The LORD Will Cut Off Malachi 2:12

Judah, Israel and Jerusalem forsook the holiness of the Lord in their worship and began to worship “strange” gods. Rather than seeking “The LORD of hosts” in awe, the people, including the priests, were handling offerings and sacrifices with contempt. In Malachi chapter two and verse twelve we see the Lord's response to their rejection of Him and their acceptance of strange gods where we read:

The LORD will cut off the man that does this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offers an offering unto the LORD of hosts.

The verse begins, “The LORD will cut off the man that does this,” Let us note first by whom this action will come, “The LORD”. The creator of all the universe is the One who “will cut off” which means “cut down, cut out, an eliminate” “the man that does this” which refers to the ones who worship “strange gods” rather than the true and holy God.

The verse goes on to say, “the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob,” After proclaiming that those who do these things will be cut off, the Lord names specifically the ones of whom He speaks. First, there is “the master” which literally means “to be hot or ardent” and implies being “alert and watchful”. “The master” was a teacher who pontificated and watched over his students. He was to proclaim the truth of God, and in this case he was not doing so and actually was leading the students away from the Lord. Secondly, He named “the scholar” which means “to answer,respond, testify, speak or shout” and refers to the students. “The scholar” would be one who sang, cried out or responded to the message which was given by “the master” or teacher. In this case, both “the master and the scholar” were in the tabernacles of Jacob and were to be “cut off” from the practices within them.

Finally the verse says, “and him that offers an offering unto the LORD of hosts.” The Lord also included “him that offers an offering” which refers to those who carried out the sacrifices “unto the LORD of hosts”. No gift, offering, sacrifice, tribute nor present would be sufficient to remove the treacherous behavior exhibited by the priests and people. Because they forsook the Lord for strange gods, not even their offerings would be accepted.

One of the greatest detriments man will ever face is to be “cut off” from the Lord. Because the nation of Israel did not desire to follow the Lord and His ways and rather sought out strange gods, their spiritual leaders and their students were “cut off”. It must have been horrible to know that their offerings would not be accepted any longer, and though they needed to be forgiven for their sins, they no longer would be. As we ponder these things, we should remember that God Almighty in His graciousness sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus to be the ultimate offering for our sins. Those who receive Him by faith will never know what it means to be “cut off” from God. However, those who reject Him, go their own ways, and seek out and worship strange gods will find no offering, teaching, position or sacrifice will ever satisfy the debt of sin which they owe. May all who read these words take heed, and may he that has ears to hear, hear the words of the Lord.

Next time the Lord shares concerning their times at the altar, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

An Example of Dealing Treacherously Malachi 2:11

As Malachi the prophet recorded the Lord's words to the nation of Israel, he turned his attention from the priests of the nation to the people who lived therein. “The Lord of hosts” indicted the people with dealing “treacherously” with one another, and in chapter two and verse eleven we see an example of this behavior toward each other and the Lord where we read:

Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and has married the daughter of a strange god.

The verse begins, “Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem;” Rather than speak generally, the Lord turned his attention specifically to “Judah” which was known as the southern portion of Israel and the second part of the nation to fall prey to other nations. The Lord mentioned the “abomination” which means “a disgusting, illicit, and impure thing” which was “committed in Israel and Jerusalem” or “fashioned, caused, or made” in the rest of the country and specifically “Jerusalem” which was “the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”.

The verse goes on to say, “for Judah has profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved,” After naming Judah, Israel and Jerusalem, the Lord told “Judah” their error. They “profaned” or “defiled, polluted, and desecrated” “the holiness” which means “apartness, sacredness or set-apartness” “of the LORD which he loved”. The LORD set apart Judah from all the nations of the world to worship Him in holiness and righteousness, and yet they “dealt treacherously” with both God and one another.

Finally the verse says, “and has married the daughter of a strange god.” After the indictment from the LORD against Judah, we might be inclined to ask, “How did they deal treacherously with God?” The answer is found in this portion of the verse. They “married the daughter of a strange god”. The word “married” which is “ba'al” in the Hebrew means to “rule over, possess, own, or have dominion over”. Judah was giving themselves over to “a strange” or “foreign” “god” which means “a false god, and idol, or an image of worship”. In other words, the forsook the true and living God who cared for, loved and watched over them, and worshiped the false and strange gods of the foreign nations around them.

As we think about this verse and place ourselves in the positions the people of Judah, Israel and Jerusalem, we might begin to understand the Lord's awareness of the “scorning and shunning” which was implemented by the people who lived at this time. They once knew intimacy with the Heavenly Father, however, they forsook it and went after the daughter of a “foreign god”. By doing so, they “profaned” or “defiled and desecrated” their relationship with the one and true God. We may use this example to look within ourselves and see if there are any “foreign gods” to whom we “deal treacherously” with God, and should we find any “idols” there, let us put them away and forsake them, and bow down and worship Jesus Christ who is the Lord's true “holiness”.

Next time we see the Lord's judgment against those who deal treacherously, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

Dealing Treacherously Malachi 2:10

After completing his statements to the priests within the nation of Israel, “The Lord of hosts” turned His attention through the prophet Malachi toward the general population. We remember that the priests' contemptible behavior toward worship and sacrifices to the Lord influenced the people toward their ways of error. In Malachi chapter two and verse ten we begin to see how the priests affected the way the people lived. We read:

Have we not all one father? has not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

The verse begins, “Have we not all one father? has not one God created us?” Malachi begins this discourse with two questions, “Have we not all one father” which refers to the “head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan”, and “has not one God created us” or “hasn't the one and only, true and certain God” “created, shaped, and formed us”. As a basis for his next statements, Malachi appeals to his readers to begin from the fact that we all were created from the one and only true God, and He in effect and position becomes our “one” and true “Father”.

The verse goes on to say, “why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother,” The third question asked by Malachi in this verse is “why do we deal treacherously” which means “faithlessly, deceitfully, and offensively” “every man” or “every servant, husband, champion or whosoever” “against his brother” which refers to “relative, kinship, same tribe or resemblance”. No matter what people's position was socially within the nation of Israel, they were deceitful and treacherous towards one another.

Finally the verse says, “by profaning the covenant of our fathers?” Because of these accusations made against them, the people within the nation may have wondered, “where have we been like this?” Before we see any question from them, Malachi answered them in advance. He declared, “By profaning” which literally means “to pierce through or wound” and refers to the way they “made common, defiled, polluted, and dishonored” “the covenant” or “alliance, treaty or pledge” “of our fathers” which refers to “God as their father or their forefathers”. Rather than administer their alliance with God and one another in the manner in which God set forth, they dealt deceitfully with one another.

As we consider the words of this verse in light of those we studied before, we see a relationship between the way people behave toward the Lord and toward one another. Basically people relate in two ways. The first is vertical and speaks of our relationship with God, and the second is horizontal and refers to the way we treat one another. If our vertical relationship with God is in the proper position, the horizontal position with people is in alignment. However, if our relationship with God is not vertical but is rather slanted away from perfectly up and down, then our horizontal plane with others is off as well. This is what occurred throughout the nation of Israel. When their vertical relationship with God was not in alignment, their horizontal relationships with one another were imbalanced. Because they managed their spiritual affairs with contempt, they handled their relationships with others with offensiveness and deceit as well. Perhaps their example will help us to examine our own relationships with God the Father, and a good indicator of whether it is in alignment may be to consider the way we get along with others.

Next time the Lord speaks specifically about Judah dealing treacherously, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore

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...

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

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...

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

The Messenger of the Lord Malachi 2:7

Malachi the prophet wrote the words of the Lord concerning the Levites who were the priestly tribe within the nation of Israel, and their example of devotion and respect for the things of God was commended. They were given “life and peace” because they reverence the Lord and truth was in their mouths. Because no iniquity was found in their lips, they turned many from their iniquity, and they served as an example before the nation of Israel. In Malachi chapter two and verse four we see the Lord's expectations of the messengers of the Lord where we read:

For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

The verse begins, “For the priest's lips should keep knowledge,...” The first quality that should be found in a priest is – his “lips should keep knowledge” which means “guard, observe, and give heed” to “perception, skill, discernment and understanding”. Let us be sure to acknowledge the Lord's choice of the word “should” which implies that this is not always the case.

The verse goes on to say, “and they should seek the law at his mouth:” The second trait of the priests should be to “seek” which means to “require, desire, exact, or request” “the law at his mouth” which refers to the “law” of God. Regardless of what they find in the law both simple and difficult, the priests of God were to “desire” it with everything they said.

Finally the verse says, “for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.” The reason the priests were to “keep knowledge” and “seek the law” was because they were considered “the messenger” which means “representative or angel” “of the LORD of hosts”. Whenever priests were proper representatives concerning the matters of the LORD, the people would generally follow. However, if the priests did not “keep knowledge” and forsook seeking “the law”, people would be drawn away from the Lord. We shall discover this is exactly what happened to the nation of Israel.

The idea behind this verse was to demonstrate to the nation of Israel the proper behavior of the priests of God. If we put ourselves in the positions of these priests, would we be deemed as those who “keep knowledge” and “seek the law”? Are other people affected by our lives and drawn to the Lord, or are they distanced from Him because of our behavior and words? As we ponder Malachi's words, perhaps we should allow the “LORD of hosts” to work within us the desires He had for His priests, and as He does, others will be affected and turn to the Lord Jesus because of our words and deeds.

Next time we see the contrast of the nation of Israel to the Levites, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

Truth, No Iniquity, Peace and Equity Malachi 2:6

The Lord God gave the Levites to the nation of Israel as an example of the manner in which they were to worship Him. The Levites were the chosen tribe of Israel who were awarded “life and peace” because of their awe and reverence for the Lord. In chapter two and verse six of Malachi's prophecy, we see more of the traits of the tribe of Levi which pleased the Lord where we read:

The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

The verse begins, “The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips:” The first trait mentioned by the Lord in this verse is the “law of truth” or “firmness, faithfulness, sureness, reliability, stability, and continuance” “according to the law of God” which was “in his mouth”. When the priests of the tribe of Levi spoke, the word of God was in their voices. The people who heard them knew they were speaking the “truth” of God. In addition, the priests spoke so “iniquity” which means “injustice, unrighteousness, or wrong” “was not found in his lips”. In other words, when the priests from the tribe of Levi spoke, the people could trust that they were speaking the truth without falsehoods about God and injustice toward men.

The verse goes on to say, “he walked with me in peace and equity,...” The condition of the lifestyle of the priests of Levi were that they “walked with” God “in peace and equity”. The idea behind “peace” is “completeness, soundness, or welfare”, and “equity” refers to a “level place, or uprightness”. The lives of the priests of Levi were such that they lived not only in “peace” with God and others, but there was “uprightness” in all they did and said.

Finally the verse says, “and did turn many away from iniquity.” The result of the Levites' behavior before God and people was they “did turn many away from iniquity” or “perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity”. Their speech and their lives were so affective that “many” people turned from doing that which was contrary to the Lord to doing that which was obedient unto Him, and the Lord commended the Levites for doing so.

As an exercise for understanding Malachi's words, let us imagine for a moment that we are the priests of Levi of whom he wrote. Would the Lord be able to say that “the law of truth” is in our mouths? Would he declare that “iniquity was not found” in their lips? Would the Lord affirm that we walk with Him “in peace and equity”, and would He see that our lives affect others in such a manner that “many” of them “turn away from” their “iniquity”? The Levites of old of whom the Lord speaks were an example of the way the priests of Israel were to be, however, their contemptible behavior toward worship and their fellowman left much to be desired. Because the Lord makes reference to the former ways of the priests in the tribe of Levi, we may know that He desires those same traits not only in Israel, but also in us. May the Lord help us to understand where we fall short in these areas, and may the Lord Jesus Christ give us the grace to continue in our relationship with Him as we grow in these areas every day.

Next time we see what the Lord has to say about the Levites as messengers, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.