Read
True and False Priests
1I, the Lord All-Powerful, have something else to say to you priests. 2You had better take seriously the need to honor my name. Otherwise, when you give a blessing, I will turn it into a curse. In fact, I have already done this, because you haven't taken to heart your duties as priests. 3I will punish your descendants and rub your faces in the manure from your animal sacrifices, and then be done with you.
4 I am telling you this, so I can continue to keep my agreement with your ancestor Levi. 5 I blessed him with a full life, as I had promised, and he kept his part of the agreement by honoring me and respecting my name. 6He taught the truth and never told lies, and he led a lot of people to turn from sin, because he obeyed me and lived right.
7You priests should be eager to spread knowledge, and everyone should come to you for instruction, because you speak for me, the Lord All-Powerful. 8But you have turned your backs on me. Your teachings have led others to do sinful things, and you have broken the agreement I made with your ancestor Levi. 9So I caused everyone to hate and despise you, because you disobeyed me and failed to treat all people alike.
Reflect
Leadership expert John Maxwell says that leadership is influence. Leaders influence people around them both by the words they say and the way they behave. The priests of Malachi’s day come in for more criticism in this passage.
It starts with an accusation that their relationship with God is not right, that they don’t take God seriously. That leads to a lack of commitment to their duties as priests. God says he will punish them for their deeds. When they give a blessing, God will reverse it and turn it into a curse. Instead of an eagerness to spread knowledge about God and an opportunity to instruct the people in the ways of God, they have turned their backs on him. Neither their teachings nor their lives reflect the true nature of the God they serve or the task to which they have been given responsibility.
They are reminded of their ancestor Levi from whom all priests were descended. God made an agreement with Levi and blessed him. Levi kept his side of the agreement and honoured and respected God. His is an example to hold up and to follow.
Leadership is an awesome responsibility. The Bible contains some harsh words for leaders in God’s kingdom community who fail in their responsibilities to lead effectively. Leaders are human beings with all the traits of others, able to succeed and able to fail. For those of you who lead, do it well. Honour and respect God’s name. All of us can pray for our leaders and encourage them so they can be the men and women God has called them to be.
Respond
Loving God, righteous in all your ways, help our leaders to live for you, so that your people might follow your ways. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Stephen Roy
Stephen is the President of Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener, ON. A former urban planner, he grew up in Scotland and came to Canada in his mid-20s. He took theological training and has been involved in Christian higher education helping prepare the next generation of Godly leaders for the church and wider community. Stephen is involved with a number of ministry related boards and is married with two adult children.