A Kingdom of Priests

I started Malachi 2...barely. There is a lot there!

God does not mince words. He believes in direct confrontation (I think He expects the same from us - Matthew 18:15).

In Malachi 1, it is established that the people, including the priests, had lost all reverence for God. Their offerings reflected that fact.

In Malachi 2:1-3, some very graphic imagery and strong words are used to express how God views the kind of job these priests are doing.

It would seem that God's mercy up to this point had been viewed by the priests as either complicity or as some sort of weakness. Either way, their irreverence and apparent disdain became more and more brazen.

God said that He would curse their blessings, in fact, He had already done so. He said that he would spread dung on their faces.

Sounds harsh, but they may have gotten off easy when you think about how God has dealt with priests in the past (Leviticus 10:1-2).

Malachi 2:4-9 could be called 'What Not To Do'. God juxtaposes good priests and the priests He sent Malachi to confront. He reminds them of the covenant with Levi (Numbers 25:10-13).

Malachi 2:6 brought to mind what was said in Daniel 12:3 - "And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."

As believers in and followers of Christ Jesus, we are called to be priests as well (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:4-5; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:4-6; Revelation 5:9-10; Revelation 20:6).

How would you say we are doing? Will we shine like the stars for ever and ever or do we need a visit from Malachi?