OAKRIDGE BIBLE CHAPEL

Priestly Failure and Covenantal Unfaithfulness (Malachi 2:1–16)

In the Fall of 2021, the Adult Sunday School class at Oakridge began working our way through the book of Malachi. What follows are the notes developed for, used in, and clarified by our weekly morning studies. Recordings of the sessions are also provided.

EXPOSITIONAL NOTES

Oracle #2: Dishonouring God’s Name (1:6–2:9)

A. The Disobedience of the Priests (1:6–14)

B. A Warning for the Priests (2:1–9)

v. 2 “Curse your blessings,” i.e., dry up the supply from which the priests received their portions

Remember that divine blessing for obedience and cursing for disobedience are fundamental OT themes (Deut 27:15–26; 28:15–68; Psa 1); The priests, those who were supposed to represent God’s people before God, guard the covenant, and lead the people in the pursuit of holiness, had, in Malachi’s day, abandoned obedience and, thus, were leading the people down the same road

v. 3 “Offspring,” Could refer to the descendants of the priests, i.e., they would be removed from the priesthood, or the seed of what was offered to God, i.e., a reference to mass draught which would directly effect those in Levi’s tribe 

“Refuse,” That which is normally burned outside the camp (Exo 29:14) is used as a graphic image to describe the level of disgrace unfaithful priests deserved; Essentially, God is telling them that if they despise their priestly office to the point their actions make it seem they do, then he will make them so unclean they’ll be forced to leave the camp all together

vv. 4–6 “With Levi,” The priestly arrangement with Levi (Num 1:50; 3:44–48; 18:8–24; Deut 33:8–11) was one of mutual responsibility—reverent worship direct to God in exchange for life and peace from God (v. 5)

vv. 7–9 “For the lips of a priest,” One of the main functions of the Levitical priesthood was to teach Israel (Lev 10:9–11; Deut 33:10; Ezra 7:10; Hos 4:6), but the current group had failed to faithfully carry out this task; “Partiality in instruction,” Christians are warned against this same wrong in Jas 2:1–13

For our consideration: Are we doing what we’re called to do in the manner we’re called to do it? Are there times that Christians today exercise too much liberty in how we carry out our divinely mandated tasks?

Oracle #3: Profaning God’s Covenant (2:10–16)

This section is another rebuke of the people of Israel by God and is bracketed by references to “treacherous” dealings (vv. 10, 16), pointing to the betrayal that is covenant-breaking; The two examples given are that of marrying foreign women and divorcing Jewish women

A. Through Mixed Marriages (2:10–12)

v. 10 “One father,” Though God is the father of all (Acts 17:29; Eph 3:14–15), here the reference is to the fact that he is father of Israel as his covenant people (Exo 4:22; Isa 63:16; Jer 2:27); “Covenant of our fathers,” Looking to Mount Sinai

v. 11 “An abomination,” Though marriage with non-Israelites violated the covenant relationship God had with the Jews and was prohibited because it led to apostasy (Exo 34:14–16; Deut 7:3–4; Josh 23:12–13; 1 Kgs 11:1–6), the priests had begun this practice, leading the people of God in the same erroneous direction

“Daughter of a foreign god,” Marrying foreign women who brought with them foreign gods was essentially marrying another religion (Ezra 9:1–2; Neh 13:23–28; Jer 2:27) and violating the promise and purpose of a separate people (Exo 19:5; 24:8; 34:14–16; Lev 20:24, 26; Deut 7:1–4)

For our consideration: What is the danger of marriages of mixed-faith, mix-allegiances, or even mixed-maturity levels? What’s at stake (2 Cor 6:14)? 

v. 12 “Cut off,” To kill, destroy, or end evil doers; “Awakes and answers,” Proverbial statement referring to two an active watcher who wakes others to reality and a passive hearer who answers

B. Through Ended Marriages (2:13–16)

v. 13 “Cover the altar with tears,” Perhaps speaking to the priests, primarily, as only they had access to the altar of God, emphasizing the hypocrisy of their heartbreak over unaccepted offerings; Could also be referring to men who, after divorcing their Israelite wives to marry pagans, found their offerings no longer received by the Lord

vv. 13–15 “For what reason?,” The people were distraught at their offerings not being acceptable and yet were unwilling to see the seriousness of divorce, a covenant-breaking action (Gen 31:50; Prov 2:17) witnessed by God himself

v. 15 “Godly offspring,” Marriage sanctifies children (1 Cor 7:14)

v. 16 “Hate divorce,” A different Hebrew word than used in 1:3; Whereas the law conceded and regulated it (Matt 5:32; 19:3–12; 1 Cor 7:10–16), God’s feelings toward it are clear (1:3; Hos 9:15)

“Covers his garment with wrong,” The garment, being a symbol of protection (Ruth 3:9; Ezek 16:8), has been polluted and/or removed from the wife and, thus, divorce is a violent and cruel social crime, treachery against her and against the marriage covenant; Divorce breaks hearts, destroys relationship, violates familial integrity, hurts the well-being of children, and puts national future in jeopardy

For our consideration: In what ways is the institution of marriage under attack in our current cultural climate? What about in the church? What are the potential negative effects of such disobedience?

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Jim Rennie is an elder at Oakridge Bible Chapel and an occasional speaker. He is a medical doctor with Christian counselling practice. Shortly after graduation from medical school he and his wife, Kathy, spent 14 years in Zambia as medical missionaries.

Jim Rennie

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