The Book of Deuteronomy clearly states the blessing of being God’s people. It also outlines what is required of God’s people who are the recipients of this blessing.
“See, just as the Lord my God has charged me, I now teach you statutes and ordinances for you to observe in the land that you are about to enter and occupy.
“You must observe them and perform them, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!’
“For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him?
“And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today?
“But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children” (Deuteronomy 4.5-9).
Moses knew that his responsibility was to teach the people the privilege of being God’s very own and to emphasize to them the responsibility of keeping His statutes and ordinances.
He said it was his job to teach them, and it would be their job to teach future generations.
Malachi told the priests that it was their responsibility to continue the tradition that Moses established. They were to tell the people about God’s will for their lives.
Know, then, that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may hold, says the Lord of hosts.
My covenant with him was a covenant of life and well-being, which I gave him; this called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.
True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in integrity and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity (Malachi 2.4-6).
As Levitical priests, they were to walk with integrity and uprightness. As they modeled a life of living in faithfulness to God, they were to turn other people away from iniquity.
The result would be the people living in God’s life and well-being.
Malachi’s message was directed to priests who had been failing at their jobs. Let’s broaden the illustration and include leaders in the church, family, business, politics, and anyone who has people who follow their actions and words.
Malachi charges leaders both then and now to show the way to life and well-being with their behavior as well as their words.
For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts (Malachi 2.7).
Faulty Leaders
The leaders of Malachi’s day failed to fulfill their mandate of guiding the people towards well-being in life. Instead, they led people astray with their teachings and corrupted the covenant God had given through His prophet, Moses.
But you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts,
So I make you despised and humbled before all the people, inasmuch as you have not kept my ways but have shown partiality in your instruction (Malachi 2.8-9).
Leaders are incredibly important. Whether it’s a family, a church, a business, or the nation, they all rise and fall based on the quality of our leaders.
In Malachi’s time, the leaders had caused people to stumble through their teaching. They corrupted the agreement God formed with the nation at Sinai. Because of their actions, the leaders came under God’s judgment.
There is no better way for us to lead than to learn from Jesus. When we study his life and adopt his attitudes and actions, then when we add his teachings to the mix, we will lead the people who are following us in the right direction.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
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