”"For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.
Malachi 2:7New International Version (NIV)
Malachi 2:7 Devotional (Daily Bible Verse)
The lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge
In Malachi 2:7, Malachi stated the covenant standard to the priests with the words “The lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge“. He addressed the priests of his day this way because they had failed to do what they were supposed to do.
Despite Judah returning to Babylon, from their exile in Babylon, their priests were indifferent towards God. God, therefore, used Malachi to rebuke them.
God condemned the priests
Malachi, therefore, started by condemning the priests of his day (Malachi 2:1-4). Acting on behalf of God, he warned them that God would send a curse on them if they failed to honor Him (Malachi 2:1-2). Because the priests had shown contempt for God’s name by offering defiled food on His altar (Malachi 1:6-8). Yet God desired that His name be great among the nations, and incense and offerings be taken to Him (Malachi 1:11-14).
God, through prophet Malachi, therefore, warned the priests that He would rebuke their descendants and smear their faces with dung from the festival sacrifices (Malachi 2:3). The priests would consequently know that God had warned them for the sake of His covenant with Levi to continue (Malachi 2:4).
God’s covenant called for reverence
God’s covenant with Levi called for reverence, which Levi fulfilled (Malachi 2:5). Levi’s mouth was, therefore, filled with true instruction, and he walked with God in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin (Malachi 2:6). This was because the priest, as the Lord’s messenger, was supposed to preserve knowledge, so that the people could seek instruction from him (Malachi 2:7).
New Testament Priesthood
As a New Testament priest, at least according to 1 Peter 2:9-10, you are supposed to teach God’s word. And you can only teach God’s word truthfully if you revere Him.
Prayer/Blessing
Lord God, thank You for calling me to the office of the priest as per Your word in Hebrews 5:1-10 and 1 Peter 2:9-10. Please enable me through Your Spirit to exercise my priestly mandate in my sphere of influence.
This is my humble prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Nehemiah 9-10 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
