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"My covenant with Levi"

Text: Malachi 2:4

THE COVENANTS OF GOD

A number of Covenants were mentioned in the Bible. The more famous ones were:

1. Covenant with Abraham Genesis 15, 17

2. Covenant with Israel Exodus 24

3. Covenant with David Psalm 89; 2 Samuel 7

4. Covenant with Levi Malachi 2

THE COVENANT WITH LEVI

Malachi was sent as a prophet to the priests and Levites with strong and stern words.

“‘Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you,
That My covenant with Levi may continue,’
Says the LORD of hosts.”
Malachi 2:4

1. “Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you”

a) This was said that the priests and Levites might know that God was speaking to them through the prophet Malachi.

b) This word was not mere advice.

c) This word was a “commandment” from the LORD of hosts.

2. “That My covenant with Levi may continue”

a) There was a covenant between God and Levi.

b) That covenant was in danger of being abrogated.

c) This word from Malachi must be taken seriously or the Levitical covenant would cease and become obsolete.

AN IMPORTANT MOMENT OF HISTORY

The covenant with Levi may be traced to a moment in Israel’s history (Numbers 25).

1. There was a rising problem of immorality in Israel with the Moabite women.

2. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the high priest, was zealous for the LORD.

He stood for righteousness and faithfulness.

3. God proclaimed a covenant of peace in honour of Phinehas (Numbers 25:12-13).

4. The priests and Levites in post-exilic Israel failed to serve God zealously and righteously.