Walking the Talk

Today's Haftorah Reading:
Malachi 1:1-2:7

This haftorah portion is an oracle given by the L-rd to the prophet Malachi. According to The Bible Knowledge Commentary, this oracle was given at a time when the nation of Israel was dominated by foreign governors and in economic hardship.

The passage begins with G-d declaring His love for Israel. He points out that He intentionally chose to bless the line of Jacob (the Israelites) over the line of Esau (the Edomites). Yet as we see in Genesis 1:6 and following, Israel's priests have essentially given G-d a slap in the face by offering blind, lame and otherwise defective animals as sacrifices. Sacrifices were meant to be from the first and best of the flock - an appropriate offering to a holy G-d. By using as offerings the unwanted and leftover animals, the priests were not only profaning G-d's sacrificial system (Gen. 1:11-13) but they were setting a terrible example for all G-d's people as well.

The first three verses of Malachi 2 offer a stern warning to these priests: they are to listen to these words and take them to heart, because if they don't, G-d will turn their blessings into curses. Then the L-rd reminds them of His covenant with Levi and his descendants (Levi was the priestly tribe) and Genesis 2:5-7 describes Levi's relationship with G-d, his reverence and righteousness. Finally, in the last few verses of this reading, G-d explains the heart of the issue:

7 “For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek
instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
8 “But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to
stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the
LORD of hosts.
9 “So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you
are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.*

By treating the L-rd's sacrificial system with such disrespect, by profaning His altar, the priests were not only sinning themselves, they were leading an entire nation astray! Malachi 2:7 makes it clear that those in spiritual leadership positions have an enormous responsibility to reflect the L-rd's righteousness to those whom they lead.

This responsibility did not end with Malachi's generation. From the Rabbi, Pastor or Priest to the humble blogger, all those who endeavor to teach G-d's Word to others must accept the responsibility to live a life of integrity before G-d and man. Does this mean our spiritual leaders should be perfect, should be without sin? Of course not. After all, they're human just like us. But it does mean they have a responsibility to humble themselves before G-d, to seek His will and walk in His ways. And when they do stumble, they have a responsibility to repent, to ask forgiveness and to do what it takes to make things right.

My prayer today is that I would be constantly aware of my responsibility to live a life of integrity. May I be a light to those around me, leading them to truth and not causing them to stumble.

Tomorrow: B'rit Chadashah: Romans 9:1-13


*New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Mal 2:7–9). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.