Monday 13July09: Malachi 2: 1 - 9 NKJV
The law of truth was in his mouth, and injustice was not found on his lips. v6
The LORD rebuked the priests for having departed from the Law and causing many Israelites to stumble. He reminded them of His covenant with Levi, which they have corrupted, a covenant of "life and peace" (v.5) which Levi kept in fear and reverence towards God.
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.
The sons of Levi had kept the covenant by their words. They spoke forth, justly, the "law of truth". They walked with the LORD. And all that they had said and done was founded on the basis of one divine requirement, "the lips of a priest":
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
Indeed, the covenant of God with his priest is to be kept by their speaking forth his knowledge to all the people of Israel. It is from the mouth of the priest that the people seek God's teaching. And thus, the priest, by keeping such divine knowledge in his lips, performs his duty as the messenger of God.
Dear Christians, today we have also been called by God to priestly duties. We can read in 1 Peter 2: 5, 9 that we have been chosen, and are being built up, as a "royal priesthood". Yes, indeed, we are priests to our Lord and King. We are messengers of God. Like the Levitical priests in the OT, the truth of the Gospel should be found in our mouths, "turning many away from iniquity".
The lips of a priest - they should keep knowledge.
