This morning we're going to continue on in our meditation through the Prophet Malachi,

the last book in the Old Testament, Malai Chapter 2

verses 10 through 16.

Have we not all one father, has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another profaning the

covenant of our fathers? Judah has been faithless and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem.

For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord which he loves and has married the daughter of a foreign God.

May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob for the man who does this, any to witness or answer or to bring

an offering to the Lord of hosts.

And this again you do. You cover the Lord's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because

he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor at your hand. You ask, why does he not? Because the Lord has

witness to the covenant between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless,

though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

Has not the one God made and sustained for us the spirit of life?

And what does he desire?

Godly offspring.

So take heed to yourselves and let none be faithless to the wife of his youth.

For I hate divorce, says the Lord, the God of Israel, and covering one's garment with violence,

says the Lord of hosts.

So take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless.

I neglected to say in my welcome that we have a reception right after this service for visitors who would have an extra five minutes right through those double doors and in the overflow room there.

So I hope that some of you can stay and give us a chance to get to know you.

Last week in verse 8 of this chapter, we observed that the failure of the priestly ministry, that is, the ministry

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