israel and Judah’s last chance.com – God’s last word to them for hundreds and hundreds of years before – Gospels – John the Baptist- prepare the way of the Lord.
And the Lord Almighty, through his bold messenger here, does not hold back – he has a problem with his people – in fact he has several problems with his people.
So, clearly, the elders of Medway feel we all need to hear this message too, they think we are in need of a kick in the pants and want us to hear the harsh words from on high – no actually that can’t be the case – because some of the most biting accusations in Malachi are aimed at leaders – they’re definitely not off the hook – they’re probably most on the hook.
But as we move through the book, you will see some timeless truths come out – God has not changed – his standards for worship for faith, for holy living are still the same –
The human condition – even inside groups of believers bearing his name – also still seems the same – 2500 years later. Same same. So there are pointers here – there are lessons here. This is not irrelevant old testament tales of our ancestors - this is a picture of Who God is and how He works with His people.
Lets read together and pull out some pointers after
Chapter 2 from verse10 – it’s the 3rd dispute – The Lord speaks through Malachi on unfaithfulness.
Breaking Covenant Through Divorce
10 Do we not all have one Father[b]? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?
11 Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves by marrying women who worship a foreign god. 12 As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the Lord remove him from the tents of Jacob[c]—even though he brings an offering to the Lord Almighty.
13 Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. 14 You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.
15 Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring.[d] So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.
16 “The man who hates and divorces his wife,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,”[e] says the Lord Almighty.
So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.
Last week Stuart noted the style of language being used – questions and answer – call and response – the argument is being built up, and objections and questions are being anticipated.
A Holy Holy Holy God has standards – he will not be shared with other so-called lower case g Gods. There are things he demands his people do and there are things he forbids them to do.
And when you consider the history of this group of people – is this the first time God has had to intervene and send a prophet or a messenger, or a King, or a Judge – to restore them no, absolutely not, In fact its more like the last – okay second last in a very long line.
So if there’s one thing to remember in the story of Gods people through the Old testament, especially the latter half – is precisely how prone to wander they all are. Even after a mighty season of Victory, or direct revelation and blessing in Gods favour – what do they do, they stuff it up. They drop the ball. They go their own way. They take their focus of Almighty God. They stop listening to what he says, and the stop doing what he has specifically instructed them to do.
Don’t they learn from their forefathers? Haven’t they heard the stories? Don’t they know who God is and how serious He is exactly about his worship and his people?
Up and down they go. And it seems, here in Malachi, they are on a down.
The Lord sees it and calls them out – here are the charges
- You have profaned the covenant of your ancestors by being unfaithful to one another.
What covenant – the original covenant God made - way back when in Abrahams time – I will be be your God and You will be my people
“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.
What a deal!! But sorry, you haven’t been acting in terms of the contract – you’ve operated outside of the rules
So what had they done that was so wrong – you have been unfaithful to one another…
And you might think hold on – that’s not the same as being unfaithful to God – but actually it is – If faithfulness to each other was what God commanded of you – and you are not faithful – not only have you wronged each other, but you have also disobeyed the Lord.
The word used in many translations comes across stronger that just unfaithfulness – the word used is TREACHERY. You have been treacherous in your relationships with other people. You have been dishonest. Untruthful. Liars. Traitors. How can a pure Holy God stand by silent as his people – who bear his name go on with such a behaviour. He can’t, so he speaks. .
The indictment, the charge is widespread – it continues with an even more specific dispute - Judah has done this detestable thing - they have desecrated the sanctuary the Lord Loves by...
Good grief, what could they possibly now have done that was so bad? Desecration! They… some specific detail is coming jeesh, they… They married the wrong people… They married outside of their religion, what’s so wrong with that? Especially if they’re still expected to convert to their Jewish faith…
I mean, isn’t that a sort of evangelism? Can’t they grow their people by taking foreign wives? Expand their nations. Isn’t that how empires grow – through intermarriage? Is it really such a crime? There was a time in our own country where it was forbidden for certain people groups to marry other groups – and that was wrong – sinful. Human rights day on Friday, where are the Israelites Human rights to freely associate? No it’s not like that for these people – they are meant to be living in a devoted spiritual covenant - this isn’t a race thing or an ethnic thing – it is a spiritual matter– under covenant, contract with Almighty God. Is it wrong for them to intermarry?
Yes, it is to God – it is a clear violation of God’s instruction given to his chosen people. People who do so are to be thrown out of the tents of Jacob. No matter who he is! Even though that person acts properly otherwise – makes an offering, etc, does the rituals – if he has taken an unbelieving wife – cast him out. This unequally yolked pair will defile the worship of the Lord.
And you see the little point there – the man might even be making an offering to God – maybe he is one of the leaders! – in other words, when you are transgressing God’s will, it doesn’t matter about all the good other things.
Oh but look at all this service, look at all the amazing things I’ve been a part of in the church. Lord, won’t you ignore this one piece of Unfaithfulness. A Holy, 100% FAITHFUL God, cannot and will not.
To do that would be for God to break the contract. For Him to go back on his word – which he will never.
You were supposed to be faithful – in one true faith to one true God, but now you are partnering with other religions – this is false worship, this is idolatry, And before the effects can be passed down and spread to further generation – see later how it is asked – what does the one God seek – Godly Offspring!
Remember the critical task that these people had – through their family lines, through their separateness and devotion to God – to keep the faith handed down from generation to generation – alive. Pure, undefiled, not mixed and watered down and weakened.
Have things changed you wonder? For all the flashy outreach and well thought out evangelism programmes these days. How much of our faith and its spread from generation to generation, is just through simple – parent to child witness. The faithfulness of a God fearing parent – who lives out what they believe.
Who we choose to marry is extremely important. Who we choose to enter into a lifelong commitment with – before God is not something to take lightly at all.
Verse 13 starts, God is not finished speaking yet, not by any means, ANOTHER THING YOU DO.
You flood the altar with tears – hey, what’s wrong with that? I know many people who are regularly moved to tears during worship?
Ah, well, that’s not what God is talking about – he’s not talking about those types of tears, flowing from a worshipful heart.
The people here are crying and whining because things are not going their way. God is not looking on them with favour. They are not getting what they want, they are unhappy, they weep and wail. Why why why they cry, what have we done to deserve this. Well, again, in this back and forth dialogue, he tells them exactly what they have done wrong. And again, it’s not to do directly with their acts of worship - it’s to do with their home lives – their marriages, their partnerships. You have been unfaithful to the wife of your youth. He refers to their marriage covenant.
And just consider what that marriage covenant is meant to be.
A contract for life – a promise, a commitment to love and honour and cherish. To never give up - every day to be faithful to the person you marry. To give up chasing other lovers, other pursuits – to enter into and devote your full focus to one person.
It is a contract that is witnessed by God himself – that’s why you get married in a church. With a religious ceremony. And people pray and a sermon is given and there’s usually a minister or at least some faith based connection to the person running the show. Usually. Traditionally.
Or you can sneak off to the civil court and get a quick legal agreement. Exclude God from being part of the marriage covenant. Unwise.
And thirdly the marriage itself is a picture of faithfulness before God as well. A Godly marriage is meant to point to the relationship between Christ and his church – often referred to in scripture as his what? His bride
Faithfulness, Love. Commitment. Care and protection. Provision. Meeting one another’s needs. Easy ones. OK, what about sacrifice? What about long suffering patience. About mistakes forgiven.
But you haven’t done these things – you’ve divorced the wife of your youth. You have done violence to the one you should protect, it says. She is now isolated, tossed out, weakened, exposed, not protected, not provided for, not cherished, not loved – the exact opposite picture of Christ and his relationship with the church.
There is righteous anger in these words. He says it twice. BE on guard. And do not be unfaithful.
BE on guard – what are we guarding… oh, guard our hearts, yes sure... guard our doctrine, guard our service and our times of devotion and worship…all good things to guard…
But today, guard your marriage and guard your faithfulness.
Couldn’t help but to do some reading, found all sorts of different stats regarding marriage. Two things I took away – number one, somewhere between one in 2 and one in 3 marriages will fail. The places I read didn’t really agree on that number. The research I read however did agree on one thing – that whatever that marriage failure rate is – it’s exactly the same, inside and outside of the church.
Let that sink in for a minute. Christian marriages, under guidance and command and witness of the Holy God himself, called into lifelong faithfulness – are failing just as fast as secular marriages
No wonder they need guarding. – they’re so easily broken, even in faith based communities.
I’ve been married for 20 years this year. How did we get to 20 years – the Grace of God alone, I can tell you that. I can confess not proudly that I am a terrible husband. I am selfish, I am not a strong leader, I do not always protect, I do not always provide…to be honest it’s pretty scandalous that I am even allowed anywhere near a pulpit with verses on marriage in my hands….
Here’s a true story: I was sitting in the lounge yesterday morning on the laptop doing some prep for today – the kids were starving, the kitchen was a total mess and we had an ant infestation situation developing by the kitchen bins…. And Sarah asked for my assistance and I politely declined – because I was busy working on a sermon on how to guard your marriage – you know, be a good husband…
You can just imagine what the good Dr said in response to that – perhaps not suitable for the general public.
But God has helped us crawl along for 20 years…. I know those are rookie numbers for some of you this morning, and I also know what some of the real long term number holders here, what you would you say is the key is to a long faithful marriage. Pretty sure it would involve the guiding principles that come from….. that book in your hands we like to hear from every Sunday. Not what we see in the world around us, not what we see in failing marriages that are everywhere – 1 in 2, wow – not what we see in movies and literature. But what God tells us to do and what God models for us. In himself and His faithfulness through the ages.
In his son and his faithfulness to his bride. In his words and his direct instruction to his followers.
The instruction we received from this third dispute in Malachi this morning.
BE faithful to the one true God.
BE faithful to each other
DO not marry outside of the faith
Stay faithful to your wife -protect her
Stay faithful to other
Be on guard and do not be unfaithful.
Would the most High God indict Medway? Would the same types of charges be levelled against us? Are we a faithful people?
I would caution against sitting here and thinking this is just a message about faithfulness in marriage. We see clearly it’s more than just that.
Just because your wife is still putting up with your nonsense 20 years down the line doesn’t necessarily make you a faithful Husband.
Conversely, honestly, some of the most faithful and faith filled people I know have been through divorce, or single parent homes or whatever.
We are called to be faithful in all things. Faithful in our marriages yes, but faithful in our business dealings too. Faithful to the promises we make, the standards we set, the worldview we hold.
Faithful in our worship, faithful in our giving, faithful in our obedience to the Great Commission Gospel call. Faithful in honest, sincere relationships with one another.
This is true for me where I work, and I would guess that it is true for anyone who works and takes charge of a group of people – you know who you really want to work with? The people who are true to their word – who can be trusted – who if they say they will get something done, they jolly get on with it and get it done. Smart people are great, funny people are great, the guys who stroke your ego and suck up to you also, well, they are nice for a short while. But let your yes be a yes and your no be a no. Be a people who are known for their faithfulness. (POSSIBLE EXIT)
It’s our annual AGM as a church in a few moments time – we will look back and of course reflect on another year of God’s Faithfulness to the believers at Medway.
Has the year been easy, no, but has he delivered? Has he been with us? Has he blessed us in His work? Has he been faithful? Has he cared for us? Has he broken any of His covenant promises to us? Is he faithful? Yes he is. How can you deny it?
Isn’t that amazing? People have lost their children? Families are suffering? Mothers are facing the worst health battles you can imagine? Marriages are breaking? People’s livelihoods are being challenged. People’s faiths are being tested to the limits……But we say he is faithful? Yes he is.
Our AGM will look forward too I imagine. Wouldn’t it be great to be known in Plumstead – for the Faithfulness of the people at Medway?
OH, they had their problems, every group of people does, that’s OK…
Ugh, their music was terrible
The tea was average
Didn’t really like their order of service…
The events were poorly organised, on Sunday mornings the sermons (not me – the other guys) just went on and on and on…
But that doesn’t really matter…. Because they stand out as a faithful people – obedient to the call of God in their lives. In their marriages, in their dealings with other people – in their relationships, in all things, as they - what as they Give Glory to God.
Heavenly Father, you are the Almighty God. The creator of the heavens and earth. You reign supreme in all things. You are faithful to us in all things. Thank you for your word to us this morning. Thank you for your patience with us as we, just like the Judeans, stumble our way through our lives in limited Faithfulness. Help our unbelief. Help us to be faithful people towards one another.
Help our marriages, help our decisions of who to marry, help us protect and honour our spouses.
Not just because it’s good advice. You are not a marriage counsellor. You are not a life coach. IT is enough just that you ask us to do it. Help us to reflect you and point to you in a church and in our homes. In all things giving Glory to God – Amen.
