Malachi:2

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* And now , O ye (note :)He speaks mainly to them , but under them he includes the people also .(:note ) priests , this commandment [is ] for you . * If ye will not hear , and if ye will not lay [it ] to heart , to give glory (note :)To serve me according to my word .(:note ) unto my name , saith the LORD of hosts , I will even send a curse upon you , and I will curse your That is , the abundance of God 's benefits . blessings : yea , I have cursed them already , because ye do not lay [it ] to heart . * Behold , I will corrupt (note :)The seed you sow will come to no profit .(:note ) your seed , and spread dung upon your faces , [even ] the You boast of your holiness , sacrifices , and feasts , but they will turn to your shame and be as vile as dung . dung of your solemn feasts ; and [one ] shall take you away with it . * And ye shall know that I have (note :)The Priests objected against the Prophet that he could not remove them without speaking against the priesthood , and the office established by God by promise . But he shows that the office is nothing slandered , when these villains and dung are called by their own names .(:note ) sent this commandment unto you , that my covenant might be with Levi , saith the LORD of hosts . * My (note :)He shows what were the two conditions of the covenant made with the tribe of Levi on God 's part , that he would give them long life and felicity , and on their part , that they should faithfully serve him according to his word .(:note ) covenant was with him of life and peace ; and I I commanded Levi a certain law to serve me . gave them to him [for ] the fear wherewith he feared me , and was afraid before He served me and set forth my glory with all humility and submission . my name . * The law of (note :)He shows that the priests ought to have knowledge to instruct others in the word of the Lord .(:note ) truth was in his mouth , and iniquity was not found in his lips : he walked with me in peace and equity , and did turn many away from iniquity . * For the priest 's (note :)He is as the treasure house of God 's word , and ought to give to everyone according to their need , and not to reserve it for himself .(:note ) lips should keep knowledge , and they should seek the law at his mouth : for he [is ] the Showing that whoever does not declare God 's will , is not his messenger , and priest . messenger of the LORD of hosts . * But yee are gone out of the way : yee haue caused many to fall by the Lawe : yee haue broken the couenant of Leui , sayeth the Lord of hostes . * Therefore haue I also made you to be despised , and vile before all the people , because yee kept not my wayes , but haue beene partiall in the Lawe . * Have we not all one (note :)The Prophet accuses the ingratitude of the Jews toward God and man : for seeing they were all born of one father Abraham , as God had elected them to be his holy people , they ought neither to offend God nor their brethren .(:note ) father ? hath not one God created us ? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother , by profaning the covenant of By which they had bound themselves to God to be a holy people . our fathers ? * Judah hath dealt treacherously , and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem ; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved , and hath married the (note :)They have united themselves in marriage with those that are of another religion .(:note ) daughter of a strange god . * The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this , the master and the scholar , out of the tabernacles of Jacob , and him that (note :)That is , the priest .(:note ) offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts . * And this have ye done again , (note :)Yet cause the people to lament , because God does not regard their sacrifices , so that they seem to sacrifice in vain .(:note ) covering the altar of the LORD with tears , with weeping , and with crying out , insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more , or receiveth [it ] with good will at your hand . * Yet ye say , (note :)This is another fault , of which he accuses them , that is , that they broke the laws of marriage .(:note ) Wherefore ? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth , against whom thou hast dealt treacherously : yet [is ] she thy As the one half of yourself . companion , and the wife of thy She that was united to you by a solemn covenant , and by the invocation of God 's name . covenant . * And did not (note :)Did not God make man and woman as one flesh and not many ?(:note ) he make one ? Yet had he the By his power and strength he could have made many women for one man . residue of the spirit . And wherefore one ? That he might seek a godly Those who should be born in lawful and moderate marriage , in which is no excess of lusts . seed . Therefore take heed to your Contain yourselves within your bounds , and be sober in mind , and bridle your affections . spirit , and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth . * For the LORD , the God of Israel , saith that he (note :)Not that he allows divorce , but of two faults he shows which is the less .(:note ) hateth putting away : for [one ] covereth He thinks it sufficient to keep his wife still , even though he takes others , and so as it were covers his fault . violence with his garment , saith the LORD of hosts : therefore take heed to your spirit , that ye deal not treacherously . * Ye have (note :)You murmur against God , because he did not hear you as soon as you called .(:note ) wearied the LORD with your words . Yet ye say , Wherein have we wearied [him ]? When ye say , Every one that doeth In thinking that God favoured the wicked , and had no respect for those that serve him . evil [is ] good in the sight of the LORD , and he delighteth in them ; or , Where [is ] the God of Thus they blasphemed God in condemning his power and justice , because he did not judge according to their imaginings . judgment ?

---