Yet you ask, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have acted treacherously against her, though she was your marriage partner and your wife by covenant. Malachi 2:14 HCSB
My wife and I will celebrate 39 years of marriage in September. When we made our vows to each other in front of witnesses and before God, we created a covenant relationship between the two of us and with God. The dictionary defines covenant as an agreement. Some synonyms for covenant would be contract, commitment, guarantee, warrant, pledge, promise, and bond. The wedding ring is a symbol of that covenant. The ring is a circle with no beginning or end. The hole in the center is considered a gateway into a new relationship to be experienced together. The ring is made of pure and precious metal, symbolizing that the marriage relationship should be pure and precious.
Early in Genesis God established the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (see Genesis 2:18-24). Adultery and divorce had become rampant among the people of Judah. They seemed to be divorcing for no real reason other than they wanted someone different. Malachi reminded the people that they had not followed God’s laws and had not treated their spouses with respect and love as they had committed to do. This was indicative of how the people of Judah had neglected their covenant relationship with God.
Challenge: If married, reflect on your marriage covenant. Evaluate your faithfulness to the marriage partner of your youth. Throughout history we can see the grievous results of divorce. God hates divorce but allows it in certain situations (see Deuteronomy 24:1-4 and Matthew 19:7-8). Recommit to being faithful to you marriage partner. If not married, pray for family members and friends who are married.