Contemptible and Base Malachi 2:9

The priests in Israel were not keeping the law of God, and there was iniquity found in their mouths. Rather than leading the nation toward the word of God, these spiritual leaders were leading them away from it by their contemptible behavior. In Malachi chapter two and verse nine, the prophet records “the LORD of hosts'” conclusion for the priest who dwelt among them where we read:

Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as you have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

The verse begins, “Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people,” The result of the priests being a poor example before the people was to receive that which they demonstrated before them. They were “made” or “set, put, given, bestowed and assigned” to be “contemptible” which means “despised, disdained, worthless and despicable” and “base” or “humiliated and lowly”. The priests should have had a position of honor, respect and awe among the people, but because of their lack of concern for worship and sacrifices to the Lord, they were now humiliated and worthless before them.

The verse goes on to say, “...according as you have not kept my ways,” The word “according” employed by Malachi is “the mouth” or “as from the mouth”. The idea is that the priests had not “kept” which means “guarded, given heed to, or observed” the “ways” or “manner, path and direction” of the Lord. Because the priests did not follow God's “ways” or direction, the people in the nation of Israel did not follow them.

Finally the verse says, “but have been partial in the law.” The last indictment against the priests was they “have been partial” or “lifted up and exalted” “in the law”. The idea is that they used the law to advance, lift up and exalt themselves rather than reverencing and regarding the Lord. Where the priests should have been in the business of exalting God, they used God's law to benefit themselves, and the result of their behavior was they were “made contemptible and base before all the people”.

Spiritual leaders and those who have positions of leadership should meditate upon the verse that we have just studied. The priests, pastors, bishops, deacons and other spiritual leaders within the church must realize the awesomeness of their positions and the affect they have on others. Lest we be made “contemptible and base” among those who observe our behavior, we must always lead people to worship the Lord Jesus rather than ourselves. Perhaps it will help us to examine whether we have “kept” the Lord's ways rather than our own, and it may also help us to consider whether we have used the offices given to us by the Lord to advance our own causes rather than His. This verse is weighty, and those who are wise will take special heed to observe all that it declares.

Next time the Lord begins a new area of concern about how the people of Israel treat one another, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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