Podcast 63, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Malachi, Ch 2”

Malachi Chapter 2 is an extension of Chapter 1. In Chapter 1 the Lord condemns Israel for not obeying the law of sacrifice. They used imperfect animals. In Chapter 2, the Lord condemns the Priests for leading the children of Israel astray; he condemns Judah for leaving the “wife of their youth.” He is comparing their infidelity to their wives with their infidelity to Christ. In the Holy Scriptures Christ is often referred to as the bridegroom and the church as the bride.

Matthew 9:15

“And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.”

Revelation 19:7–9

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

In Malachi, Chapter 2, Malachi, speaking for the Lord, directs his word to the Priests.

Malachi 1:1

And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.

Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord condemns false leaders.

Isaiah 3:12

“O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.”

Isaiah 9:16

“For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.”

Isaiah 56:10–11

“His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant…Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand.”

Through Malachi, the Lord curses the Priests if they don’t repent.

Malachi 2:2-3

If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.

We know that they don’t repent for Malachi (about 450-430 BC) is the last prophet before John the Baptist, 400 years later. When Christ is born, the Jews are in advanced stages of apostasy. It brings to mind the words of Isaiah:

Isaiah 24:5

“The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.”

The tribe of Levi was given the charge of priestly duties, but the priests in Malachi’s day have abandoned the laws the Lord gave the Levites.

Malachi 2:4-6

And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. 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 Lord further condemns the priests for abandoning their duty.

Malachi 2:7

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.

Rather than teach the law, they have corrupted the law.

Malachi 2:8

But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.

For that reason, a curse has already come upon them.