Restoring the Priesthood
Notes
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Attention Getting:
Textual Segment:
Last week we discussed the rebelliousness of the priests. They had failed to reverence God and His name and this showed through offering corrupt sacrifices and haphazard worship. Instead of teaching the word, they had corrupted it.
In Mal. 2, the discussion continues with Rebuking the priest and pointing to the proper role model they should have been following. God is calling for repentance and renewal from His priests so they can lead the nation correctly.
Relational Segment:
We too need seasons of renewal. When we are getting off course and failing to follow God, we need to repent and go back to living His way, after His pattern.
Let’s continue looking at the burden of Malachi by noticing .....
I. The Rebuke of the Priests
I. The Rebuke of the Priests
Malachi 2:1–3
1 “And now, O priests, this commandment is for you.
2 If you will not hear,
And if you will not take it to heart,
To give glory to My name,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“I will send a curse upon you,
And I will curse your blessings.
Yes, I have cursed them already,
Because you do not take it to heart.
3 “Behold, I will rebuke your descendants
And spread refuse on your faces,
The refuse of your solemn feasts;
And one will take you away with it.
EX: God warns that the priests and their descendants will be punished if they do not repent.
Notice the If/then statement in v. 1
IF you don’t:
Hear
Will not listen to the warning from God
Take it to heart
take it into your innermost being.
Glorify His name
Place glory on His name
Recognize His greatness and the glory due Him.
THEN God will:
Curse them
Failure on their part to render glory to God would result in Him cursing them.
Curse as used here: Put them under affliction
This is a fundamental OT Theme:
obedience brings blessings
disobedience brings curse
IL: Moses in Deut.
26 “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; 28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known.
Curse their blessings
What they meant for good, would be cursed.
He would not accept their worship, sacrifice and prayers.
All of God’s gracious benefits would instead be a curse to them.
Rebuke their descendants
This curse could be inherited
The following generations would reap what the current corrupt priests had sown.
Spread refuse on their faces
God uses graphic language here!
God viewed unfaithful priests as worthy of utter disgrace.
Internal waste of sacrifices were meant to be carried outside of the camp and burned.
God is saying He will throw them out as refuse.
AP: God’s views of sin have not changed
We should be cautious in making a direct application. Not all warnings to specific people apply equally to all others.
What can we take from this?
God is serious about sin!
This principle holds true throughout the Bible
He hates sin and punishes sinners.
If we are living in disobedience and twisting God’s word, as they were, we should repent!
If God wouldn’t tolerate it from His priests in Malachi’s day, what makes us think He will today?
II. The Role Model of the Priests
II. The Role Model of the Priests
Malachi 2:4–6
4 Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you,
That My covenant with Levi may continue,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
5 “My covenant was with him, one of life and peace,
And I gave them to him that he might fear Me;
So he feared Me
And was reverent before My name.
6 The law of truth was in his mouth,
And injustice was not found on his lips.
He walked with Me in peace and equity,
And turned many away from iniquity.
EX: God reminds them of the original covenant with Levi.
They were priests of the same order and under the Levitical Covenant.
8 And of Levi he said:
“Let Your Thummim and Your Urim be with Your holy one,
Whom You tested at Massah,
And with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah,
9 Who says of his father and mother,
‘I have not seen them’;
Nor did he acknowledge his brothers,
Or know his own children;
For they have observed Your word
And kept Your covenant.
10 They shall teach Jacob Your judgments,
And Israel Your law.
They shall put incense before You,
And a whole burnt sacrifice on Your altar.
11 Bless his substance, Lord,
And accept the work of his hands;
Strike the loins of those who rise against him,
And of those who hate him, that they rise not again.”
God calls them back to their original design.
Right Attitude
Fear God
Respect His authority and fear His wrath.
Be reverent
Right Words
Speak the law of truth
They were called to return to the Scriptures
Preach and teach the word of God
Don’t twist it, philosophize it, neglect it.
Speak justice
Rightly judge from God’s perspective
View people as God does and hold all to the same standard.
Right Life
Walk in peace and equity
end the contentions
Turn away from jealousy inspired arguments
Right Mission
Turn sinners from their iniquity
As priests, they were to turn people back to God’s way.
AP: As God’s priests, we should follow this same instruction:
Right Attitude
Right Words
Right Mission
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
God confronted priests:
He rebuked them and warned of impending judgment if they didn’t listen to Him, take His message to heart, and glorify His name.
He then called upon them to return to serving as they should in the order of Levi.