Scripture Reading : Malachi 2
Theme : Dishonouring God
Corrupted Priesthood (1-9). God’s covenant with the priesthood was His gracious way to bless them with true life and peace. They did not fear God and did not marvel at His great character, but blasphemed God by corrupting His commandments. The priests were being partial, being a stumbling block to people instead of being a guide; therefore, God will treat them like dung and take them away.
Marrying People Outside of Faith (10-12). The people and the leaders dishonour God by marrying foreigners. Then they naturally are influenced by foreign gods. Ezra and Nehemiah dealt with the same sin in Nehemiah 13:23–28. Such sin is a serious violation and idolatry in God’s eyes. God threatens to cut them off for such serious sin because it denies faith in God.
Divorces and Unfaithfulness (14-16) When people heard that God will not accept their offerings and will withhold blessings from them, they flooded God with tears. But instead of being sorrowful over their sin of unfaithfulness, they were only sorrowful over the withholding of blessings. God commands them to repent of their adultery. God hates the shameful sin of unfaithfulness and divorce because He is a faithful God and He desires His people to be faithful to their spouse and produce faithful children.
Praying the Scripture
- God is a God of faithfulness. This is His greatness. He desires His children to reflect this greatness. Unfaithfulness is ugly and shameful in God’s eyes. May we take this truth to heart and be sorrowful over any unfaithfulness. Comparing your spouse to others is unfaithfulness. Love hopes for all things that are good (1 Cor. 13:7) and labors humbly to make your spouse better for God’s glory. May God bless us with patience and joy as we seek to love our spouse.
- God forbids His people to marry outside of the faith. This is true for OT believers and for Christians (1 Cor. 7:39). It is a serious sin to marry outside of the faith, but many pastors, especially in Chinese churches, compromise on this because there are far more females then males. Please pray that God will raise up more godly and responsible men for our godly women. Pray for extra grace for godly Christian women to wait on the Lord, instead of chasing unbelievers, which is idolatry. Pray for Christian men to be men, especially in a culture where males are prized more than girls and are spoiled. This is a rampant problem in China.
经文：玛拉基书2
主题：对神的羞辱
腐败的祭司制度（1-9）。神与利未所立的约是祂予祭司真平安与生命的方式；这是神的恩典。可是，他们不敬畏神，也不以神伟大的品格为奇，反倒亵渎神，败坏神的诫命。祭司偏待人，成为众人的绊脚石，不作律法上的引导。因此，神会视他们如粪一样，将他们除掉。
娶外邦女子为妻（10-12）。以色列子民与领袖羞辱了神，娶外邦女子为妻。接着，他们自然而然地受到外邦神的影响。以斯拉和尼希米在尼希米记13:23-28也处理了同样的罪。这项罪在神看来是严重的悖逆和淫乱之罪。神告诫他们自己会因这极为严重的罪剪除他们，因为他们违背了神。
离婚与不忠（14-16）。当人们知道神不收纳他们的祭物，也不会降下祝福时，他们就以眼泪遮盖耶和华的坛。他们不为自己的不忠哀恸，只为神所保留的祝福哭泣。神吩咐他们要悔改他们淫荡之罪。神憎恨不忠和离婚的可耻行为，因为祂是信实的神，并渴望祂的子民也能对自己的配偶忠心，有敬虔的孩子。
用经文祷告
- 神是信实的神。祂为此而伟大。祂渴望自己的儿女能反映这种品格。在神的眼中，不忠贞是丑陋与可耻的罪。愿我们能将这个真理铭记于心，对凡不忠诚的行为哀恸。拿妻子与他人作比较是不忠实的。爱盼望所有良善的事（林前13:7），并为神的荣耀存谦卑的心劳苦，使妻子圣洁。愿神赐予我们耐心和喜悦，叫我们更爱自己的配偶。
- 神禁止祂的子民与外邦人结婚。旧约信徒和基督徒都是如此（林前7:39）。与非信徒结婚是一项极为严重的罪，但许多牧师，尤其中国教会的，却作妥协，因为女性比男性多。请为我们敬虔的姐妹祷告神会兴起更多敬虔与负责人的弟兄。求神为敬虔的主内姐妹赐予额外的恩典，叫她们能仰望神，而不是追寻非信徒，因为那是罪。请为信主的弟兄祷告他们能作男子汉，以免被宠坏，因为这是在重男轻女之社会的现象。这在中国便是个大问题。
