Tonight I am going to be teaching out of Malachi 2:1-5
In these verses God says that he is giving a commandment to the priests. He warns them that if they do not take the commandment to heart, and give him glory, that he will send a curse upon them. He will also corrupt their seed and spread dung on their faces. In verse 4 he says that he is doing this so that his covenant might be with Levi. In verse 5 he says that his covenant was with him of life and peace.
In Numbers 25 we find the story of God making the covenant with Levi. This is an interesting chapter because we find God instructing the Israelites to hang anyone that had intermarried with the Moabites (as an aside, this is after Balaam had turned them to committing this sin. Balaam is referred to again in Revelation 2 one verse before the Nicolaitans are mentioned). After the hangings, while people are in mourning, Phinehas (the grandson of Aaron) sees an Israelite man take a Midianitish woman into a tent. Phinehas followed them into the tent and thrust them both through with a javelin. Because he was "zealous" for the Lord, God made a covenant of peace with him. Numbers 25:12-13Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: 13And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.
How does this covenant of an everlasting priesthood fit with Malachi 2:4? And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
Is God saying that the fulfilment of the covenant is up to the obedience of the priests? He said in verse 2 that "if ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart...I will even send a curse upon you..."
Let me ask another question that may get you started on the right track. How is the everlasting priesthood going to be fulfilled?
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4 comments:
Are we pointing to the unconditional promise that Israel (in this case, specifically Levites) has an eternal place in God's plans? Or is there more?
Levites continue to offer Thanksgiving Sacrifices during the messianic age, right?
Anyone?
Oops you forgot to tie it in to Hebrews 7. Is that a clue where you're going with this? :P
Jesus is a priest not after the order of Levi, but after the order of Melchisedec; as are we. I wasn't sure how this fit in with the passages about Levi's covenant.
So we are thinking along the same lines. It is very clear in Hebrews that it is a different order. However, God has promised them an eternal priesthood and he is delivering on that; but he is also opening it up to everyone else.
Yes, the priesthood will continue in the Messianic age.
We tend to think that the covenant means that God will always bless, regardless of our behavior. God will be faithful to the Levites but did it come in the way that they expected? God was pretty clear in his warning to them.
Feel free to add details! This priesthood relationship is pretty new to me.
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