Malachi 2:4b-7 "... 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."
-Every time God calls someone there is a risk involved. Yet He continues to call imperfect people.
a. God called Abraham and twice he was willing to give his wife up to another man to protect himself.
b. God called Jonah to evangelize a city, yet he ran the opposite direction.
c. God called Levi and his descendants to be priests, yet those descendants failed miserably.
But God wants the covenant to continue. He rebukes them in order to draw them back. When you enter into God’s covenant you take a risk also.
-The risk of being mocked.
-The risk of being persecuted.
But Jesus said in Matthew 5:11, 12 “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
-God’s covenant was initiated by Him for the purpose of bringing glory to His name. Life and peace are tied to my Covenant. Where does your life and peace come from? From having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God has given you eternal life, and peace, that you might be in awe of Him.
Psalm 21:4, 5 says, "His glory is great in thy salvation: honor and majesty hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance."
The life and peace we have comes through the Son and brings God glory. He is our resource.
-When God calls you He will also gave you the resources you need to answer the call. Hebrews 11:24-26 tells us how Moses responded: “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward."
God knew you before your were formed in your mother’s womb. In fact, He knew you before the foundation of the earth. Malachi speaks of the true priesthood when he speaks of Levi. Levi was a good example of the Christian priesthood because, "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."
Remember a man’s life is always more forcible than his speech.
-Malachi continues by describing some of the things that are expected of the priest. He said:
a. For the priests lips should keep knowledge.
The knowledge we speak of is the same type spoken of by the prophet Hosea in Hosea 4:6:
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
People do not perish because they are stupid. They perish because their knowledge is not in Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53:11 " He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities."
b. If you are speaking God’s word try speaking in a way that makes people want it. Instead of focusing on “Thou shall not…” try, “Blessed are…”. The message doesn’t change but the method might. Verse 7 says the priest is a messenger of God. This very easily takes on the idea of all believers as priests.
Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…”
You and I are a priestly people with a God given responsibility to be a witness everywhere we go for Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment