December 14, 2011
DON'T BACK THAT COVENANT TRAIN UP
Malachi 2
Vicky Nguyen
Central Truth
In today's world, we have a tendency to break our promises, no matter how large or small. But God never breaks His promises to us.
Key Verse | Malachi 2:10
"Do we not all have one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?" (Malachi 2:10)
Malachi 2
The LORD Rebukes the Priests
1 And now, O priests, this command is for you. 2 If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. 3 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, 1 2:3 Hebrew seed and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. 2 2:3 Or to it 4 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of hosts. 5 My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction 3 2:6 Or law; also verses 7, 8, 9 was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people 4 2:7 Hebrew they should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, 9 and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”
Judah Profaned the Covenant
10 Have 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 5 2:12 Hebrew any who wakes and answers of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the LORD of hosts!
13 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. 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? 6 2:15 Hebrew in it And what was the one God 7 2:15 Hebrew the one seeking? 8 2:15 Or And not one has done this who has a portion of the Spirit. And what was that one seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves 9 2:15 Or So take care; also verse 16 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, 10 2:16 Hebrew who hates and divorces says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers 11 2:16 Probable meaning (compare Septuagint and Deuteronomy 24:14); or The LORD, the God of Israel, says that he hates divorce, and him who covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”
The Messenger of the LORD
17 You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”
Footnotes
[1] 2:3 Hebrew seed[2] 2:3 Or to it
[3] 2:6 Or law; also verses 7, 8, 9
[4] 2:7 Hebrew they
[5] 2:12 Hebrew any who wakes and answers
[6] 2:15 Hebrew in it
[7] 2:15 Hebrew the one
[8] 2:15 Or And not one has done this who has a portion of the Spirit. And what was that one seeking?
[9] 2:15 Or So take care; also verse 16
[10] 2:16 Hebrew who hates and divorces
[11] 2:16 Probable meaning (compare Septuagint and Deuteronomy 24:1–4); or “The LORD, the God of Israel, says that he hates divorce, and him who covers
Dive Deeper | Malachi 2
I often find myself agreeing to do something without taking the time to let what I have just agreed to weigh on my heart and to think about whether I can truly honor my promise. In Malachi 2:10, we are asked why we profane the covenant of our fathers. I look at the word covenant and insert commitment and promise and see just how often I enter lightly into these agreements. In today's fast-paced world, I usually over-commit and have to back out of promises I have made because I don't have the time to fulfill them, or sometimes even the desire.
A lack of commitment to keeping promises is evident in the large and small covenants people enter into such as marriage, agreed-upon appointment times, or jobs. I know I often choose what works best for me instead of following through. I quickly justify why it is okay for me to be late or to call and cancel. It is all too easy to think only of yourself, your comfort, your time, and your happiness and not the person impacted when you break your commitment. What's worse, I expect people to keep their commitments to me and get frustrated when they don't.
This passage and others give reasons why we should keep our covenants: because we have one Father (Ephesians 4:6), we were created by one God (1 Corinthians 8:6), and so that we do not profane the covenant of our fathers. Before agreeing to anything, I must remember these reasons and stand firm in them.
I know that if I were to look back on my life, I would see just how often I break the faith and fail to keep the trust of those around me. I cannot be faithful on my own. I need to rely on God for the strength to follow through with my commitments. When I do that, then I will be able to honor my commitments and have the desire to keep them.
Remember that God doesn't break His covenant with us, and we shouldn't do so with others.
Discussion Questions
1. What does a covenant look like to you? How important is it for you to keep it?
2. Do you truly take to heart what a covenant with others means when you enter into it?
3. What do you think it means to break a covenant? How does that reflect on you?
4. What keeps you from breaking promises?
5. How do you feel when people break promises with you?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
ZECHARIAH 14-MALACHI 4 (DECEMBER 12-16)
Read Malachi 3:16-18.
Whose names are written on the scroll? What does it mean to fear God? What does it mean to honor the name of the Lord?
What does verse 17 call those who are written on the scroll?
Read 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT).
How can you be a part of God's people? How does someone care for a treasured possession? How does it make you feel knowing that God cares for His people this way?
ACTIVITY: Let's make scrolls! Fold a piece of paper long ways and cut it along the fold. Gather sticks from the yard and glue one on each end. Then roll the paper from both ends to meet in the middle. Now open the scroll and write on it the names of people you know have trusted Jesus and are a part of His people. Celebrate their relationship with Jesus -- the great joy it is to be in relationship with Him.
Now get another piece of paper and write on it the names of people who you think are not a part of God's people. Keep this as a reminder to pray for them to come to trust Jesus as their Savior. Also, think about a way as a family that you can reach out to them to share about God's love. If they do accept Jesus, add them to your scroll!