Marriage is sealed by a portion of Yahweh’s Spirit
by | Posted October 8th at 2:53pm
When studying Malachi, my wife and I were amazed to find this verse: “Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.” (Malachi 2:15)
First, God is rebuking the Israelites for their complicity with regard to their understanding of the importance of marriage with the primary goal of raising up holy children. This can only be realized if a couple understands that God’s Spirit actually unites them in a spiritual bond as one. “The two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh” (Mark 10:8)
With divorce at an all-time high, the exact opposite of God’s will designed for a godly upbuilding of His kingdom has ensued.
When the young consider another soul for marriage, it would do them well to consider the divine creation of God, unifying the couple in mind and viewpoint, firstly, to realize that as they move forward with their lifelong commitment, godliness, while submitting to Jesus Christ as Lord, is paramount. In fact, the scripture warns us, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). Also, God obviously hates divorce.
Divorce, God considers as an act of violence among spouses, especially when the negative witness affects the holiness of children. (Malachi 2:16) In the time of the prophet Malachi, men led the home, and divorce decisions would have been made by their decision. Today, both husband and wife are generally responsible for maintaining mutual harmony as they live in a loving and kind manner, trusting each other and avoiding adultery. Moreover, the Spirit of the Lord God enables the couple and their children to be transformed into the likeness of Christ’s righteousness through the living Word of God, which guides their lives.
From two souls, Zechariah and Elizabeth, even before conception, John the Baptist was called to be the Great Proclaimer of the Grace of Christ. We know this is true because an angel came to Zechariah, telling him of one to be born to him and Elizabeth. He went, unable to speak until John was born, as he replied to the angel in doubt due to his and Elizabeth’s age. When John was born, his first words were when asked about the child’s name: “He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise, he wrote, ‘His name is John.” as Yahweh God had declared to him via the angel.
The implications of not having the Lord unify and empower transformative marriage may mean that he cannot bless the marriage if the two marrying disregard the Lord’s biblical guidance. The Good News: There is always hope when a married couple decides to repent and accept Jesus Christ as Lord over their family’s life. The Body of Believers — the church — is the Bride of Christ.
Meditate on the full context of the text: You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favour 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? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves 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, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless. (Malachi 2:13, 14, 15, 16)
Article posted by Glen R. Jackman, founder of GraceProclaimed.org
Glen has optimized his eldership role to teach the full scope of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ without
boundaries.
You can read his testimony.