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The Life of the Early Christians  /  Divorce and Remarriage  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 4
David points out that Deuteronomy 24 mainly forbids a man taking back a divorced wife after she marries another, and then he reads Malachi 2 (“He hates divorce,” “dealt treacherously”); what does this combination suggest about God’s character toward covenant-breaking, and how does it challenge the idea that “God allowed it, so God is fine with it”?
Another way to ask: What do Deuteronomy 24 and Malachi 2 together say about how God feels about breaking a covenant? How does that challenge the idea that “if God allowed it, He must be okay with it”?

Direct Answer The combination suggests God may regulate human sin without approving it; divorce can be “permitted” as a procedure while still being hated by God as treachery against a covenant. That challenges the excuse that permission equals pleasure in God.

Support from Transcript:

  • David says Deut. 24 is “a procedure allowed” but the real point is the end: the former husband “must not take her back… for this is an abomination before the Lord.”
  • He explicitly warns against reading Deut. 24 as God being “fine” with divorce: “we are apparently misreading it because… only states a procedure.”
  • Malachi 2: God is “witnessed between you and the wife of your youth… dealt treacherously… wife by covenant.”
  • Malachi ties it back to unity: “did he not make them one…?… For the Lord… says that he hates divorce.”
  • David suggests many divorces were for wrong motives (“found a woman you liked better”), making it “treacherously.”
Discussion Follow-ups How does “God hates divorce” shape the way you talk about it, even in hard cases? What does it mean to admit something is regulated but still sinful?

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