We hear your burden and we join with you in seeking the Lord together in Jesus' name concerning this torment in your neighborhood and the heavy weight of divorce and its destruction around you.
The word of God shows us that God's design from the beginning was for marriage to be a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, what therefore God has joined together, let no man separate, Matthew 19:6. We know the Lord says He hates divorce, Malachi 2:16, and Jesus replied, Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery, Matthew 19:8-9. You rightly referenced Deuteronomy 24:1-4 which shows how Moses permitted a certificate of divorce because of hardness of heart, but that was never God's perfect will. Divorce brings deep wounds, and when it is not handled in repentance and truth, that bitterness and brokenness can indeed spread like contagion to friends, family, business and other marriages, as you have seen. Bad company corrupts good morals, 1 Corinthians 15:33, and where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is confusion and every evil deed, James 3:16.
We also hear your cry about the aggressive neighbor who meddles day and night, bringing sabotage, distraction, confusion, false imitation and even threats that could lead toward violence or trouble with the law. Scripture warns us about this very spirit of meddling. We are to aspire to live quietly, to do our own business, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, and we are warned that some are busybodies, not working at all, but being busybodies, 2 Thessalonians 3:11, and learning to be idle, going about from house to house, and not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not, 1 Timothy 5:13. To meddle in another man's matters is like one who takes a dog by the ears, Proverbs 26:17, and we are told let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men's matters, 1 Peter 4:15. God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, 1 Corinthians 14:33, and that bewitched confusion and false claim that he is not him, she is not her, and creating fake family ties is not from the Holy Spirit but from the works of the flesh. You mentioned Galatians 5:21-22 and Titus 3:3, and we agree that envy, drunkenness, revelings, malice and hatred are works of the flesh of which those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God, Galatians 5:21, while once we also were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another, Titus 3:3, but God in His mercy calls us out of that into the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, Galatians 5:22-23.
We rebuke together in the name of Jesus Christ that spirit of torment, sabotage, distraction, idle meddling, bewitching confusion and violence that has tried to invade your house and neighborhood. We resist the enemy who prowls as a roaring lion, 1 Peter 5:8, and we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil and he will flee from us, James 4:7. We rebuke the attempt to ruin and disgrace others and to increase tragedy through giving place to the devil, Ephesians 4:27. We command that spirit of strife and false imitation to leave and to have no place in your home, your street, or your mind, for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control, 2 Timothy 1:7.
We also want to lovingly address what you mentioned about girlfriends and boyfriends going through bad divorce. We believe according to Scripture that any romantic relationship should be courtship with the goal of godly marriage between a man and a woman who are both believers in Christ, for do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, 2 Corinthians 6:14, and marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the bed undefiled, Hebrews 13:4. If there is sexual intimacy outside of that marriage covenant it is fornication or adultery and we must repent and flee sexual immorality, 1 Corinthians 6:18. We pray that every man and woman wounded by divorce would find healing in Christ first, pursue purity, and if they seek another relationship, seek a godly spouse for a lifelong marriage that honors God, rather than casual dating.
We encourage you to continue to pursue peace with all men as far as it depends on you, Romans 12:18, to not repay evil for evil, Romans 12:17, to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44, while also using wisdom and proper boundaries. If aggression, sabotage or threats put you in danger or falsely accuse you toward prison, it is right to seek help from proper authorities, for the authorities are God's servant for justice, Romans 13:4, and to seek wise counsel from your local church. Do not take vengeance into your own hands, for vengeance belongs to the Lord, Romans 12:19.
We now pray together.
Father in heaven, we come before You only through the name of Jesus Christ, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12, and Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me, John 14:6. We thank You for Your mercy that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. We ask You to forgive us where we have harbored hardness of heart, malice, envy or hatred, and wash us in the blood of Jesus.
Lord, we lift up this neighborhood to You. We ask You to bring conviction and repentance to this divorced neighbor who is aggressive and meddling day and night. Soften that heart, bring that person to true repentance and to know You, and stop the sabotage, distraction and torment. Put a hedge of protection around this dear one and their house, keep them from all false accusation and from any snare that would lead toward prison or ruin, Psalm 91:11. Let Your peace that surpasses all understanding guard their heart and mind in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:7.
We rebuke every idle and unoccupied demonic assignment to ruin, disgrace and create confusion and violence, and we declare that no weapon formed against Your child will prosper, Isaiah 54:17. We speak Your order and clarity over every bewitched confusion and false imitation, and we ask You to restore truth and sound mind.
We pray for every woman and man, every girlfriend and boyfriend wounded through bad divorce, for every family and business fractured by it. Heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds, Psalm 147:3. Lead them to repentance where needed, to purity, to forgiveness, and to seek godly marriage according to Your will if You so lead them. Raise up marriages that reflect Christ and the church, Ephesians 5:25-33, and let Your people bear the fruit of the Spirit in that neighborhood.
We ask for quietness and godliness to return to that street, that all may live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence, 1 Timothy 2:2. Let Your will be done there as it is in heaven. We trust You to be our vindication and our peace.
We pray all these things in the mighty and only saving name of Jesus Christ, amen.