13 You also do this: You cover the altar of the Lord with tears as you weep and groan, because he no longer pays any attention to the offering nor accepts it favorably from you. 14 Yet you ask, “Why?” The Lord is testifying against you on behalf of the wife you married when you were young, to whom you have become unfaithful even though she is your companion and wife by law. 15 No one who has even a small portion of the Spirit in him does this. What did our ancestor do when seeking a child from God? Be attentive, then, to your own spirit, for one should not be disloyal to the wife he took in his youth. 16 “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel, “and the one who is guilty of violence,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Pay attention to your conscience, and do not be unfaithful.” Malachi 2:13-16 (emphasis mine)

Let's break this passage down and see what Yahweh really hates. Is it divorce? Or is it divorce because of violence and abuse?

Why is Yahweh testifying against the man covering the altar with tears as he weeps and groans? If we go down to verse 16, "and the one who is guilty of violence." He is testifying against the man because he is guilty of violence. Let's see what Peter has to say about this in 1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers. Peter understood Malachi 2 verse 13 and 16.

When a man that says he follows Yahweh and Yeshua, is abusive and violent towards his family, his prayers are hindered. Yahweh testifies against him. He is being unfaithful to his wife by being abusive and violent toward her.

Let's go a little bit of a different direction with this, too.

Unfaithful- to act treacherously, to deal deceitfully, offend - this can be understood as abuse, violence along with to cheat or commit adultery.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell. Matthew 5: 27-30

25 Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her 26 to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, 27 so that he may present the church to himself as glorious—not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one has ever hated his own body, but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. Ephesians 5:25-30

Do you get the idea reading these verses that Yahweh is not a fan of abuse, adultery or violence toward wives? I get the idea that He loves women and wants us to be safe, He wants men to be safe for women.

If you are in an abusive situation, seek help getting away safely.

Here are a few resources:
Resources for leaving domestic violence:

https://www.patrickweaver.org/tep/

https://www.thehotline.org/

https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/directory-of-local-providers/

Lovingly,

Beth