Malachi 2:7-9 Part 1 of 3

"The words of a priest's lips should preserve knowledge of God, and people should go to him for instruction, for the priest is the messenger of the LORD of Heaven's Armies. But you priests have left God's paths. Your instructions have caused many to stumble into sin. You have corrupted the covenant I made with the Levites," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "So I have made you despised and humiliated in the eyes of all the people. For you have not obeyed me but have shown favoritism in the way you carry out my instructions."

"The words of a priest's lips should preserve knowledge of God,"

Jeremiah 2:8  "The priests did not ask, 'Where is the LORD?' Those who taught my word ignored me, and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal, wasting their time on worthless idols." (see verses 1-13)

Jeremiah 5:11-12  "The people of Israel and Judah are full of treachery against me," says the LORD. "They have lied about the LORD and said, 'He won't bother us! No disasters will come upon us. There will be no war or famine.' " (see verses 11-19)

Jeremiah 8:8  " 'How can you say, "We are wise because we have the word of the LORD," when your teachers have twisted it by writing lies?' " (see verses 4-17)

"and people should go to him for instruction," 

Leviticus 10:11  "And you must teach the Israelites all the decrees that the LORD has given them through Moses." (see verses 8-11)

Numbers 27:21  "When direction from the LORD is needed, Joshua will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will use the Urim--one of the sacred lots to cast before the LORD--to determine his will. This is how Joshua and the rest of the community of Israel will determine everything they should do." (see verses 15-23)

2 Chronicles 36:14-16  Likewise, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful. They followed all the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, desecrating the Temple of the LORD that had been consecrated in Jerusalem. The LORD, the God of their ancestors, repeatedly sent his prophets to warn them, for he had compassion on his people and his Temple. But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words. They scoffed at the prophets until the LORD's anger could no longer be restrained and nothing could be done. (see verses 1-21)

 

(parentheses are mine)

 

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Limited to 15 verses per post.