1. MALACHI SERIES 3: GOD’S FIRST CHARGE OF SIN (1:6-2:9) I. GOD’S LOVE FOR JACOB (1:1-5) II. GOD’S FIRST CHARGE OF SIN (1:6-2:9) A. THE SIN OF THE PRIESTS (1:6-14) B. THE CHASTENING OF THE PRIESTS (2:1-9) 1. The Threat of Curse (vv. 1-3) 2. The Reminder of Covenant (vv. 4-9)

2. a. The character of the covenant (vv. 4-5) b. The character of the messenger (vv. 6-7) c. The contrast of the priests (vv. 8-9) b. The character of the messenger (vv. 6-7) b. The character of the messenger (vv. 6-7)  Read Mal 2:6-7.

3.  One use of God’s covenant with Israel was to provide a teaching tool. ~ For Israel a foundational element of that covenant was knowing what it was to be the people of God.  Read Mal 2:6a, 7.  Priests were responsible to teach the law of Moses (see Lev 10:11). ~ The priest was the regular teacher and explainer of the Law. ~ law of Moses = law of God

4. ~ That is why the priest taught the people the truths of the law in all its fullness and nothing else and nothing less. ~ This is also meant that truth characterized the speech of the priest.  Read Mal 2:7a. ~ One of the most effective ways to “preserve knowledge” is to teach it.

5. ~ To “preserve knowledge” is also to guard it, and another effective way to do this is to keep it, best done by hiding God’s Word away in one’s heart and mind (Ps 119:11). ~ To hide the Word in our hearts is not only to memorize it but to meditate on it (Josh 1:8; Ps 119:15). ~ To meditate on God’s word implies studying it with the purpose of seeing how to obey it and how to apply it in our lives.

6.  Read Mal 2:7b. ~ On the part of the people, this must be a purposeful searching (cf. 1Ki 10:24; Amos 8:12). ~ And the priest should be one from whom God’s people would be inspired to seek counsel and instruction, especially from God’s Word. ~ This was because “… he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.” ~ This was because “… he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.”

7.  As “the messenger of the Lord of hosts,” the priest was the bearer and channel of God’s message to the people. ~ As such he represented God to the people. ~ That’s why ministers are called “ambassadors of Christ” (2Cor 5:20).  Read Mal 2:6b.  The priest was not only to teach by precept but also by example.

8. ~ His life was to be the expression of His walk with God, his relationship with God. ~ And the character of that walk was that of “peace and uprightness”. ~ To “walk with God” means to live in full consistency and harmony with what God has taught in His Word, and peace is the result of “walking with God”. ~ To “walk with God” means to live in full consistency and harmony with what God has taught in His Word, and peace is the result of “walking with God”.

9. ~ But this expression is used sparingly in the Bible to refer only to those who had an unusually close communion or fellowship with God.  Modeling as a teaching tool. ~ WE TEACH BY OUR WORDS, BUT WE ALSO TEACH BY OUR LIVES. ~ Too often our message becomes garbled because our life gets in the way: “I can’t hear you because I see you.”

10. ~ It is through living rightly rather than just mouthing the right words that people are drawn away from lives of sin.  Read Mal 2:6c. ~ As a result of this obedient lifestyle, “many” completely turned back from their own sinful lifestyles. ~ Man’s repentance is most precious to God who is both holy and gracious (cf. Mic 7:18-19).

11. ~ This is why God’s priests must carefully watch and guard their walk and their testimony since God often uses these to convict people’s hearts and draw them to Him.  What an honor to God’s servants to be called and used as His messengers!  The need for true servants of God who will study and present God’s Word thoughtfully, diligently and faithfully is no less desperate in our own day.

12. ~ THE GOAL OF ALL FAITHFUL PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD IS TO LEAD SINNERS TO REPENTANCE – TO TURN “MANY BACK FROM INIQUITY” (v. 6d) AND “TURN MANY TO RIGHTEOUS- NESS” (DAN 12:3) – AND TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE THE FAITHFUL TO DEEPER DEVOTION AND GREATER HOLINESS.