WEBVTT

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 Well just imagine with me it's about 450 BC in the land of Judah and picture a man living there

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! And he goes to his local prophet Malachi. I'm so disappointed Malachi. Coming back

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! Why doesn't the Lord accept my worship and my offering? Why doesn't the Lord accept my worship?

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 My offerings Malachi. To be honest I'm feeling pretty dry spiritually. What's the matter Malachi?

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 Well any great pastor would begin to ask questions wouldn't he? How's your Bible reading? How's

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 your prayer life going? Good questions to ask. But did you notice the question that Malachi

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 asks the man how's your marriage? He wants to talk about divine stuff. Malachi wants to

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 talk domestic stuff. How are things with you and the wife? Malachi in this section rebukes

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 the Israelite man. He rebukes the religion of the man because of his relationships. Particularly

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 his marriage or his divorce but it could mean all of his relationships. And God says to us

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 in this section your relationships with one another deeply and profoundly affect your relationship

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 with me. That's the logic of verse 13 and 14 if you look there isn't it? I'm just over

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 the page. The people say why doesn't the Lord accept our offerings? Why is our relationship

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 with him not working? Verse 14 God says the Lord is witness between you and the wife of your

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 youth. God is saying here what goes on in your house, in your living room and in your bedroom

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 deeply affects what is going to happen when you come to my house. Things between me and

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 you. So the important connection to see in our passage this morning is that the guy's religious

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 problems were actually relational problems. His spiritual life or her spiritual life was affected

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 by his social life with others. Now why does that matter so much to God? Why get so worked

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 up about it Malachi? About human relationships? Well first of all these relationships matter he says

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 because we have one father creator God. We have one father creator God. As Israel read out the passage

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 earlier I don't know if you noticed the repeated word in these verses. The key word that is repeated

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 is the word faithlessly. Do you notice that? Chapter 2 verse 10, verse 11, verse 14, verse 15, verse 16.

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 Faithlessly. The word is a bit stronger really. It can mean more like treachery. It's a very strong word. It speaks of betrayal.

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 It's a bit stronger. It's a bit stronger. It's a bit stronger. It's a bit stronger. It's a bit stronger. It's a bit stronger.

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 It was, verse 11, an abomination. Now that is a very strong word. It's the same word that is used for how God feels about child sacrifice.

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 It's killing your children for a false god. Or of incest. It's a very strong word. Relational breakdown between them is an abomination to God.

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 Because it was God who brought them together in the first place, wasn't it? If you look back at verse 10,

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 Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Then why are we faithless to one another?

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 Malachi asks a rhetorical question, doesn't he? Stupid question.

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 There is an inexpressible bond between them that they have forgotten and they are ignoring and they are going against.

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 It's that bond between siblings, isn't it?

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 I don't know if you have got a brother or a sister or you've grown up in a family with lots of brothers and sisters.

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 There is that connection, isn't there? Because of a common parent, usually in most cases.

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 Connection with mum and dad.

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 And so if siblings end up falling out, it really affects the parents.

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 It is really upsetting to see children seriously break up, isn't it?

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 Not just to fall out for a bit.

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 But when they are treacherous towards one another.

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 Because their identity, their unity, their oneness in the family is about the identity of the one parent.

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 To act like you are no brother or sister of mine is to say that he is no father of us.

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 Betraying the one who brought them together.

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 And so this is why an issue between two Christian people is never just an issue between two Christian people.

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 Social problems in the church and amongst the people of God will often lead to spiritual problems.

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 It's really interesting how the Bible prioritises those two things.

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 Because you would have thought, wouldn't you, that spiritual things are more important than kind of relational things.

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 But remember what Jesus says.

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 He says, if therefore you're presenting your offering at the altar, religious activity,

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 and there remember your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar.

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 And go your way, first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

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 He's saying there, isn't he, that there's something more important than giving an offering.

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 Something more important than religious activity, or even giving financially, or serving in the church.

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 It is giving socially.

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 It is giving socially.

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 And getting right with other people.

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 Our church building debt kind of hangs over us, doesn't it?

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 But it's not the biggest challenge for this church, actually.

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 It's the challenge of our relationships.

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 Treachery and betrayal and ignoring that connection is an abomination to God.

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 Because he is our one father and one creator.

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 And it reflects on him.

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 Now, we can apply it generally to relationships in the church.

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 But I think Malachi here, and we can see that he's on to something more specific.

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 Because this treachery, in particular, happens in two ways in this passage.

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 Treachery, first of all, happens when we establish wrong relationships.

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 It happens when we establish wrong relationships.

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 And this is to do primarily in this passage here, with the relationship of marriage.

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 Just drop your eye down to verse 11.

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 You profane the sanctuary of the Lord.

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 You've married the daughter of a foreign God.

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 God says here, doesn't he, that damage is done to my worship and my sanctuary

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 when you get close to the wrong kinds of people.

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 When you build relationships with those people, our relationship breaks down.

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 Because marriage is a very, very powerful thing.

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 Later in verse 14, he speaks about marriage being like a partnership.

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 And the same word is used to describe the cement that sticks bricks together in a building.

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 Once you put them together, it's very difficult to pull them apart.

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 It is a covenant relationship.

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 A legally binding relationship.

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 And that pervasive bond, that legal bond between a man and a woman,

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 is important particularly because of its spiritual significance to the people of God.

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 Malachi talks about marrying the daughter of a foreign God here, doesn't he?

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 Now, some theologians think that that is just picture language.

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 It's just a parable of their kind of idolatry, of them turning away from God.

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 It's picture language.

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 But that is to miss the point.

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 It wasn't just that marrying foreign daughters was a picture of idolatry.

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 It was actually the cause of it.

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 God had said through Moses, hadn't he, in Deuteronomy,

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 You shall not intermarry with foreign women or men,

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 giving your sons to their daughters or taking their daughters for your sons.

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 For they would turn away your sons from following me to serve other gods.

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 We've got to be careful there.

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 We see in Deuteronomy that racial intermarriage was forbidden.

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 For the Old Testament people of God, but not for racial reasons.

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 But for religious reasons.

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 It was because then each nation had their own particular god that they would worship.

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 And so marriages to men or women outside of Israel

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 was the catalyst for spiritual problems, for idolatry.

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 So the warning was, if you marry that person who is not of me,

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 not of the Lord, then that will have an impact on your worship.

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 And that's because marriage was not just seen as a romantic commitment then.

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 It was a way of making alliances,

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 getting security, of making political moves.

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 Marriage was the way that you got what you wanted and what you needed in life.

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 You see what they were doing here was

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 trying to get the things that they thought actually God was no longer going to give them

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 by compromising on this.

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 Emma's been watching Pride and Prejudice,

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 the BBC version, of course.

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 It's all about pairing the Bennett sisters up with the right men, isn't it?

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 That is such a crude way of describing it.

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 But that's as far as I can see what it's about.

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 The right men should bring security

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 and peace

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 and prosperity,

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 Mr. Darcy.

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 They are the things that God had already promised to his people.

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 They think,

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 God isn't giving me these things,

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 so I'll go elsewhere.

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 I'll go outside of Israel.

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 I'll look for a better suitor.

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 I'll marry into another family,

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 into another nation

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 with another God.

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 So what they were doing

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 maritally was an indication of how they were

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 spiritually.

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 Malachi is showing us here, isn't he,

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 that marriage

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 is a very religious activity.

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 Whether you're religious or not,

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 who you decide to make partnership with

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 will shape the God that you worship

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 and how you worship.

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 It's one of the big problems

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 in the land of Israel

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 with the kings, wasn't it?

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 Even the good kings

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 that managed to get rid of the

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 false gods out of the land of Egypt

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 couldn't quite get rid of the

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 high places

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 where the false gods were worshipped.

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 Who brought those high places in?

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 Well, mostly Solomon,

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 the king's foreign wives.

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 He couldn't quite bring himself

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 to put them away.

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 And the signs are perhaps there

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 if you look at verse 13.

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 You see the way that they worship.

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 God rebukes them for

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 this crying and weeping and groaning.

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 It's kind of hypocritical

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 show of religion.

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 But what is damning about that

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 is it looks a lot like

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 pagan religion,

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 pagan worship.

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 I don't know if you remember

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 in two kings

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 the whole Elijah

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 and the prophets of Baal

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 you know when God

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 sends his fire down

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 and burns up

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 the offering

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 when it's covered in water.

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 And the way that the prophets of Baal

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 try and do that

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 is by crying out

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 and calling out

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 and going into hysterics

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 but he did not answer.

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 And they were marrying

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 these women

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 and in turn

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 marrying the spirit

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 of the age of the world

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 around them

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 and adopting their values

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 and adopting

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 their way of worshipping

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 their way of reaching salvation

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 and it's so subtle actually

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 isn't it?

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 Notice that they're still

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 trying to worship

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 the Lord

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 at his temple

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 but the way

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 they are doing that

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 has shifted.

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 They come with

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 outward sorrow

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 showing great

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 external demonstrations

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 but that is not

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 how the Lord

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 has asked them

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 to worship him.

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 Not with emotional

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 blackmail

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 not by bending

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 his arm

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 that was

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 pagan

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 worship

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 to kind of

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 speed the response

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 of the gods.

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 The way

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 they worship

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 has subtly

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 been changed

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 by the world

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 around them

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 and by the connections

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 they've made

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 with it.

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 they've forgotten

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 grace

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 which the world

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 knows so little

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 about.

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 They'd adopted

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 the we need to

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 impress God

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 mentality of worship

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 and it was so subtle

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 wasn't it?

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 We realise here

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 that marriage

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 is a religious

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 act

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 and who you

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 marry

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 bears on

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 who you

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 worship

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 and how you

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 worship

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 and how you

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 begin to

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 think

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 and how you

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 believe.

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 Don't

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 underestimate

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 the influence

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 that these

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 connections

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 can make

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 that a spouse

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 can have

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 on you.

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 Let me say

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 that if you're

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 considering marriage

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 here this morning

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 at some point

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 and you are

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 on a trajectory

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 of falling

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 in love

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 with somebody

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 who is not

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 a Christian

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 you are on

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 a trajectory

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 of disobeying

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 God

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 and of having

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 your worship

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 of him

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 hampered

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 and of

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 being changed

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 or of even

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 leaving him

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 altogether.

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 Somebody once

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 said

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 don't marry

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 the spirit

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 of the age

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 or you'll be

00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:06.800
 a widower

00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:07.659
 in the next.

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 If that

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 person's

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 supreme

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 God

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 is something

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 other than

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 the Lord

00:16:13.839 --> 00:16:14.219
 then you'll

00:16:14.219 --> 00:16:14.620
 be heading

00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:15.559
 into a union

00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:16.919
 that betrays

00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:17.179
 him

00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:18.299
 that is

00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:18.939
 treacherous

00:16:18.939 --> 00:16:19.740
 towards him.

00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:22.159
 Think about

00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:23.079
 your brothers

00:16:23.079 --> 00:16:23.599
 and sisters

00:16:23.599 --> 00:16:24.240
 as well.

00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:25.979
 It is

00:16:25.979 --> 00:16:26.740
 treacherous

00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:27.099
 when a

00:16:27.099 --> 00:16:27.819
 Christian person

00:16:27.819 --> 00:16:28.519
 says I'm

00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:29.039
 living for

00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:29.579
 the Lord

00:16:29.579 --> 00:16:31.399
 and then

00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:32.219
 unite with

00:16:32.219 --> 00:16:32.779
 someone who

00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:33.439
 does not

00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:34.339
 support or

00:16:34.339 --> 00:16:35.299
 live in that

00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:36.099
 covenant that

00:16:36.099 --> 00:16:36.699
 you have with

00:16:36.700 --> 00:16:37.160
 the Lord.

00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:39.200
 It betrays

00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:39.700
 the church

00:16:39.700 --> 00:16:40.040
 of God

00:16:40.040 --> 00:16:40.379
 doesn't it?

00:16:40.540 --> 00:16:41.160
 It deals

00:16:41.160 --> 00:16:41.940
 treacherously

00:16:41.940 --> 00:16:43.340
 with your

00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:44.100
 brothers and

00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:44.800
 sisters saying

00:16:44.800 --> 00:16:45.420
 one thing and

00:16:45.420 --> 00:16:45.900
 doing another

00:16:45.900 --> 00:16:46.800
 saying I'm

00:16:46.800 --> 00:16:48.020
 committed to

00:16:48.020 --> 00:16:48.420
 you.

00:16:48.660 --> 00:16:49.480
 We are one

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.060
 body and

00:16:50.060 --> 00:16:50.879
 one family

00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:52.879
 united in

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:53.560
 mind and

00:16:53.560 --> 00:16:54.500
 spirit yet I'm

00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:55.140
 going to marry

00:16:55.140 --> 00:16:56.200
 this person and

00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:56.460
 I'm going to

00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:57.020
 go out with

00:16:57.020 --> 00:16:57.420
 them.

00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:59.040
 It's treacherous

00:16:59.040 --> 00:16:59.500
 isn't it?

00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:02.900
 I know that

00:17:02.900 --> 00:17:03.700
 Malachi is being

00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:04.319
 pretty tough

00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:04.660
 here.

00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:06.840
 maybe some

00:17:06.840 --> 00:17:07.640
 of you at

00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:08.100
 the end of

00:17:08.100 --> 00:17:09.300
 this service

00:17:09.300 --> 00:17:09.860
 are going to

00:17:09.860 --> 00:17:10.259
 think well

00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:11.500
 this area of

00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:12.519
 relationships has

00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.100
 been an area

00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:13.540
 that I've

00:17:13.540 --> 00:17:14.400
 really messed

00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.940
 up in and

00:17:15.940 --> 00:17:17.320
 it's a real

00:17:17.320 --> 00:17:18.320
 difficulty for

00:17:18.320 --> 00:17:18.880
 me and there

00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:19.500
 are lots of

00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.340
 regrets in my

00:17:20.340 --> 00:17:20.940
 life and I

00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:21.640
 feel awful

00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:22.360
 about them

00:17:22.360 --> 00:17:24.200
 and I long

00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:25.140
 for grace and

00:17:25.140 --> 00:17:25.720
 I long for

00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:26.140
 forgiveness.

00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.400
 Let me say

00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.019
 to you that

00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:30.120
 actually you

00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:30.759
 are not if

00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.320
 you feel like

00:17:31.320 --> 00:17:31.880
 that in the

00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:32.700
 crosshairs this

00:17:32.700 --> 00:17:33.060
 morning.

00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:35.760
 Actually it's

00:17:35.760 --> 00:17:36.480
 the people who

00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.340
 sit rather

00:17:37.340 --> 00:17:39.900
 comfortably looking

00:17:39.900 --> 00:17:40.960
 at this behaviour

00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:41.980
 and thinking I'm

00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:42.900
 so glad I'm not

00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:43.580
 like that.

00:17:45.100 --> 00:17:46.000
 Because as well

00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:46.960
 as making wrong

00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:48.100
 relationships the

00:17:48.100 --> 00:17:49.100
 big problem and

00:17:49.100 --> 00:17:49.780
 actually I think

00:17:49.780 --> 00:17:50.740
 the bigger problem

00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:53.100
 for them is

00:17:53.100 --> 00:17:54.280
 betraying and

00:17:54.280 --> 00:17:55.440
 letting right

00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:57.220
 relationships fester

00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:59.160
 and neglecting

00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:00.799
 them and even

00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.660
 breaking them.

00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.740
 Second reason

00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.480
 why treachery

00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.200
 happens making

00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:07.380
 wrong relationships

00:18:07.380 --> 00:18:08.400
 but secondly

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:10.240
 when we break

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.559
 right relationships

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:13.700
 when we break

00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.759
 right relationships

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.960
 look at verse

00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:18.240
 14 again

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.799
 you say why

00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:20.420
 does he not

00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:20.940
 because the

00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:21.420
 Lord was

00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:22.180
 witness between

00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:23.019
 you and the

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:23.660
 wife of your

00:18:23.660 --> 00:18:25.420
 youth to whom

00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.319
 you have been

00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:27.180
 faithless.

00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:28.700
 though she is

00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.360
 your companion

00:18:29.360 --> 00:18:30.220
 and your wife

00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:30.900
 by covenant.

00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.640
 And he speaks

00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:34.779
 of the same

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.420
 issue doesn't

00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:35.900
 he in verse

00:18:35.900 --> 00:18:36.900
 16 for the

00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:37.519
 man who does

00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:38.640
 not love his

00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:39.980
 wife but

00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.940
 divorces her

00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:41.400
 says the

00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:41.960
 Lord the God

00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:42.440
 of Israel

00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:43.200
 covers his

00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:43.799
 garment with

00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:45.539
 violence and

00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:46.339
 so guard

00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:47.000
 yourselves in

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.620
 your spirit

00:18:47.620 --> 00:18:48.600
 do not be

00:18:48.600 --> 00:18:49.339
 faithless.

00:18:52.100 --> 00:18:53.660
 I think most

00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.460
 of us in this

00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:54.980
 room have

00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:55.680
 probably been

00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:56.380
 touched in

00:18:56.380 --> 00:18:57.180
 some way

00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:58.340
 by marriage

00:18:58.340 --> 00:18:59.100
 breakdown.

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:00.960
 The ripples

00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:01.900
 of it go

00:19:01.900 --> 00:19:03.020
 far and

00:19:03.020 --> 00:19:03.520
 they last

00:19:03.520 --> 00:19:03.960
 a long

00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:04.560
 time don't

00:19:04.560 --> 00:19:04.820
 they?

00:19:06.020 --> 00:19:06.680
 The Bible

00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:07.720
 teaches that

00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:09.080
 in some

00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:10.260
 cases divorce

00:19:10.260 --> 00:19:11.340
 may be the

00:19:11.340 --> 00:19:12.140
 best thing.

00:19:13.520 --> 00:19:14.060
 There are

00:19:14.060 --> 00:19:15.060
 legitimate cases

00:19:15.060 --> 00:19:15.720
 for that.

00:19:15.860 --> 00:19:16.500
 It's a really

00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:17.300
 sticky issue

00:19:17.300 --> 00:19:17.900
 isn't it?

00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:19.820
 I want to

00:19:19.820 --> 00:19:20.500
 say that this

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.280
 passage is

00:19:21.280 --> 00:19:22.080
 not all

00:19:22.080 --> 00:19:22.420
 that the

00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:23.300
 Bible teaches

00:19:23.300 --> 00:19:23.960
 on the

00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.759
 subject of

00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:25.519
 marriage or

00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.340
 on divorce.

00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:28.300
 We've got to

00:19:28.300 --> 00:19:29.100
 judge each

00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:29.860
 case by

00:19:29.860 --> 00:19:30.560
 reasoned

00:19:30.560 --> 00:19:31.740
 application of

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.820
 the whole

00:19:32.820 --> 00:19:33.500
 counsel of

00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:33.880
 God.

00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:36.019
 And there

00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:37.060
 are always

00:19:37.060 --> 00:19:38.180
 there's always

00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:39.040
 restoration

00:19:39.040 --> 00:19:40.840
 and forgiveness

00:19:40.840 --> 00:19:41.620
 when we

00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:42.480
 mess up and

00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:43.080
 we do mess

00:19:43.080 --> 00:19:43.380
 up.

00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:45.440
 But having

00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:46.000
 said that I

00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.740
 don't want to

00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.440
 soften what

00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:48.300
 Malachi brings

00:19:48.300 --> 00:19:48.920
 to the table

00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:49.580
 because the

00:19:49.580 --> 00:19:50.480
 reasons for

00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.460
 divorce for

00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:52.740
 them in

00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.340
 this case

00:19:53.340 --> 00:19:54.060
 were just

00:19:54.060 --> 00:19:55.080
 plain wrong.

00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:57.240
 The problem

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:57.980
 here for

00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:59.060
 these Israelite

00:19:59.060 --> 00:20:00.100
 men is what

00:20:00.100 --> 00:20:00.940
 ruled the

00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:02.620
 marriage was

00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:03.600
 purely the

00:20:03.600 --> 00:20:05.440
 whims of

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.060
 these men.

00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:08.119
 what had

00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:08.559
 happened was

00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:08.960
 that the

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.799
 covenantal

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.559
 relationship,

00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:11.639
 that legally

00:20:11.639 --> 00:20:12.159
 binding

00:20:12.159 --> 00:20:12.960
 relationship,

00:20:13.659 --> 00:20:14.700
 had become

00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:15.599
 a consumer

00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:16.359
 relationship.

00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.179
 And when

00:20:18.179 --> 00:20:18.539
 you're a

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.139
 consumer,

00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:20.740
 the customer

00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:21.559
 is always

00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:22.119
 right.

00:20:22.940 --> 00:20:23.240
 Right?

00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:26.139
 Our society

00:20:26.139 --> 00:20:27.539
 says that

00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.819
 love is a

00:20:28.819 --> 00:20:29.539
 spontaneous

00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:30.599
 desire,

00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:32.659
 not a

00:20:32.659 --> 00:20:33.539
 legal oath

00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:34.419
 or promise.

00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:36.279
 So when

00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:37.100
 the flame

00:20:37.100 --> 00:20:37.960
 flickers out,

00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:39.259
 move on.

00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:40.800
 And in

00:20:40.800 --> 00:20:41.200
 the same

00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:41.660
 way for

00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.039
 them,

00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:42.640
 covenants

00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.360
 don't mean

00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:44.160
 much now.

00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:45.320
 An

00:20:45.320 --> 00:20:46.019
 obligation

00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.700
 to love

00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.680
 someone means

00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:48.560
 less than

00:20:48.560 --> 00:20:49.580
 an impulse

00:20:49.580 --> 00:20:50.680
 to love

00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:51.240
 someone.

00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:52.420
 And they

00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.200
 were divorcing

00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:53.800
 their wives

00:20:53.800 --> 00:20:54.340
 as far as

00:20:54.340 --> 00:20:54.820
 we can see

00:20:54.820 --> 00:20:55.500
 for no good

00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:56.000
 reason at

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.500
 all.

00:20:57.060 --> 00:20:57.480
 Good

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:58.160
 women of

00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:58.640
 the Lord,

00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:59.700
 wives of

00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:00.560
 their youth,

00:21:00.840 --> 00:21:01.500
 verse 14.

00:21:01.600 --> 00:21:02.019
 Maybe their

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:03.160
 first love,

00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:05.000
 first wives.

00:21:06.320 --> 00:21:06.740
 And again

00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.160
 here, the

00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:08.140
 social issues

00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:08.759
 lead to

00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:09.380
 spiritual

00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:10.040
 issues.

00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:10.480
 Look at

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:12.060
 verse 15.

00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:12.600
 Did he

00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:13.259
 not make

00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.960
 them one

00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:14.820
 with a

00:21:14.820 --> 00:21:15.420
 portion of

00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:15.920
 the spirit

00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:16.360
 in their

00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:16.720
 union?

00:21:16.840 --> 00:21:17.140
 And what

00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:17.500
 was the

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:18.019
 one God

00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:18.620
 seeking?

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:19.720
 Godly

00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.200
 offspring.

00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:20.900
 Now these

00:21:20.900 --> 00:21:21.640
 verses are

00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:22.440
 not easy

00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:23.160
 to understand.

00:21:23.800 --> 00:21:24.759
 Verse 15

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.540
 is not easy

00:21:25.540 --> 00:21:26.259
 to understand,

00:21:26.840 --> 00:21:27.460
 not even

00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:27.880
 if you can

00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:28.220
 get the

00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:28.600
 English

00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:29.400
 right of

00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:29.860
 the original

00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:30.279
 Hebrew.

00:21:31.060 --> 00:21:31.340
 It's one

00:21:31.340 --> 00:21:31.840
 of the rare

00:21:31.840 --> 00:21:32.560
 places where

00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:33.279
 it's quite

00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:34.099
 difficult to

00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:34.879
 know the

00:21:34.879 --> 00:21:36.159
 precise sense

00:21:36.159 --> 00:21:36.440
 of the

00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:36.740
 Hebrew.

00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:37.379
 But I

00:21:37.379 --> 00:21:37.720
 think we

00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:38.139
 can work

00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:38.480
 out from

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.019
 the context

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:39.559
 what he's

00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:39.839
 trying to

00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:40.419
 say here.

00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.339
 He's saying

00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:42.720
 here that

00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:43.839
 divorce of

00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.579
 this kind

00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:44.960
 is an

00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:46.500
 attack on

00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.279
 the identity

00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:47.980
 of God

00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.779
 as one,

00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:50.319
 as the

00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:51.379
 only God,

00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:53.319
 mainly

00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:53.919
 because of

00:21:53.919 --> 00:21:54.480
 the function

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.279
 of marriage

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.299
 in producing

00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:57.200
 and raising

00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:58.179
 children.

00:21:58.180 --> 00:22:00.759
 part of

00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:01.519
 the one

00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.200
 God's

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:02.900
 plan to

00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:03.539
 fill the

00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:04.019
 world with

00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:05.560
 glory is

00:22:05.560 --> 00:22:06.519
 uniting a

00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:07.160
 husband and

00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:07.779
 a wife to

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.480
 be one,

00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.500
 to fill the

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.320
 world with

00:22:11.320 --> 00:22:12.779
 the seed of

00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.340
 his people.

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:13.700
 Do you see

00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:13.920
 that?

00:22:14.060 --> 00:22:14.560
 Godly

00:22:14.560 --> 00:22:15.039
 offspring.

00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:16.820
 That was the

00:22:16.820 --> 00:22:17.480
 plan for Adam

00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:17.840
 and Eve,

00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.380
 wasn't it?

00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:20.259
 And it

00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:21.019
 means that

00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:22.200
 even in

00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:22.860
 Malachi's

00:22:22.860 --> 00:22:23.060
 day,

00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:24.140
 God uses

00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:25.560
 natural means

00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:26.440
 of families

00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:27.779
 and of

00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.139
 having

00:22:28.139 --> 00:22:29.179
 babies

00:22:29.179 --> 00:22:30.460
 and to

00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:30.839
 be a

00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:31.259
 part,

00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:31.720
 to be a

00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.460
 means of

00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:33.139
 the increase

00:22:33.139 --> 00:22:33.519
 of his

00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:33.919
 kingdom.

00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:35.960
 To bring

00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.559
 people into

00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.200
 the world

00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:38.500
 who keep

00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.299
 covenant with

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:39.619
 him,

00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:40.220
 godly

00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:40.700
 offspring.

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:41.819
 It doesn't

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.500
 mean that a

00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:43.559
 child born to

00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.700
 Christian parents

00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.879
 is guaranteed

00:22:45.879 --> 00:22:46.759
 to keep

00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.500
 covenant with

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:47.859
 the Lord,

00:22:47.899 --> 00:22:48.159
 it doesn't

00:22:48.159 --> 00:22:48.740
 mean that,

00:22:49.179 --> 00:22:49.679
 but that's

00:22:49.679 --> 00:22:50.619
 the expectation.

00:22:52.679 --> 00:22:52.940
 And so

00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:54.099
 breaking right

00:22:54.099 --> 00:22:54.879
 relationships

00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:56.480
 in marriage

00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.980
 and making

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:59.200
 wrong ones

00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:00.200
 is a barrier

00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:01.000
 to this.

00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:01.580
 It is a

00:23:01.580 --> 00:23:02.380
 barrier to

00:23:02.380 --> 00:23:03.140
 the child.

00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:04.700
 It's a

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.340
 really serious

00:23:05.340 --> 00:23:05.900
 problem.

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.520
 When parents

00:23:08.520 --> 00:23:09.600
 are no longer

00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:10.340
 able to

00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:11.400
 raise a

00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:11.880
 child in

00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:12.360
 the Lord's

00:23:12.360 --> 00:23:13.020
 way because

00:23:13.020 --> 00:23:13.380
 there's a

00:23:13.380 --> 00:23:14.180
 conflict of

00:23:14.180 --> 00:23:14.800
 interest,

00:23:16.340 --> 00:23:16.800
 the man

00:23:16.800 --> 00:23:17.540
 has thrown

00:23:17.540 --> 00:23:18.180
 his Christian

00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:18.740
 wife out

00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:19.220
 and married

00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:20.040
 a non-Christian

00:23:20.040 --> 00:23:20.700
 and however

00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:22.280
 sympathetic she

00:23:22.280 --> 00:23:23.040
 might be

00:23:23.040 --> 00:23:23.660
 to his

00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:24.060
 religion,

00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:24.579
 it will

00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:24.940
 be a

00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.539
 barrier to

00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:26.279
 the child's

00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:26.720
 godliness.

00:23:27.919 --> 00:23:28.119
 And it

00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:28.639
 might even

00:23:28.639 --> 00:23:29.399
 contribute to

00:23:29.399 --> 00:23:30.519
 future covenant

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.519
 breaking by

00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.039
 the child.

00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:34.399
 This kind

00:23:34.399 --> 00:23:35.839
 of consumer

00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:37.940
 way of

00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:38.460
 looking at

00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.099
 relationships

00:23:39.099 --> 00:23:39.899
 puts a

00:23:39.899 --> 00:23:40.720
 stop to

00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:41.179
 God's

00:23:41.179 --> 00:23:41.519
 kingdom.

00:23:42.679 --> 00:23:43.000
 It would

00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.819
 be as bad

00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:45.000
 as standing

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:45.339
 at the

00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:46.440
 door at

00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:48.019
 5 to

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.700
 11 on a

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.240
 Sunday morning

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.659
 and just

00:23:49.659 --> 00:23:50.460
 pushing people

00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.839
 out of

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.339
 the door.

00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:56.819
 children may

00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:57.699
 walk away

00:23:57.699 --> 00:23:58.439
 from the

00:23:58.439 --> 00:23:58.879
 faith of

00:23:58.879 --> 00:23:59.500
 their parents

00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.039
 for different

00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.659
 reasons,

00:24:01.379 --> 00:24:02.279
 but it

00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:02.839
 doesn't mean

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.339
 that this

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.199
 reason still

00:24:04.199 --> 00:24:04.679
 is not

00:24:04.679 --> 00:24:05.259
 true,

00:24:06.419 --> 00:24:07.539
 of breaking

00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.559
 down good

00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.299
 relationships

00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:11.259
 and letting

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:12.039
 them fester

00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.939
 and neglecting

00:24:12.939 --> 00:24:13.259
 them.

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.139
 Someone in

00:24:16.139 --> 00:24:16.500
 the Times

00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.299
 newspaper has

00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:18.059
 written recently

00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:19.579
 that if you

00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.379
 allow yourself

00:24:20.379 --> 00:24:20.879
 to believe

00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:21.440
 that marriage

00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:22.159
 is the union

00:24:22.159 --> 00:24:22.599
 of two

00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.259
 persons for

00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:23.679
 life,

00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:25.139
 in my

00:24:25.139 --> 00:24:25.619
 opinion we

00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:25.899
 need to

00:24:25.899 --> 00:24:26.319
 begin the

00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:27.220
 long process

00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:28.759
 of reconditioning

00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:30.299
 ourselves to

00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:31.000
 let go of

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:31.740
 the culturally

00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:33.019
 imposed obsession

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:34.539
 with monogamy.

00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.259
 That's staying

00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.759
 with one

00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.299
 spouse.

00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:38.399
 In other

00:24:38.399 --> 00:24:38.720
 words,

00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.480
 they're saying

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:39.779
 aren't they,

00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:40.960
 marriage is a

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.500
 consumer

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.200
 relationship,

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.720
 not a

00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.319
 covenantal

00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.000
 relationship.

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.119
 relationship.

00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:46.880
 The whole

00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:47.980
 why bother

00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:48.500
 with a piece

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.000
 of paper

00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:49.380
 thing,

00:24:49.480 --> 00:24:49.839
 you hear

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.359
 that a lot

00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:50.819
 don't you,

00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:51.380
 if we're

00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:52.519
 together as

00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:52.839
 a couple,

00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:53.740
 why bother

00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:55.099
 signing a

00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:55.440
 piece of

00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:55.720
 paper?

00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:58.140
 Why make

00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:58.839
 it legal?

00:24:59.059 --> 00:24:59.720
 Actually some

00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.140
 people say

00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:00.579
 if we make

00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:01.299
 it legal it

00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:01.599
 will make

00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:02.440
 it worse.

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.660
 Bertrand

00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:04.240
 Russell the

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:04.980
 atheist said

00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:06.000
 relationships

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:06.940
 are killed

00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:07.960
 by the

00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.380
 thought that

00:25:08.380 --> 00:25:08.740
 they are

00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.279
 a duty.

00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:12.240
 But don't

00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:12.779
 we know

00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.779
 actually deep

00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.460
 down

00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:16.180
 that true

00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:17.519
 love expresses

00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.600
 itself in

00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:19.360
 those kind

00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:19.900
 of promises.

00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.140
 When you

00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:23.039
 want to say

00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.960
 to a person

00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.840
 not just

00:25:24.840 --> 00:25:25.860
 I love

00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:26.559
 you but to

00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:27.240
 quote Whitney

00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:27.700
 Houston,

00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:28.400
 I will

00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:29.340
 always love

00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:29.660
 you.

00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:32.000
 There will

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.880
 never be a

00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:33.500
 day when I

00:25:33.500 --> 00:25:34.059
 will not

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.900
 love you

00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:36.700
 even if my

00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:37.720
 feelings change

00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.240
 from time

00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:38.860
 to time.

00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.100
 It's not

00:25:41.100 --> 00:25:41.940
 love if it

00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.700
 doesn't say

00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.200
 that, is

00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:43.500
 it?

00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.500
 I love

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.000
 you enough

00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:45.480
 but actually

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.119
 not enough

00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:46.599
 to cut

00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:47.400
 off all

00:25:47.400 --> 00:25:47.660
 of my

00:25:47.660 --> 00:25:47.880
 other

00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:48.480
 options.

00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:49.759
 Not

00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.160
 enough to

00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:50.519
 say I

00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.240
 never want

00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:51.380
 the

00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:51.920
 relationship

00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:52.680
 to end.

00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.480
 Lewis

00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:55.920
 Meade,

00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.380
 who's a

00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:56.799
 Christian

00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.460
 ethicist,

00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:57.819
 says,

00:25:58.339 --> 00:25:58.839
 my wife

00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.240
 has lived

00:25:59.240 --> 00:25:59.859
 with five

00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:00.680
 different men

00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:01.180
 since we

00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:01.779
 got married.

00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.240
 Each of

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:03.519
 them has

00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:04.039
 been me.

00:26:05.900 --> 00:26:06.259
 And that

00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:06.559
 is the

00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:07.039
 challenge,

00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:07.500
 isn't it,

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.420
 of these

00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:09.079
 relationships,

00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:09.940
 these good

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.700
 relationships.

00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:12.420
 And it's

00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:12.960
 the warning

00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:14.740
 here of

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.319
 maintaining

00:26:15.319 --> 00:26:15.860
 them, to

00:26:15.860 --> 00:26:17.000
 guard yourself

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.400
 in your

00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:18.000
 spirit and

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.480
 not to be

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.140
 faithless,

00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.200
 as Malachi

00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:20.759
 says.

00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:23.059
 Husbands

00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:24.240
 are commanded,

00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:25.460
 love your

00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:26.140
 wives.

00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:28.140
 Don't

00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:28.779
 kind of

00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:31.340
 soften that.

00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:34.080
 It doesn't

00:26:34.080 --> 00:26:35.460
 say, do it

00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:35.880
 when you

00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:36.860
 feel love.

00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:36.939
 love.

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.219
 It is a

00:26:38.219 --> 00:26:38.740
 command for

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.240
 all of the

00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:39.639
 time.

00:26:39.819 --> 00:26:40.339
 Wives are

00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:40.899
 commanded as

00:26:40.899 --> 00:26:41.279
 well to

00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:41.839
 love their

00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:42.659
 husbands.

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:44.579
 Malachi

00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.379
 says, don't

00:26:45.379 --> 00:26:46.319
 hate your

00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:46.819
 wife.

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:48.559
 Don't

00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.519
 divorce her.

00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:50.139
 That goes

00:26:50.139 --> 00:26:50.379
 for the

00:26:50.379 --> 00:26:50.979
 wife too.

00:26:53.159 --> 00:26:53.719
 Marry

00:26:53.719 --> 00:26:54.419
 someone you

00:26:54.419 --> 00:26:55.279
 like, yes,

00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.099
 of course.

00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.000
 But it's

00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.679
 realising that

00:26:57.679 --> 00:26:58.179
 on some

00:26:58.179 --> 00:26:58.679
 days you

00:26:58.679 --> 00:26:59.299
 won't like

00:26:59.299 --> 00:27:00.839
 them, and

00:27:00.839 --> 00:27:01.339
 it might get

00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:01.740
 a little bit

00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.099
 rocky.

00:27:03.479 --> 00:27:03.899
 But when

00:27:03.899 --> 00:27:04.299
 it's a

00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:05.059
 covenantal

00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:06.259
 relationship built

00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.000
 on legal

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.879
 promises and

00:27:07.879 --> 00:27:08.279
 not on

00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:08.940
 consumer

00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.400
 choice,

00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:09.920
 actually,

00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:10.740
 you've

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.039
 got to

00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.339
 love them.

00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:12.359
 You've

00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:12.599
 got to

00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:12.920
 love them.

00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:15.599
 C.S.

00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:16.079
 Lewis was

00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:16.339
 on the

00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.220
 radio a

00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:17.779
 lot during

00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.319
 World War

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:20.119
 II, and

00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:20.579
 he spoke,

00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:21.259
 one of his

00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:21.859
 main messages

00:27:21.859 --> 00:27:22.339
 was about

00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:23.079
 loving your

00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:25.160
 enemies, which

00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:26.319
 was a really

00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.059
 big question,

00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:27.440
 wasn't it,

00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:27.960
 during World

00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:28.599
 War II for

00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:29.279
 many people.

00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:31.259
 He asked

00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:31.720
 the question,

00:27:31.859 --> 00:27:32.579
 how do you

00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:33.339
 manufacture

00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:35.640
 feelings that

00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:36.460
 aren't there

00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:37.900
 for someone

00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.420
 you know

00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:38.880
 you need

00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.440
 to love?

00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:40.840
 How do

00:27:40.840 --> 00:27:41.500
 you love

00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.500
 someone you

00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:43.140
 don't love?

00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:45.640
 He shows

00:27:45.640 --> 00:27:47.320
 that actions

00:27:47.320 --> 00:27:48.580
 often control

00:27:48.580 --> 00:27:49.660
 feelings, not

00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.080
 the other way

00:27:50.080 --> 00:27:50.520
 around.

00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:52.380
 He said,

00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:52.980
 don't bother

00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:53.960
 wasting time

00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:54.640
 wondering whether

00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:55.360
 you love your

00:27:55.360 --> 00:27:56.920
 neighbour, act

00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:57.400
 as if you

00:27:57.400 --> 00:27:57.720
 did.

00:27:58.880 --> 00:27:59.580
 When you

00:27:59.580 --> 00:28:00.300
 behave as if

00:28:00.300 --> 00:28:00.680
 you love

00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:02.220
 someone, you

00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:03.020
 will presently

00:28:03.020 --> 00:28:03.840
 come to love

00:28:03.840 --> 00:28:04.200
 him.

00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:06.460
 He says

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.080
 it works

00:28:07.080 --> 00:28:07.360
 the other

00:28:07.360 --> 00:28:07.960
 way round

00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.460
 as well,

00:28:08.580 --> 00:28:09.160
 with hate,

00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:10.440
 bearing in

00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:10.799
 mind the

00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.319
 history of

00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:11.740
 when this

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.160
 was.

00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.059
 He said,

00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:13.799
 the Germans

00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:14.600
 perhaps at

00:28:14.600 --> 00:28:15.819
 first ill-treated

00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:16.420
 the Jews

00:28:16.420 --> 00:28:17.559
 because they

00:28:17.559 --> 00:28:18.400
 hated them,

00:28:19.299 --> 00:28:20.100
 but afterwards

00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:20.799
 they hated

00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.420
 them much

00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:22.080
 more because

00:28:22.080 --> 00:28:22.600
 they had

00:28:22.600 --> 00:28:23.279
 ill-treated

00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:23.700
 them.

00:28:25.180 --> 00:28:25.860
 The more

00:28:25.860 --> 00:28:26.640
 cruel you

00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:27.080
 are, he

00:28:27.080 --> 00:28:27.500
 said, the

00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.059
 more you

00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:28.680
 will hate,

00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:29.980
 and the

00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:30.539
 more you

00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:31.080
 hate, the

00:28:31.080 --> 00:28:31.900
 more cruel

00:28:31.900 --> 00:28:32.440
 you will

00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:32.980
 become.

00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:34.220
 So true,

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:34.700
 isn't it?

00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.519
 Actions lead

00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.380
 to feelings.

00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:39.220
 Feelings don't

00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:40.279
 lead to action

00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:41.279
 all the time.

00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:43.920
 Love is both

00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:44.920
 a spontaneous

00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:46.759
 thing, and

00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.460
 it's actually a

00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:48.660
 duty of

00:28:48.660 --> 00:28:49.120
 care.

00:28:50.579 --> 00:28:51.000
 So you

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:51.640
 may not

00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:52.640
 feel tender

00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.440
 to those

00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:55.059
 people that

00:28:55.059 --> 00:28:55.539
 you are

00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.360
 joined to

00:28:56.360 --> 00:28:56.720
 in the

00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.319
 church and

00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.000
 in marriage.

00:28:58.860 --> 00:28:59.319
 You may

00:28:59.319 --> 00:28:59.799
 not feel

00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.779
 loving towards

00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.079
 them, you

00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:01.680
 may not feel

00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:02.259
 eager to

00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:02.920
 please them,

00:29:03.060 --> 00:29:03.259
 you may

00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:03.799
 not feel

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.759
 affectionate,

00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:05.740
 but you

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.519
 must be

00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.380
 those things.

00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:09.220
 Because

00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:09.960
 marriage is

00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:10.700
 covenantal,

00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.620
 not consumer

00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.380
 relationship.

00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:14.519
 We

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.440
 understand this,

00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:15.779
 don't we,

00:29:15.820 --> 00:29:16.539
 with children,

00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.060
 if you've

00:29:18.060 --> 00:29:18.600
 got children.

00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:20.660
 We would

00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.600
 frown more

00:29:21.600 --> 00:29:22.240
 on a parent

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:22.799
 who gives

00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:23.480
 their child

00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:23.840
 up because

00:29:23.840 --> 00:29:24.200
 they don't

00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:24.700
 like them

00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:25.180
 anymore,

00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:26.560
 than on a

00:29:26.560 --> 00:29:27.380
 husband or

00:29:27.380 --> 00:29:27.880
 wife who

00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:28.420
 does that.

00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:30.779
 even when

00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:31.279
 a child

00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:31.980
 gives nothing

00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:32.580
 in return,

00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:33.060
 even when

00:29:33.060 --> 00:29:33.539
 we don't

00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:34.060
 like them

00:29:34.060 --> 00:29:34.660
 on occasion,

00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:35.220
 when they

00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:35.740
 really wind

00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.180
 us up,

00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:37.820
 when all

00:29:37.820 --> 00:29:38.259
 the effort

00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:38.940
 is poured

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.680
 in for

00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.560
 no return,

00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.240
 you still

00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:41.860
 love them

00:29:41.860 --> 00:29:43.240
 actually because

00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:43.720
 you've got to

00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.100
 love them.

00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:46.700
 Later in

00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:47.240
 life they may

00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:47.759
 go off the

00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.060
 rails,

00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:48.519
 they may

00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:49.500
 require even

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.420
 more investment

00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:50.840
 in their

00:29:50.840 --> 00:29:51.500
 twenties,

00:29:52.320 --> 00:29:52.820
 giving you

00:29:52.820 --> 00:29:53.320
 nothing in

00:29:53.320 --> 00:29:53.700
 return,

00:29:53.800 --> 00:29:54.060
 but you

00:29:54.060 --> 00:29:54.640
 still love

00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:55.779
 them because

00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:56.220
 you've got to

00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:56.519
 love them.

00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:58.139
 you have a

00:29:58.139 --> 00:29:58.700
 duty of

00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:58.960
 care,

00:29:59.039 --> 00:29:59.420
 you have a

00:29:59.420 --> 00:30:00.039
 responsibility.

00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.180
 We understand

00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:02.599
 that with

00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:03.259
 children and

00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:03.639
 it's the

00:30:03.639 --> 00:30:04.859
 same with

00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:05.099
 these

00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:05.700
 covenantal

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.299
 relationships.

00:30:08.579 --> 00:30:09.319
 So what

00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:09.920
 God has

00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:10.720
 joined together,

00:30:10.879 --> 00:30:11.440
 let not

00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:12.180
 man separate.

00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:15.680
 The man

00:30:15.680 --> 00:30:16.720
 leaves

00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.559
 Malachi's

00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:17.980
 office.

00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:19.700
 He's got

00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.220
 some thinking

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:20.599
 to do,

00:30:20.639 --> 00:30:21.000
 hasn't he?

00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.019
 With the

00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:24.259
 huge realisation

00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:25.160
 that it is

00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:26.019
 impossible to

00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.500
 leave your

00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:28.640
 private life

00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:29.480
 at home

00:30:29.480 --> 00:30:30.819
 when you

00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:31.259
 come to

00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:31.640
 God's

00:30:31.640 --> 00:30:32.039
 house.

00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:33.940
 His

00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:34.539
 religious

00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:35.140
 problems

00:30:35.140 --> 00:30:35.940
 were his

00:30:35.940 --> 00:30:36.539
 relational

00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:37.099
 problems

00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:38.700
 and his

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:39.180
 spiritual

00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:39.720
 life was

00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.339
 affected by

00:30:40.339 --> 00:30:40.920
 his social

00:30:40.920 --> 00:30:41.440
 life.

00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.160
 Wives

00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:44.900
 and husbands

00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:45.380
 in the

00:30:45.380 --> 00:30:45.680
 Lord,

00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.039
 if you're

00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:46.599
 not married,

00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.200
 your brothers

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.720
 and your

00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:48.160
 sisters,

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.720
 you are

00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:50.180
 joined

00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:51.079
 together with

00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:52.400
 them in

00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:53.099
 a covenantal

00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:53.660
 relationship

00:30:53.660 --> 00:30:54.680
 under one

00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:56.180
 father and

00:30:56.180 --> 00:30:57.740
 creator who

00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:58.180
 has brought

00:30:58.180 --> 00:30:58.700
 you together

00:30:58.700 --> 00:30:59.460
 by covenant.

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.039
 And so

00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:01.380
 folks,

00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:02.160
 you've got to

00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:02.500
 love them.

00:31:03.560 --> 00:31:04.080
 You've got to

00:31:04.080 --> 00:31:04.400
 love them.

00:31:05.660 --> 00:31:06.180
 And as you

00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:07.000
 do that in

00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.539
 action,

00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:09.720
 you will find

00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:10.680
 that you will

00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:11.460
 begin to do it

00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.140
 in feeling.

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:13.880
 Let's pray.

00:31:14.320 --> 00:31:14.460
 Let's pray.

00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


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00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460


00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.460