“Keeping to their bargain”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Thursday, November 17, 2022

Malachi 2:1-16 (Forward, p. 19) CEV p. 975

In the world of consumer affairs one of the things most distasteful to the general public, most disapproved of, is when a business doesn’t or won’t live up to their contract or promises or won’t keep their end of the bargain. To us, it violates our sense of fair play, our trust, and destroys the good will and the amicable relationship that we feel should be there. And yet, for all that, it happens far too often.

Interestingly, God feels the very same way about us and Himself, particularly in terms of the covenant or agreement that we have made with Him. Just as we might blame certain businesses of this practice, He accuses us of not keeping our end of the bargain.

God speaks of three ways that His hearers in Judah and Jerusalem have done this:

a) Firstly, by the way the priests have neglected their duties:

-they have not given Him the proper honour or respected His name;

-they have turned their backs on God;

-they have disobeyed Him and showed partiality toward worshippers by not treating all of them equally;

-they have led others astray through their false teachings

As a result, they and their position have earned the disrespect, hatred and despising of the common people.

Instead, they should have been role models by obeying God and living aright. And people should have felt safe in coming to them for instruction and knowledge. In fact, these priests should have been eager to teach this to others, and to share this, spread this, with them.

b) Secondly, by breaking their covenant with God and being unfaithful to Him. They have disgraced the Temple and have worshipped other gods, so that even their sacrificial offerings and prayers are disgusting to God. And why is this? See the next item.

c) Thirdly, by violating their marriage vows (the men especially):

-rather than being partners for life, and like one person with her, these men have been unfaithful to their wives and have even divorced them;

-this meant that their children (if there were any) would be denied a good role model and be less likely to have the leadership in the home that would help them become part of God’s people.

Does any of this seem familiar? It certainly does. Priests/ clergy have not always been faithful to their vows. Sometimes they have been quite disobedient, and certainly, some are guilty of not teaching the truth, the Gospel, to their congregants.

And certainly, many of us are guilty of worshipping other things, material things perhaps, or maybe things like success or position or power, rather than God. It may not ‘seem’ as if we are worshipping them, but it is far too easy to put them first—when God should come first!

And divorce: yes indeed, it is widespread, far more than it should be. It would suggest that there are indeed those situations where it is appropriate, but I think that our present trend and practice goes far, far beyond that.

So, whether with the ancient Jews or with us, there are most certainly things that God disapproves of, things wherein we failed to keep our end of the bargain. That, however, is not the end of the story. Paul, in Romans (Romans 5:8) tells us that God so loves us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That means, that regardless of our sin, our failures to keep our end of the bargain, our waywardness, He is still there for us, to forgive us, heal us and restore us to that proper relationship with Himself. And so, no matter what, we can always return to Him. Amen.

Forward notes: “The Lord was a 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. Did not one God make her? Both flesh and spirit are his. And what does the one God desire? Godly offspring. So look to yourselves, and do not let anyone be faithless to the wife of his youth” (verses 14b-15).

“The readings this week are all about the dangers of faithlessness. Faithlessness in marriage is a principle sin because it is to the ones whom

we know, and conversely know us, better than anyone else, that we have the greatest obligation. But when we as parents, teachers, clerics, or civic leaders fail in our roles, we are also being faithless. We are faithless when we put any desires higher than our obligations to God and to others.

“When we are individually unfaithful in these, we corrupt our homes, churches, and communities. Our actions don’t take place in isolation. If we really want to impact our world for Christ, we must begin with faithfulness to our most basic but significant relationships.”

Moving Forward: “Forward Day by Day sends free resources to prisons, nursing homes, and hospitals. Learn how you can support this ministry at ForwardMovement.org/Donate.”