“This is another thing you do: you cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and with groaning, because He no longer regards 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 companion and your wife by covenant. Didn’t the one God make us with a remnant of His Spirit? And what does the One seek? A godly offspring. Take heed then to your spirit, and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth. ‘For I hate divorce,’ says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘and him who covers his garment with wrong,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.’” vs13-16

We have no right to deal treacherously because we are saved by grace. The doctrine of sin that grace might abound is hideous and anti-God. Israel had the privileges, but she didn’t keep the responsibilities, so her privileges were taken.

It is the same with us: If we don’t walk in the light, then we’ll be left in darkness [Luke 8:18; John 12:35]! If we don’t heed the gospel, then it will rise up in Judgement against us. There is no way around it: Sound doctrine must lead to sound living, forgiveness must lead to forgiving others, and God’s love must lead to us loving.

Outside my window, I see bickering, arguing, and men fighting women. I see punches thrown and anger in the streets. Where is the mindfulness of God in these things? We call to Him for help yet dishonor His name.

Israel was divorcing her wives and breaking the covenant, but they wanted God to keep covenant with them [vs14]! They wanted none of the duties, just the externals of religion. They had no heart in it and saw no glory in God. They walked in unbelief as evidenced by their actions. They had no love for Christ!

This is the great crime against His Majesty - that we do not regard Him highly. Thus, we don’t believe what we sing!

They came to Him with half-hearted sacrifices, because they didn’t believe God’s love was special [Mal 1]. They didn’t regard Him, so He guaranteed Himself another people.

“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you. For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts. [Mal 1:10-11]

This is a shock, but it is real: Israel WOULD NOT WORSHIP, so He gathered the Gentiles to praise His name.

What will happen to us? Will we believe the Son and live like it, or will He give the gospel to someone else?

Secondly, unbelief is our greatest crime: it is contempt of God! [Mal 3:14-15]

You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts? So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’” vs14-15

We have challenged Him, refused to give, and violated the covenant in every way possible, because we don’t think He’s worth serving! This is the heart of our rebellion: Unbelief. There is no delight in His Person. There is no worthiness that we see in Him. We are blind.

It is a drastic evil that the root of our problem is unbelief. We consider Him unworthy of our devotion. Therefore, we disregard His commands, do not give cheerfully, and we teach improperly [Mal 2:8-9]! This is why we serve half-heartedly.

God must open our eyes to His greatness! He has proclaimed it, but we have not listened. He loved Jacob and not Esau, yet Israel perished in the wilderness. He gave them the priesthood, yet they violated it, so He spreads dung upon the priest’s faces to cause repentance [Mal 2:3-4]. He is the One who closed our temples in fury. He receives none of our worship [Mal 1:10].

This evil heart of unbelief departs from the living God; it does not believe the promises! Israel refused the Promised Land, when they were at the door, simply because they DID NOT TRUST GOD. Oh, the horror of unbelief - how it violates God’s sovereignty, grace, and justice! It looks at Him with contempt.

Examine your heart, dear one. Look up to Him and see if you believe on the Son - that He’s put away your sins and is worthy of worship.

Finally, the Day is coming when we shall judge the wicked! [Mal 4:2-3]

“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings,and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall. Then you will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,” says the LORD of Hosts. vs2-3

This is a great day - the day of His fury - and we will be on the right side with Jesus the Son of God. He will reward us, and we will have joy everlasting. Our victory will be complete, and our sufferings will not be in vain. Self-denial will have its reward, and those who’ve served God will see His greatness [Matt 16:24-27].

Right now, we take it by faith, but the day is coming when we’ll see Him. Prepare you wicked ones. Rejoice you saints! Your redemption draws near, and your labor is not in vain.

Keep to the Lord Jesus Christ with JUDGEMENT DAY on your mind! It will thrill your soul to know that He’s saved you. Our reward is not here. Soon, it will be Armageddon and the Great Battle [Rev 16:16]. In just a little time, fire will descend from heaven [Rev 20:9]. Keep going, rejoicing in the Lord’s secret. He’s made known to you the covenant, and He will keep it [Ps 25:14]!