Departing, Stumbling, and Corrupting Malachi 2:8

Malachi the prophet wrote the words of “The LORD of hosts” to the nation of Israel. “The Lord's” concern and attention was toward the priests who ministered among them. Rather than administering the sacrifices and offerings with awe and high regard, the priests were handling the spiritual things with contempt. The Levites of old were and example of the way these holy measures should be handled, but the nation of Israel and the priests were far from their example. In chapter two and verse eight of Malachi's prophesy “The Lord” shows them three ways in which they have erred. We read:

But you are departed out of the way; you have caused many to stumble at the law; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts.

The verse begins with “the LORD of hosts” declaring, “But you are departed out of the way;” The first way of error mentioned by the Lord was, “you are departed” which means “turned aside, removed and left” “out of the way” or “road, journey, distance, manner, habit or path”. This implies that they once were on the right path, but they veered from it. Rather than continuing in the “way” of God, they chose their own way of administering the spiritual things.

The verse goes on to say, “you have caused many to stumble at the law;” Their second way of error was they “caused many to stumble” which means “to totter, be feeble or make weak” “at the law” which refers to the “manner, instruction, custom and direction” of the word of God. Because these priests began to do things their own way instead of God's, many people were lead away from the Lord's direction and instruction in their lives.

Finally the verse says, “you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts.” The third manner of error exhibited by the priests was they “corrupted” which means to “destroy, caused to ruin and made to decay” “the covenant of Levi” which refers to the “alliance and pledge” the Lord made between Himself and the tribe of Levi. Because these priests followed after ways of error, they ruined the original plan and way of God that the nation of Israel was to worship Him.

When we consider “The LORD of hosts'” words to the priests and nation of Israel, we find in them warning for our own lives as well. Lest we find ourselves “departing out of the way, causing many to stumble at the law, and corrupting the covenant of Levi”, we should take heed to the words the Lord spoke unto them. Our lives and the way we live them not only affect us personally, but they affect others as well. The priests of Israel decided to do their sacrifices and worship in their own way rather than the Lord's, and the entire nation was affected by their decision. Perhaps we should conclude our study today by asking the Lord to show us if our ways have superseded His, and begin to worship in His ways if we discover any area of error within us.

Next time we see the Lord's judgment upon the nation of Israel, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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