Malachi 2:10-17  What the NIV calls "being unfaithful".. the NASB and the KJV call "to profane the covenant".   To break a vow.. a sacred promise.  There are two examples given in this passage.. Judah's unfaithfulness to the Lord's sanctuary.. and thus to the Lord;  and a husbands unfaithfulness to his wife. 

Judah was guilty of what the Lord calls "treacherous" and "an abomination".. They were polluting the nation, the sanctuary, and the covenant by marrying foreign women who worshipped foreign gods. 

The Lord would not accept such a betrayal of His people. "As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the Lord remove him from the tents of Jacob.. " This was non-negotiable for the people of God. 

To make matters worse, these same men would bring offerings, trying to make up for their sinfulness.. they would weep and wail.. but they could not earn the Lord's blessing.  God saw what they had done, how they had treated their wives that He had given them. ".. the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant." 

"Has not God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit."  That is a very clear message! The marriages of God's people were meant to produce godly offspring. They were meant to glorify God. Instead these people were callously divorcing their covenant wives and marrying foreign, idol-worshipping, ungodly women.  Everything about this offended God. 

Yet, they went even further in their unfaithfulness.  "You have wearied the Lord with your words.. by saying 'All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them'  or 'Where is the God of justice?' ( v17) 

How is it that we, God's people, in this day and age.. weary the Lord?  Do we offend Him? Do we act treacherously or unfaithfully?  Are we profane in our actions? Do we forget that we belong to Him.. both in body and in spirit?  We are living in a world.. in a country.. where this is prevalent.  There is so much divorce.. even in the church. There is so much unfaithfulness.. so much evil.  We have heard people who call themselves "Christians"  who are calling evil "good" and what is good "evil".  

"Where is the God of justice?"  Oh.. He is coming!  He sees everything and He knows every heart. What must we do?  As we have been praying, " If My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." ( II Chronicles 7:14)

Father we seek Your face! Amen.