Daily Bible Reading Saturday 4th January 2020
by William Moody
Malachi 2:4–9
4 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of hosts. 5 My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction1 was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people2 should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, 9 and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”
(ESV)
God now speaks about His covenant with Levi the priestly tribe (v4). There is no record of the formation of covenant with the Levites but two important passages which allude to it are Exodus 32 v26-29 (the golden calf incident) and Numbers 25 v11-13 (Phinehas at Baal Peor). See also Deuteronomy 33 v8-11, Jeremiah 33 v20-21 and Nehemiah 13 v29-31.
The incidents of the golden calf and at Baal Peor show the important role of the Levites of insuring the Israelites have peace with God through working for their purification. Peace and reverence towards God go hand in hand (v5).
The Levites were marked by a walk and preaching that were faithful to God’s law (v6). This was the means of turning many back to God. People should have been aware that these priests were declaring a message from God (v7).
They were to be faithful to God’s Word, but sadly the priests had walked away from their calling and from God’s way. In doing this it caused others to stumble as well as spoiling the covenant God made with the tribe of Levi (v8). God responded by bringing humiliation to the priests (v9).
This passage particularly shows the importance of those who lead and teach being faithful to god for the good of the church. But in the New Testament, all believers are to be priests and how we all live is important to God.
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