Introduction

Welcome, friends. Welcome to this time of reflection. A time of understanding. A time of hope. We gather here today, not as strangers, but as a family. A family united by faith. A family bound by love. A family guided by the Word of God.

We come to ponder a topic that touches many lives. It's a topic that can bring joy. It can bring pain. It can bring confusion. It's about marriage. It's about divorce. It's about God's view on these matters.

G.K. Chesterton once said, "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried." We may find the teachings of the Bible difficult to live by. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart. But when we try, when we really try, we find wisdom. We find guidance. We find hope.

God's Grief over Divorce

We turn our attention to the heart of God, as revealed in the Scriptures. The words of the prophet Malachi, as he speaks of divorce, are not just a reflection of God's law, but also a revelation of His heart. The heart of a loving Father, who grieves when His children suffer. The heart of a faithful Husband, who grieves when the covenant of marriage is broken. The heart of a compassionate Creator, who grieves when His creation is marred by sin and selfishness.

The sanctity of marriage: From the beginning, God established marriage as a sacred covenant, a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. It's a covenant that reflects God's own faithfulness to His people. It's a covenant that mirrors the love of Christ for His church. When this covenant is broken, it's not just a legal contract that's violated. It's a sacred bond that's shattered. It's a reflection of God's love that's marred. And this grieves the heart of God.

The impact of divorce on the individuals involved: Divorce is not just a legal process. It's a personal trauma. It's a relational rupture. It's an emotional earthquake. It leaves scars that may not be visible, but are deeply felt. It causes pain that may not be spoken, but is deeply experienced. And this grieves the heart of God. God, who created us in His image, who knows us intimately, who loves us unconditionally, grieves when His children are in pain.

The impact of divorce on the family: The family is the basic building block of society. It's the first place where we learn to love, to trust, to forgive, to share, to serve. It's the first place where we experience the joys and challenges of relationships. When a marriage is broken, the family is fractured. The children are caught in the crossfire. The parents are torn apart. The ripple effects are felt in the extended family, in the community, in the society. And this grieves the heart of God. God, who instituted the family, who blesses the family, who uses the family to reveal His love and His purposes, grieves when the family is broken.

The impact of divorce on the church: The church is the body of Christ. It's a community of believers, united by faith, bound by love, guided by the Word of God. When a marriage within the church is broken, it affects the whole body. It disrupts the unity. It strains the fellowship. It challenges the witness. And this grieves the heart of God. God, who calls the church His bride, who loves the church as His own body, who gave His Son for the church, grieves when the church is wounded.

Malachi's Message on Matrimony

As we turn our attention to the words of Malachi, we find a prophet deeply concerned with the covenant of marriage ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO