The issue of divorce

In the previous passage, the sin of intermarriage with unbelievers was exposed. In this passage, the issue of divorce is rebuked. “… You cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and sighing, because He no longer gives attention to the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your marriage companion and your wife by covenant” (v 13-14). (1) The people were pleading with the Lord with tears, cries, and groaning in hopes of receiving answers to their prayers. Yet the Lord would not accept their offerings. (2) Therefore, the people asked, “Why does He not accept them?” (3) The reason God did not delight in their offerings was their practice of divorce. Divorce becomes a serious issue for the following reasons: (1) She is “the wife of your youth,” the woman whom the Lord Himself witnessed as your wife (ref. Prov. 5:15-21). To divorce such a wife is an act of treachery. (2) She is your “companion.” This term carries the idea that the two have become “one flesh” (ref. Gen. 2:21-24). (3) She is your “wife by covenant.” Marriage is a covenant, and as we have already seen, the Lord is the witness to that covenant (ref. Gen. 31:50; Prov. 2:17).

God’s view concerning divorce

“But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And why the one? He was seeking a godly offspring. Be careful then about your spirit, and see that none of you deals treacherously against the wife of your youth” (v 15). (1) Marriage is the union of a man and a woman into one flesh. It is an institution established by God. (2) When two believers marry, “godly offspring” can be raised. A healthy marriage also serves the purpose of producing a “godly offspring.” (3) The people of Israel were not only intermarrying with unbelievers but were also divorcing their Israelite wives. Divorce is described as being like “covering his garment with violence.” The expression “covering with a garment” is a figurative expression for the marriage relationship. The Lord says, “For I hate divorce” (v 16). There may be situations in which divorce becomes unavoidable, but we should remember that such cases represent God’s permissive will, not His positive and perfect will. As for us, let us seek God’s positive and perfect will and walk accordingly throughout our lives on earth.