Malachi was the last of the 12 minor prophets. He condemned Jews who divorced so as to marry foreign women.
Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god (Malachi 2:11).
Therefore, his prophetic ministry probably took place in the time of Nehemiah. It was a colonial time without kings. Judah was only a province of Persia, a foreign power. Priests held the highest authority under colonial rule. But could priests be immune to corruption?
Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god (Malachi 2:11).
Therefore, his prophetic ministry probably took place in the time of Nehemiah. It was a colonial time without kings. Judah was only a province of Persia, a foreign power. Priests held the highest authority under colonial rule. But could priests be immune to corruption?
Ideally speaking, priests were men of God. God appointed them to govern the people since the era of judges and kings was over. They had the responsibility to listen carefully to God, guard His revelation with devotion and explain it faithfully to the people. When the people did not know what to do, they should seek instruction from the priests and obeyed them with respect because priests were messengers of God. Even if the people thought they knew what to do, they should also make sure that their actions were not contrary to the teachings of the priests.
True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.
For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts (Malachi 2:6-7).
Therefore, under normal condition, when priests spoke, it was as if God was speaking. They were the soul, the conscience of the people, turning people away from iniquity. If they were wrong, the whole people would perish. Due to such grave demands on them, what psychological qualities were required of priests?
My covenant with him (Levi) was a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him, that he might fear; and he feared me, he stood in awe of my name(Malachi 2:5).
God is the God of life and peace. He would give the people such blessings. Priests were the middle men. They were the interface between a powerful God and a stiff-necked people. Of course, they feared. It was impossible to please both sides. They had to take side. If they sided with God. They should stood in awe of God though they might be unpopular among men. If they sided with men, they would extract a lot of advantages from the people in the name of God. Then they said yes to whatever the people asked in order to please them. Siding with men seemed a better option. Then priests became corrupt.
But what if priests really became corrupt? Who would challenge them, unmark them? In the Jewish context, prophets.
At the end of time, the last prophet sent by God would be Elijah.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.
And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse (Malachi 4:5-6 RSV, 3:23-24 MT).
While the Jews are still waiting for Elijah to come, Christians have long ago interpreted this Elijah to be John the Baptist (Matthew 17:13). John the Baptist was the last spokesman of God because in Jesus, God speaks directly to us.
True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.
For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts (Malachi 2:6-7).
Therefore, under normal condition, when priests spoke, it was as if God was speaking. They were the soul, the conscience of the people, turning people away from iniquity. If they were wrong, the whole people would perish. Due to such grave demands on them, what psychological qualities were required of priests?
My covenant with him (Levi) was a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him, that he might fear; and he feared me, he stood in awe of my name(Malachi 2:5).
God is the God of life and peace. He would give the people such blessings. Priests were the middle men. They were the interface between a powerful God and a stiff-necked people. Of course, they feared. It was impossible to please both sides. They had to take side. If they sided with God. They should stood in awe of God though they might be unpopular among men. If they sided with men, they would extract a lot of advantages from the people in the name of God. Then they said yes to whatever the people asked in order to please them. Siding with men seemed a better option. Then priests became corrupt.
But what if priests really became corrupt? Who would challenge them, unmark them? In the Jewish context, prophets.
At the end of time, the last prophet sent by God would be Elijah.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.
And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse (Malachi 4:5-6 RSV, 3:23-24 MT).
While the Jews are still waiting for Elijah to come, Christians have long ago interpreted this Elijah to be John the Baptist (Matthew 17:13). John the Baptist was the last spokesman of God because in Jesus, God speaks directly to us.
Nowadays, the situation has totally changed. People do not seek instruction from men of God because many people do not believe in God anymore. There are other forms of authority. People solve their problems and increase their convenience and comfort through science and technology. They uphold scientists to ward off the ghost of God. In ancient times, governments sought mandate from God. Now, they coerce their subjects with gun barrels, manipulate their opinions with propaganda and deliberately omit God from their constitutions and laws. Priests, bishops and popes are relegated to celebrants of rituals. People close their ears to the moral teachings of the Church.
If modern people need priests to fill the void in their hearts created by the lack of life and peace promised by God, they would consecrate scientists, politicians and media gurus to do the task. But will the gods behind these gurus be capable to bring them life and peace? No, gods do not exist. The gurus themselves will be their solutions. The question has changed into whether these gurus, who are themselves flesh and blood, will be able to fill the void. I know no answer to this question.
If modern people need priests to fill the void in their hearts created by the lack of life and peace promised by God, they would consecrate scientists, politicians and media gurus to do the task. But will the gods behind these gurus be capable to bring them life and peace? No, gods do not exist. The gurus themselves will be their solutions. The question has changed into whether these gurus, who are themselves flesh and blood, will be able to fill the void. I know no answer to this question.
Dear Lord, this was written after the Chinese dissident, Mr. Liu Xiao Bo, was sentenced to 11 years in jail on Christmas. The sentencing is a disgrace to the Chinese government and a disrespect to You, the Prince of Peace. You have already sent all Your prophets. What other trump cards do You have in hand? Are You going to China Yourself to set the dissidents free? Or You have already substituted these dissidents instead and wait for Christians to visit You? Merry Christmas, Chinese Communist Party.
No comments:
Post a Comment