“Yet you say, ‘For what reason?’ Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. ‘For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.’” Malachi 2:14-16

I remember a story that my father used to tell when discussing the subject of divorce and remarriage. There were a group of preachers talking about a couple that had divorced and remarried. Some suggested that they needed to dissolve their current marriage (divorce) and return to the previous spouses. Some argued that this only compounded the problem because there were children born to the couple after they remarried. Still others contended that this was a marriage that God did not recognize and the couple was living in continual sin, so they must return to their previous spouses. One old preacher who had been listening to all the discussions finally spoke up and said that he had a solution. He advised that what the couple should do is get a gun and kill the previous spouses; he concluded that while they could not be forgiven for divorce and remarriage that they could be forgiven for murder!

Divorce is not a laughing matter. We are aware of the heartaches and problems that divorce causes: bitter and resentful spouses, children who feel guilty for the situation, extended families who are unwillingly drawn into the fray and still others who may be abetting the break up. All too often the cause of divorce begins with abusive spouses who physically and verbally attack both spouse and children. When we witness the fallout of divorce, it is no wonder that God hates divorce.

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