MyDominionCity

4 yrs

DOMINION MANDATE DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2020

I HATE DIVORCE

BIBLE READING: MARK 10:2-12

“For the Lord God of Israel says, that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the Lord of hosts. Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.” Malachi 2:16 (NKJV).

From the above scripture we understand that God detests divorce. But the big question here is why?
The reason is obvious. Divorce has an impact in our world that’s rarely rivaled. Whether you have personally been through a divorce, were the child of divorced parents or have a close friend or relative that is divorced, the ripple effects of divorce have touched most, if not all, of us.

So what do we do with a verse like this that tells us God hates divorce?
Is it to be a word of condemnation to those who have crossed this threshold?
Do we use it to single out divorced men and women as being on a special sinner’s list in heaven?
Sadly, that's all happened in the past. But this perspective misses the greater point that God is making about divorce.

Let’s be clear, God does hate divorce, as He hates other things (Proverbs 6:16–19). But we need to understand why, and the reason is revealed as God’s Word tells us that divorce causes one’s garment to be covered with violence. In other words, divorce is a violent act. We may not immediately think of it that way. In fact, many of us probably witnessed a divorce where both parties parted ways amicably.

But make no mistake, divorce is violent because it separates what God has joined, and He hates that (Matthew 19:6). We should never want to divide what God has unified, especially when it comes to the institution of marriage, because it’s the one earthly relationship where God declares the two are now one in His sight, so much so that He considers it an act of adultery for a spouse to divorce without biblical grounds and move on to another mate: “Whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery” (Matthew 5:32 NKJV).

Again, divorce tears at the fabric of God’s will, which is why He warns Israel (and us) against it in Malachi and Matthew. His objective is not to utterly condemn those who have divorced.

There is forgiveness and grace for all who have deviated from God’s will, including those who may have divorced without biblical grounds to do so.

God’s objective is to remind us of His heart for marriage, how far-removed divorce is from it, and to love what He loves and hate what He hates.

PRAYER:
Father, I pray that you teach me how to love unconditionally like you. Help me walk in forgiveness and remove every thing or person that will cause me to divorce.

CONFESSION:
I come against every spirit of violence around me. I declare, only death will separate me from my partner and agape love will keep us together.