Malachi 2:13-17

Malachi 2:13 (KJB)

And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.

The priests had adopted the way of the pagan nations in that they have continually violated the worship of the LORD.  What they had done was make false pretenses when they were offering their sacrifices by means of weeping and tears to make it look like they were sorry for their sins while enjoying the life in sin.  Then they would cry out as the pagans did on a routine.  1 Kings 18:28 (KJV) And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.  1 Kings 18:28 is in the midst of the confrontation between the prophets of Baal and Elijah who represented the LORD.  Notice Elijah was mocking them by telling them to cry aloud.  No matter how much they yell or cry out, God will not accept their sacrifices because they are not done in truth.

Malachi 2:14 (KJB)

Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

The men were now asking what the purpose or reason was.  They were so steeped in their sin that they had no idea why God was bringing these things to light.  When they made their marriage vows God was present with them and heard all the words they said because marriage is a covenant.  In the modern marriage ceremony the preacher normally begins by saying “We are gathered here in the presence of Almighty God and these witnesses…”  So when these men were dealing disloyally and deceitfully with their wives, they were violating the covenant they made with them.  God reminds these men that their wives are their companions and that by marrying them they were in covenant with them.

Malachi 2:15 (KJB)

And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

God reminds them that because of the marriage covenant where the husband and wife are no longer separate but have become one.  Matthew 19:6 (KJV) Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.  After God created Adam and Eve, he still had the power of the spirit whereby he could have created more but he created only one man and one woman and brought them together as husband and wife.  That union was a covenant which was to last for their entire lives and was not be adulterated through fornication or divorce.  The reason that God created one couple in the beginning was that they would produce godly seed but they had sinned before they had children and they produced only one godly offspring and that was Abel because Cain had a murderous spirit and killed Abel.  God warns Judah that he wants them to commit to their marriage covenants and to produce godly seed but this will not happen if they are sleeping around and not remaining faithful.  They will produce children of fornication which will be unclean if they had children with a pagan woman.

Malachi 2:16 (KJB)

For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

The LORD now makes his case when he speaks about the men of Israel divorcing their wives so they could find new ones or just sleep around.  God is plainly stating that he hates divorce which he speaks of as “putting away” which carries with it the meaning of “forsaking, send out, or put out.”  Then God accuses of them as trying to cover their violence or their evil ways they are treating their wives as one covers something with a garment hoping it is out of sight but the reality is that there is nothing hidden from the LORD which he does not see.  Isaiah 29:15 (KJV) Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?  Since the LORD sees all the things which man does in the dark, he is telling them to take heed or beware that they do not exude an evil spirit by dealing treacherously or deceitfully with their wives because they will not go unpunished for their evil deeds.

Malachi 2:17 (KJB)

Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?