The Messenger

UV 1236/10,000 The Messenger
For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 2 v 7


The covenant of Levi is the covenant of the one who is called to be a priest. Every believer has a priestly calling and a kingly calling. As a priest of the Most High God, he should covenant with his lips to make the fruits of his lips or his words pleasing to God. He should use words in such a way as to preserve and enhance knowledge. There are different kinds of knowledge-the knowledge of self that Socrates highlighted and focused on, the knowledge of the world that is highlighted and focused on in the institutions of the modern world, the knowledge of profession is focused on by various professionals, the knowledge of the Word that is highlighted and emphasized by St Paul and the apostles. The priest focuses on preserving the knowledge of God and of His Word. He makes known the ways of God by teaching the Word. He does not shy away from the knowledge of self and knowledge of the world but he relates it to the knowledge of the Word and knowledge of God. For instance, Socrates said that knowing self is the essence of knowledge while the Psalmist David wrote that God ‘s knowledge of us is so deep and great that He knows our every thought and every word and even if we go to the depth of the sea we cannot escape from His gaze. This implies that even to know our selves, our professions or our world, the knowledge of God is helpful and vital.

The laws of God contained in His Word are the filters through which we send our thoughts and words. Since the Word says that lying is unacceptable to God, we cannot allow lies or false promises to come forth from our lips. Only truth should depart or issue from our mouths. Since profanities and swear words defile our mouths, such things should not emanate from our lips. About Ezra the priest it is written that he sought the law of the Lord, he did it or obeyed it and he taught it. The man of God should consistently seek the law of the Lord and he should live according to it and he should try to make other people also understand the word of God.

We need to perceive ourselves as messengers of God, the Lord of the armies of heaven, the mighty King, the everlasting Father. We should realize that as witnesses and messengers of God we are being watched all the time by the world. We need to speak and teach the Word with boldness, authenticity, authority and accuracy. The content has to be delivered in context. Our individual stlyes and gifts of communication come into play only with regard to how we present the message from the Lord. We need to realize that we are not speaking or teaching on our own behalf but that our authority is derived from the Lord. The words we speak influence people and increase their knowledge of who God is and brings them into right relationship with Him. We need to teach many people the truths, principles and precepts that are derivatives from the Word. We bring a message of hope and salvation and not of condemnation to the people. It should inspire in them faith and love for God and His Word.

Prateep V Philip