Message for the Messengers – part 1

Malachi 2

And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

Message for the Messengers 

Introduction

• People disdained God ch. 1:5-14 – priests shrugged off
• God places responsibility for people with priests – Heb. 13:7, 17, 24
  • We don’t have an active priesthood today, but if we look at Hebrews 13:7, the teaching is to follow those who guide and lead them.
  • Hebrews 13:7 explains that the leaders give an account for souls.
  • In Malachi 2, we see God bringing responsibility to the priests, just as New Testament pastors have
• Here is His message to His messengers 

Exposition

• Example vs. 5-6
• (This message is directed towards men, but is still very applicable to women in choosing what church to attend)

• No one is an authority unto themselves
  • In Churches, the pastor is the authority to that church, but is held accountable by God (Hebrews 13:7)
  • No one is out from authority
  • The only person out from authority is God himself, because He is authority
• Office given because of fear that feared Him with
• • Levites Office
    • Given unto them because of their fear of God
  • Phineas
    • A Levite, son of Aaron
    • Smote the fornicator with a spear
    • He feared God enough that it drove him to action
    • God made a special covenant with the house of Phineas because of this
  • All Levi at golden calf
    • While all of the tribes were worshipping the idol, only Levi stood with Moses and the Lord
    • They feared the Lord more than they feared people
    • There is pressure on preachers from all standpoints
      • The people you preach to
      • People you went to school with
    • Some Pressure is good, and some is bad
      • When you fear God, the pressure to do right is good
      • When you fear men, the pressure to please them is wrong
• Expectation vs. 2, 7
  • Give glory to God’s name should be our only purpose
    • Pride will have a strong temptation on us
• • The Temptation to please self and serve self will be strong
  • Strong temptation on serving self and not depending on God 
  • Messengers are to do their duty first and then give God the glory for it