Commentary on Malachi, Chapter 2 · Exposition of verse 11, 12
VER. 11, 12.
Iudah hath dealt treacherouſly, and an abomination is committed in Iſrael, and Ieruſalem: for, Iudah hath prophaned the Holineſs of the Lord, which he loved; and hath marryed the daughter of a ſtrange God: The Lord will cut off the man that doth this: the Maſter, and the Scholler, out of the Tabernacles of Iacob; and him that offereth an offering unto the Lord of Hoſtes, &c.
A Tranſition from the ſins of the Prieſts, to thoſe of the people; Theſe are two; both about Marriage. 1. Vnequall yoaking themſelves. 2. Diſloyalty, verſ. 14.15, 16, 17.
In the firſt, we are to conſider, 1. The ſin. 2. The hainouſneſs of it. 3. The puniſhment. 4. The amplifications, by frequency, and by Effects.
A hainous ſin, Obſerv. for a Child of God to couple himſelf in marriage, with a woman of contrary Religion, with an Idolater; See here, how it is called a tranſgreſſion, an abomination, a defiling of the Lords Holineſs.
Reaſons: 2 Cor. 6.14. No communion betwixt light and darkneſs; if none at all, then not the neareſt; Reaſons: 1. An unequall yoke. 2. The contrary nature of both. 2. The ſpeciall commandment of God this way. Exod. 34. Deut. 7. with Reaſons. 1. Of corruption, that may enſue: and, leſt any preſume, in reſpect of graces received. 1. No protection out of Gods wayes; as appeares by Solomons example; none like him, beloved of God, yet Neh. 13.26. ſtrange women cauſed him to ſin; See alſo Gen. 6. Num. 25. 1 King. 11. Ezr. 9.10. Where we reade of the judgment of God upon ſuch. 2. 1 Cor. 7.39. The injunction is, to marry, only in the Lord. 3. 2 Joh. ver. 10. Not ſo much as God-ſpeed, to heretiques, men of contrary Religion; much leſs marriage. 4. Great inconveniency; as griefe to the godly parents, Gen. 26.35. & 27, 36. 5. Care of the contrary commanded, in Abraham, Gen. 24. in Jſaak, Gen. 28.6. Duties hindered, yea ſuch as belong to the main end of marriage, namely, Education in the Information of of the Lord, Eph. 6. 7. Corruption of manners, in Solomon, 1 King. 11. in Achab, this given as a reaſon of all his wickedneſs, Iezabel his wife provoked him, 1 King 21.25. and, of Iehoram, that he walked in the way of the houſe of Achab; the reaſon given, he was ſon-in-law to the houſe of Achab, 2 King. 8.27. 8. Such an one forced to ſee, and heare, what cannot but grieve the Spirit of God.
Ob. Ioſeph marryed the daughter of Potiphar; Moſes of Iethro?
Anſw. Examples are no rules, when they ſwerve from Gods Commandements. 2. Its likely, they received a promiſe, and ſaw likelihood of converſion, Deut. 21. After ceremonies obſerved, they might: as, ſtrangers might not eate the paſſover, Exod. 12. Yet, if any would ſubmit himſelf, and become a member of Iſrael; after ſuch incorporation, warrantable.
Ob. Paul permits Cohabitation. 1 Cor. 7.13.
Anſw. Caſe not the ſame; marriage once entred, cohabitation may be continued, ſo long as hope; but not therefore to be entred, when we may chuſe.
Now, Brethren, Ʋſe. here is reproved the common ſin of theſe times, wherein wealth, or beauty ſwayes all, in matter of marriage: What portion? What friends? all the enquiry; never, what Religion, or, what graces of God? And this, I would it ſtayed amongſt worldlings, and were not to be found, even amongſt the ſervants of God. Conſider. 1. Perill of corruption. 2. Continuall grievances, that, if thou haſt grace, thou muſt needs have. 3. Provocations to evill, as in Achab. 1 King. 21. and, its common to all the wicked, Prov. 4. Diſloyalty; and, what marvell, if they be unfaithfull to Men… that are unfaithfull to God? 5. Many times, curſed poſterity, as Moab of the daughters of Heth.
Ob. Now, no Infidels, or Idolaters.
Anſw. Would God, that were ſo! but. 1. Every profane, unreformed man, and woman, an Infidell; for, true faith purifyeth the heart, Act. 15.9. 2. Idolatry is of two ſorts; In worſhip; In manners. 3. Reaſons the ſame.
Whether ſuch marriages are ratified, Queſt. ſo as, without Adultery, they may be continued?
Some judg, Anſw. no; becauſe God hath not coupled them; and, Ezr. 9.10. We ſee example, and precept of diſmiſſion: Some otherwiſe; that, though to enter them be ſin; yet, being entred, they may be continued, 1 Cor. 7.14. Reaſons, they are ſanctified unto us; and, perhaps, in ſuch caſe, God may uſe us, as meanes, to gain them.
Cautions. 1. Raſh choyce to be bewailed, continually. 2. Infection, eſpecially, to be taken heed of. 3. Children not permitted to their education. 4. Endeavour, by all good meanes, to reclayme them.
Verſ. 12. The Lord will cut off the man that doth this] That is, root out him, and his poſterity: Where we note. 1. The puniſhment it ſelf. 2. Extent of it. 3. Certainty.
An heavy curſe, Obſerv. to have poſterity cut off; See 1 King. 21. threatened to Achab, and David, Pſal. 69.25. prayed for, upon the wicked, as a ſpecial plague. And ſurely, if this be a bleſſing, to have poſterity continued, as Pſal. 128. then, a curſe, to have it cut off.
Now, Ʋſe. beloved, take we notice of this plague upon many; And, take we heed of the Cauſes of it. 1. One is, lewd, and ungracious marriage; as here. 2. Adultery, See Hoſ. 4.10. the adulterous brood proſpers not. 3. Neglect of education, in the fear of God; as, in Eli's ſons. 4. Swearing, and oppreſſion, Zech. 5.4, 5. 5. Perſecution of Gods children, Pſal. 69.25. Davids prayer was, withall, a prophecy: And, let them lay it to heart, whom it may concerne.
The Maſter and the Scholler, out of the Tabernacles of the Lord] Namely, without reſpect of perſons: So doth the Lord never reſpect how great, or how little, but, how righteous, or unrighteous; for, Obſerv. with God there is no acception of perſons: And therefore, let all take heed, how they provoke the eyes of the Lords glory to wrath; God ſhall not ſpare thee, for thy poverty, &c.
But, eſpecially, note we here, how the Lord joynes together, in puniſhment, thoſe that have any way, been conjoyned in tranſgreſſion; Maſter, and Servant, &c.
And, let this admoniſh eſpecially ſervants, Ʋſe. how they partake with their maſters, in evill: How common this is, we ſee in many; as in 2 Sam. 10. & 11. in David; his ſervants, they are the panders, and the bawds; And, a warrant they think, the commands of their Maſters: But, Beloved, know, that the Lord is an avenger of all ſuch things; we may apply this Bribery, to vſury, &c.
Follows next the certainty; ſo that very devotion it ſelf ſhall not hinder.
Whence we note; how, that devotion, Obſerv. without holy life, availes nothing to avert Gods judgments: Iſa. 1.12, 15. Though yee make many prayers, I will not heare, for your hands are full of blood; Iſa. 66.3. The Lord ſaith to Hypocrites, their ſacrifices were abominations; 1 Sam. 15.22. Saul, in his kinde, ſeemingly, and pretenſively devout; yet hath his kingdome rent from him, for diſobedience; and the Lord, in generall, proteſteth, he more eſteemes mercy, then Sacrifice; See alſo Iſai. 57. & Iam. 4.
Let all then, that call upon the name of the Lord, depart from iniquity, 2 Tim. 2.19. and Iam. 4.8. Draw neer to God, but firſt cleanſe your hearts, and purge your hands: Beloved, its ſtrange to ſee, how many wonder, and begin to finde fault with the Lord, that he regards not there prayers; as Iſa. 5.8.3. They faſted, but God regarded not; the Reaſon is at hand; they do their own wills: Again, ſee here the cauſe, as Iam. 4.1, 2, 3. why many devout in externall worſhip, yet are, for all that, ſubject to Gods juſt judgment; heare, and profit not; pray and receive not: Spirituall judgments, eſpecially, are evident upon them; wonder yee at this? the cauſe is evident; your ſins ſeperate betwixt God, and you, and hinder good things from you: As the Lord ſpeaks, Mal. 3.10. amend your lives, then prove me with this; If I will not open the windows of Heaven; therefore, Luk. 8.15. An honeſt heart required.
Its ſtrange to ſee how men, like atheiſts, begin to cry out, its vain to ſerve God; No, not ſo; but, its in vain for a wicked man, continuing purpoſe to be wicked, to pray, or heare; for, the condition of obedience, on their part, is not performed; at moſt, no farther, then from the lip, Iſa. 29.13.