Malachi 2:6-9

6 The law of truth^[a] 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.
7 “ For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge,
And people should seek the law from his mouth;
For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
8 But you have departed from the way;
You have caused many to stumble at the law.
You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,”
Says the LORD of hosts.
9 “ Therefore I also have made you contemptible and base
Before all the people,
Because you have not kept My ways
But have shown partiality in the law.”
(NKJV)


Verses 6 and 7 give a wonderful example of the qualities that God desires in a priest, or in a minister and pastor. First, the law of truth is in the priest's mouth. This means a hunger for God's Word and a gifting/anointing in teaching of the Word. So there is an immediate link between priesthood and teaching. The priest is equipped to teach his people under him because he has God's truth. The pursuit of knowledge of God's law and truth is necessary for a priest and anyone who has pastoral duties over a group of believers. Not only is the law of truth found in his mouth, but also injustice is not found on his lips. A priest of God has no deceit in him and he would not lead people astray.

The priest would enjoy a peaceful and close walk with God because of his righteousness. He would worship and honour God because he is a servant of the Most High. Due to his upright nature and his teaching of God's truth and law, the priest would turn many away from iniquity, sin, wrongdoing and unrighteousness. This also means that he would turn many towards God.

He would be a keeper of God's truth and law, and the people under him should seek the law from his mouth, that is, through his teachings of God's truth and law. The priest is the messenger for the Lord. He says what God wants his chosen people to hear, he teaches what God wants his chosen people to learn, and he conducts himself in the way God wants his people to model after. He is a vassal of God. He is to discharge his office with a pure conscience.


After God has fleshed out the qualities of a priest, He draws a sharp contrast to the behaviour of the priests in Malachi's time. Instead of following God faithfully, these wilful and disobedient priests have fallen away. Instead of leading many to God, they have led many away from the altar of God and caused them to stumble at His law. Instead of observing and preserving the covenant of Levi, they have corrupted and defiled it.

God pronounces His judgment on these priests. He declares that He will make them contemptible and base before all the people. They will no longer enjoy a higher position before the people because of their priesthood, and will be brought low because they have not worshipped or honoured God through their words or actions. They have been partial in their administration of the law, when God desires fairness and equity. They have abandoned Levi's covenant with God, and consequently God has forsaken them.

Our covenant with God is a two-way thing. If we stray or behave in ways that corrupt this covenant and persist in our wilfulness and do not repent and turn back to Him, then we cannot expect God to keep His covenant with us for He is a holy God. Although the verses refer to priests, or in the modern day usage pastors and ministers of Gods, they should also apply to anyone who has a personal relationship with God and who has accepted Christ as His Lord and Saviour.

We are to walk with God in peace and equity. We are to hunger for the knowledge of God's law and truth. We are commissioned to turn people towards God. Our lips are to worship and honour God by speaking in truth, not deceit. We are to be righteous in our walk with God, and to have a pure heart and clean hands. Amen.




References:
1. Matthew Henry's Commentary of the Bible
http://www.ccel.org/h/henry/?show=worksBy

2. John Calvin's Commentary of the Bible
http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/?show=worksBy

3. The Spirit-Filled Bible (NKJV)

4. Life Application Bible (NIV)