Last Word Reminders: Shepherds Beware

God indicts the priests with despising His Name. 6a

6 “‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. 

The priests inquire and dispute God’s charges. 6b

But you say, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ 

1:6 How have we despised Your name?

1:7 How have we defiled You?

2:17 How have we wearied Him?

3:7 How shall we return?

3:8 How have we robbed You?

3:13 What have we spoken against you?

God explains His charges against the priests. 7-9

7 “You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is to be despised.’ 8 “But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?” says the Lord of hosts. 9 “But now will you not entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering on your part, will He receive any of you kindly?” says the Lord of hosts. 

God expresses His displeasure and rejection of their offering and them.  10

10 “Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you. 

God emphasizes His name being great among the nations.  11, 14b 

11 “For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts. 

14…for I am a great King,” says the Lord of hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations.”

God explains His charges and rejection of their offering. 12-14

12 “But you are profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.’ 13 “You also say, ‘My, how tiresome it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,” says the Lord of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?” says the Lord. 14 “But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,” says the Lord of hosts, “and My name is ^dfeared among the nations.”

God curses these priests and preserves the Levitical priesthood. 1-9

The curse is executed because the priests do not take the warning to heart. 1-3

1“And now this commandment is for you, O priests. 2 “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. 3 “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. 

The covenant with Levi is explained and continued. 4-7

4 “Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. 5 “My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. 6 “True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity. 7 “For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

The covenant will continue.

The covenant is one of life and peace.

The covenant was an object of reverence.

The covenant was one of true instruction and not unrighteous words.

The covenant was carried out walking with God in peace and uprightness.

The covenant priest turned people from iniquity.

The covenant priest was a messenger from God sought out for instruction and the preservation of knowledge.

The corruption ends with the priests’ public disgrace and despising.

8 “But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. 9 “So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.

The priests turned away from God’s way.

The priests caused people to stumble with their instruction.

The priests corrupted the covenant of Levi.

The priests will be despised and disgraced before all the people.

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