Breaking Faith

Last night I read Malachi 2 and was struck with the repeated theme of breaking faith.  The priests have violated their covenant with God and broken faith with him.  Men have broken faith with each other.  Divorce, breaking faith with the wife or one’s youth, is also specifically cited.

Those being addressed in this passage seem not to understand why their prayers are not answered.  They “weep and wail” flooding the Lord’s altar with their tears.  God declares he is not accepting their offerings, because he is acting as “the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.”

What does it mean to “break faith.”  The KJV translates this as “dealing treacherously.”  Dictionary definitions seem a bit less intentionally evil, as in, not keeping a promise.  But, God apparently takes this very seriously.

The United States has not entered into a formal covenant with God in the same way the children of Israel did, but I think we have nevertheless broken faith.  Liberals, secularists, humanists will tell you that we were never a “Christian nation.”  That our founding fathers didn’t really intend for us to rely on God and live within his mandates, but in practice, our nation was once far more Christian, than it is now.

There was a time when the Ten Commandments could be posted publicly, when school teachers read a portion of scripture each day before beginning academic instruction, when a prayer (although generic) was recited in school, when most people agreed that “In God We Trust” was a fine inscription for our coins and when Christianity was not openly mocked on talk shows.

I am afraid we have broken faith.

As to divorce, current statistics put the rate at 40% and falling, but of course, the rate of cohabitation without marriage has risen sharply in recent years.  It is quite possible that although these couples haven’t spoken any vows before an official, God has viewed them as “married” and their split ups as broken faith.  An agreement was entered into.  Parting ways implies broken promises.  Sometimes this even involves violence and treachery.

God really, really dislikes divorce.  Malachi 2:16:  “I hate divorce, says the Lord God…”

When we break faith with our fellow man whether in personal relationships or business dealings, we anger God.

“Have we not all one Father?  Did not one God create us?  Why do we profane the covenant of our fathers by breaking faith with one another?”  Malachi 2:10

Dealing treacherously while climbing one’s way to the top is shrugged off as the norm.  I know of someone who applied for a promotion.  In the interview, he was asked if he had made a verbal and handshake agreement with someone, and then later learned he could get the company a better deal, would he honor his prior agreement.  He said “yes,” and did not get the promotion.  Breaking a promise was expected.  Dealing treacherously/breaking faith is what is valued in much of our society.

So….we can weep and wail and flood the Lord’s altar with our tears when terrible things happen, but what do we expect? 

Malachi 2:17  “You have wearied the Lord with your words. ‘How have we wearied him?’ you ask.  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?’”

Are not these two things what we are as a society saying?

Things God has declared are evil are actually just fine….we need to be tolerant.

And when bad things happen, where is God?