Priests Prone to Partiality are to Receive Recompense

PRIESTS PRONE TO PARTIALITY ARE TO RECEIVE RECOMPENSE

(Malachi 1:6-2:9)

1:6 " 'A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?' says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, 'How have we despised Your name?'
7 "You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, 'How have we defiled You?' In that you say, 'The table of the LORD is to be despised.'
8 "But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts.
9 "But now will you not entreat God's favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?" says the LORD of hosts.
10 "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD of hosts, "nor will I accept an offering from you.
11 "For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations," says the LORD of hosts.
12 "But you are profaning it, in that you say, 'The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.'
13 "You also say, 'My, how tiresome it is!' And you disdainfully sniff at it," says the LORD of hosts, "and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?" says the LORD.
14 "But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King," says the LORD of hosts, "and My name is feared among the nations."

2:1 "And now this commandment is for you, O priests.
2 "If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name," says the LORD of hosts, "then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.
3 "Behold, I am going to rebuke your offspring, and I will spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it.
4 "Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi," says the LORD of hosts.
5 "My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name.
6 "True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity.
7 "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
8 "But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says the LORD of hosts.
9 "So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.

AUDIENCE:

Audience: Youth/young adult

INTRODUCTION:

God made a covenant with the descendants of Levi at the base of Sinai. Centuries later after the priests and Levites returned from the exile they are still instructed to serve God in the same manner. However, they have despised the covenant and judgment will surely follow.

I. The Unfaithfulness of the Priests – they dishonor God in their sacrifices (1:6-14)

    A. The priest’s relationship to God defined (1:6)

        The relationship between God and the priests is similar to that of a father-son relationship. In the Torah, God’s original plan was for every first-born son to be a priest. This was later changed, but the principle was still there. It is also defined as a slave-master relationship. But the relationship seems more like that of the prodigal son to his father. There was no honor or respect for God. At the same time, they did not recognize their lack of honor.

    B. The priest’s relationship to God defiled (1:7-9)

        God defined the way in which they despised his name. The function God had given the priests was to represent his people before him by offering sacrifices. In this they had failed miserably. They hated their work and cut corners. They showed more respect for the present civil authorities than they did for their eternal heavenly authority. The priests were not even worthy to call on the Lord in prayer.

    C. God’s desire for a faithful priest (1:10)

        God longed for just one priest who would treat his office with respect. It is an unfortunate indictment that the corruption of the priesthood was so complete that not one of the active members could be called faithful to God.

   D. The priests defile God’s name and table (1:11-14)

        Despite their unfaithfulness God would be glorified. God had never needed his people to serve and worship him. Creation itself is a testament to his power and goodness. But he has chosen to use his people. The entire earth will hear of the glory of the Lord. But he still longs for his people to worship him. Still they offer profane sacrifices.

II. The Unfaithfulness of the Priests – they do not faithfully teach the law (2:1-9)

    A. Judgment of priests proclaimed (2:1-4)

        God offers the priests an opportunity to honor his name. This is a final ultimatum. Listen to me and heed my commandments or judgment will fall upon you. This judgment will be so inclusive that the very things that were once blessings will to them will be turned into cursings. This is necessary because of the covenant made with Levi at the base of Sinai.

   B. The role a priest should fulfill (2:5-7)

        The covenant here is delineated. The descendants of Levi were given the opportunity to worship God, to teach the law to Israel, and to live a life free of sin. Their lives had to be so holy and his knowledge of the law so thorough that men would seek him out for counsel and he would be known as God’s messenger.

    C. The priests have failed to keep this role (2:8-9)

        These priests, however, have not lived in such a manner. The teachings they offer have hurt people rather than helped them. They have not kept the covenant. Because of the prejudice that the priests have shown in their offering of instruction, God has judged them.

CONCLUSION:

The priests chose not to take shortcuts. They kept the best things for themselves and gave the useless things to God. God gave them a final opportunity to change their ways or judgment would follow.

APPLICATION:

The NT tells us that every believer is a member of a spiritual priesthood. God has made a new covenant with these believers and expects them to keep it just as he expected the priests to keep the Sinaitic. We must always honor God with out lives. Be careful of placing more emphasis on the here and now than on the future. Honor God with more respect than you honor the governing authorities, not less. Honor God with your entire life and be a faithful priest of Christ Jesus.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Barker, Kenneth (Gen Ed). The Zondervan NASB Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999.

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