"And
now this commandment is for you, O priests. "If you do not listen, and if you
do not take it to heart to give honor to My name," says the LORD of hosts,
"then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and
indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to
heart. "Behold, I am
going to rebuke your offspring, and I will spread refuse on your faces, the
refuse of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it. "Then you will know that I have
sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi,"
says the LORD of hosts.
Insights: Malachi is giving the priests a
warning from the Lord regarding their relationship with Him. In 1 Peter 2:9 we are reminded we, those who
are born again and have received Jesus’ pardon, are a part of a royal
priesthood. So, these warnings to Israel’s
historical priests can be applicable to us as Christians. The ear is not the seat of emotion in Hebrew
culture, however, to help us understand what God is calling the priests to, it
will help with this concept of connectedness with God. When we hear things, it often times results
in an emotional response, whither that response is happiness, anger, sadness or
expectation. In this warning God is
telling the priests they do not listen, they do not emotionally connect with
God. In Hebrew culture the heart is the
seat of intellect. God is calling the
priests to connect with Him intellectually as well. Yet in this verse God tells us the priests that
they do not take to heart what they have heard from God. In Psalm 1:2 we are told a wise man
meditates, thinks on, God’s word day and night.
These priests are giving no thought to God. Finally they are to willfully connect with
God as He tells them to honor Him.
Again, however, these priests are not taking heed to these
warnings. God is calling us to be in an
intimate relationship with Him that encompasses our entire being, all of our
emotions, intellect, and volitional will.
In God’s warning to us, He states if we will not take heed to His
warning, then curses will fall on us and our children. Ron Brown helps us here. He wrote, “God doesn’t desire to curse and
show contempt. If the people repented,
if they listened to Him and took His Word to heart, then God would lift His
judgment. Repentance is God’s desire for
any who sin against Him.” Beloved,
repent and reconnect with God!
Questions:
- Are you heeding the warnings of the Lord?
- Are you in jeopardy of the Lord’s cursing upon you?
Prayer: Father, I hear
Your warning and desire to be in union with You in all areas of my life. Mold me by Your grace into the child You
desire me to be. Amen.
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