The Separated

And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.

14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

Malachi 2:13-14, 16

There is a strange connection between that putting away of which the Lord speaks and the wife of your youth. You see, the Levites were people who had forsaken all for the service of God. Like the disciples after them once said, who had left all to follow after the Lord. Sure, service to God is all good and wonderful of course. Yet in the leaving, there remains several promises made to those who find themselves in places like this as Mark 10:30 refers. What of it then, there remains the payment hundred-fold to be seen in the house along with that of the Lord. So often when someone does us wrong we are tempted to take matters into our own hands. They'll never get away with this we mutter under our breath. How often though do we forget the say so of 'vengeance is mine I will repay' the thus saith the Lord. Sure it might be nice to have some earthly help I guess, but there's nothing like when God come along to right the wrongs and to settle the score. Just as he did in the Garden of Eden, you too might find a cross designed with yourself in mind. It is a bringing of peace to all things by the blood of his Son, if you will. Now allow me share what will happen if you won't, my friends. See the call indeed came to all, a whomsoever will may come and drink of the water of life freely. Like the woman at the well, you too might be saying that's not enough for me; I'll need something more.' at the bare minimum it's required for life, it satisfies thirst, and aside from that I cannot ask for anything more. Still though, there remains the "taste and see that" he's good of the Son. Some of you haven't tried him just yet. If you had you would soon find out he does all very well. The payment then depends on the one who has left whether restoration will follow in this life or the one yet to come. In this case, the one that has been left is the wife of the youth, one who married young before service to the Lord had taken its place. This one too likely left all to follow the Lord and what then was the manner of their being left up. Is it any wonder then, in the Levites having mistaken them for the offering, that the Lord was not very pleased. Certainly it wasn't anything well as at last. Then too consider the brokenness that has now taken place. The Levites are found covering in the place where the sacrifice laid. How these are likely in need of God's mercy and grace themselves. These who once spoke of God's word to the people now were in need of some help. It is a fearful thing to misrepresent the Lord. Indeed it is far worse to fall into the hands of a living God for he's an all-consuming fire, is he not. Such sacrifices bring little reminders of the idol worship of Baal and child sacrifices offered to others. Small wonder then that this matter ties in to Gods house with weeping and wailing and making of noise. It's none other than the priests on the altar themselves. Had they only known where it all would end up and what had been left to follow the Lord. Would these also not have condemned the innocent with the guilty had they but known his desire for mercy not sacrifice as it appears to be seen. Such a thing too speaks of the God that had not been known. Is it any wonder then his visitation on the children of the third and fourth generation of them that hated him thus should appear. God being holy is ever so just isn't he my friends. Nor will God in his righteousness just leave us alone. I can see it now as he sets it right, this all things of his house. For it's his house to which we have come and that of none other but the one who suffered and died is now risen alive. Behold him now as he reads them his will and settles the score. This setting all things right of his Son. It seems the Lord in his glory will not tolerate any to be missing or broken not ever for long.