LESSON 25 a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the L ord , the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the L ord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.” 17 You have wearied the L ord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the L ord , and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?” 3 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the L ord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the L ord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the L ord . 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the L ord as in the days of old and as in former years. 5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sor- cerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the L ord of hosts. 6 “For I the L ord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not con- sumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the L ord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the L ord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the L ord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the L ord of hosts. 13 “Your words have been hard against me, says the L ord . But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the L ord of hosts? 15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’” 16 Then those who feared the L ord spoke with one another. The L ord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the L ord and esteemed his name. 17 “They shall be mine, says the L ord of
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