God the Defender

Recently I started reading in the minor prophets. This is my mom's favorite group in the Bible, she loves reading the minor prophets- me, not so much. I have a hard time finding things that relate to my walk with Christ in these books. However while I was reading in Malachi something really jumped out at me and I couldn't help but share it today.

Malachi 2:13, 14

"Another thing you do: You flood the Lord's altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, "Why?" It is because 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."

Verses 15-17 continue in this vein but it's these first two verses I want to talk about today. 

Malachi talks about how these men are flooding the Lord's altar with tears. That is a very emotional response. This is not just a passing sadness. They are suffering. And why are they suffering? Why are they weeping and wailing?

"You weep and wail be he no longer looks with favor on your offering or accepts them with pleasure from your hands."

God has rejected them. He's rejected their offering and is punishing them. He's doing this because these men have rejected their wives. They have betrayed the women they swore before God that they would protect.

There are so many injustices in this world, it can be hard to see how such a loving God can allow bad things to happen. Passages like this one in Malachi remind of us something incredibly important but often forgotten. God defends us. He defends the ones who can't stand up for themselves. He brings judgement on their oppressors.

In the time that these verses were written these women didn't have many options to pursue in light of their husband's betrayal. But God didn't just abandon them. He saw their tears and heartbreak and He brought swift judgement on those hurting the ones He loved.

God still defends us today. Even when we can defend ourselves. Sometimes it's through His judgement or sometimes it's through others standing up for us. God has placed people in our lives that fight for us and help us when we can't stand on our own. He never abandons us, He is always with us, ready to fight for us. Go to Him with your problems and seek refuge in the One who will fight for you and defend the righteous, just as He always has.