7 “Fora the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; bFor he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
8 But you have departed from the way; You ahave caused many to stumble at the law. bYou have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” Says the Lord of hosts.
9 “Therefore aI also have made you contemptible and base Before all the people, Because you have not kept My ways But have shown bpartiality in the law.”
Treachery of Infidelity
10aHave we not all one Father? bHas not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another By profaning the covenant of the fathers?
11 Judah has dealt treacherously, And an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, For Judah has aprofaned The Lord’s holy institution which He loves: He has married the daughter of a foreign god.
12 May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob The man who does this, being1 awake and aware, Yet awho brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!
13 And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the Lord with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands.
14 Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been witness Between you and athe wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; bYet she is your companion And your wife by covenant.
15 But adid He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks bgodly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.
16 “For athe Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.”
17aYou have wearied the Lord with your words; Yet you say, “In what way have we wearied Him?” In that you say, b“Everyone who does evil Is good in the sight of the Lord, And He delights in them,” Or, “Where is the God of justice?”
Therefore have I also made you contemptible - The people despised you because they saw that you acted contrary to your functions. This has happened repeatedly since, to several classes of priests. Not maintaining, by purity of life and soundness of doctrine, the dignity of the ministerial function, they became contemptible before the people; their meager preaching was disregarded, and their persons at last cast out as a general loathing to the universe! See what happened to the truly abominable priesthood of France and Rome 1796-8. They were the sole cause of that infidelity that brought about the revolution. They are now partially restored; and are endeavouring to supply by grimace, paltry superstition, and jesuitical cunning, what they want in purity of morals, soundness of doctrine, and unction from God. They must mend, or look for another revolution. Mankind will no longer put up with the chaff of puerile and fanatical ceremonies in place of the wheat of God' s word and worship.
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