Across the world, in every nation, leaders are despised for corruption. This reaction is nearly universal regardless of the nation. We might say the reason for this is because of a universal moral code from God. This is evidentiary in that, though a man may not believe in the God of Heaven, he still holds that corruption and cheating are immoral. The Bible has many passages that concern dealing faithfully with one another. Leviticus 19:13 reads, “You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.” Moreover, Jesus reaffirmed that the second greatest command is to love one's neighbor (cf. Matt 22:39). When one fails to heed the first commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt 22:37), then we find corruption to be the norm. In the days of Malachi, Jehovah spoke to Israel, pointing out how corrupt priests did not just hurt themselves but everyone.
Corrupt Leaders Are Cursed and A Curse to the People (Mal 2:1-4)
Malachi announced another grievance against the priests of Judah alone in these first few verses of chapter 2. The priests were obligated by their work to give honor to God’s name. When they failed to do this, a curse was going to follow. The Lord presents that they, as individuals, would be cursed. In fact, they were cursed already. We must take into account how they were cursed. Their blessing or prosperity was cursed.
The book of Deuteronomy explains that God intended to bless Israel, but it was predicated on their fidelity to the covenant. Those blessings were recounted in Deuteronomy 28:1-14, and the curses for infidelity were explained in Deuteronomy 27:14-26; 28:15-68. Just a look at those passages will show that God was very serious about the faithfulness of his people. The curse on the corrupt priests came from an unserious heart. This rebuke would continue to the descendants of the priests.
Jehovah warned that He would spread refuse on their faces. This should have gotten their attention if He hadn’t already since it meant something more than just putting excrement on their faces. Exodus 29:14 and Leviticus 4:12 talk about how the animal refuse, or dung, was to be removed from the sacrifice and taken outside of the camp. Picture this: the corrupt priests, who were clothed in fantastic garments when serving, would have dung spread on their faces. Thus making them unclean and unable to perform their job. Moreover, they would be humiliated, and God even says that they will be carried away with it; in other words, they would be disposed of as the dung was. It is worthy of note that God is not going to do this privately, but rather the shame will be seen as He will spread refuse on their feasts, when everyone is gathered together.
Now, I know that this really seems disgusting, and we don’t like speaking of these things in polite company. Perhaps we have forgotten the serious nature of sin. Why do we not view sin like God does, like a rotting sewage dump that smells for miles around? God explained here that His intent was for them to know that this commandment was sent to them and that the covenant with Levi would continue. A harsh rebuke was intended to wake a reprobate priesthood up to turn back to doing the things that had been done before.
A Corruption From What Once Was (Mal 2:5-9)
Remember that these are not people who had never been in covenant with God; this priesthood was not corrupt from the start. They knew what God had done, what He would do, and what He expected. God reminded them that the covenant was intended to be one of life and peace. He had said as much in Deut. 28:1-2
Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God.
God gave them the law for them so that they might live a life in obedience and peace with him. It was given, and the priests once feared the Lord and revered His name. By their corrupting influence, they had profaned worship as described in Malachi 1. At one point, the priests were a people that were dedicated to the law of truth; they had indeed observed all the commandments carefully. If men would commit themselves to that, then corruption would not even be a problem among the people of God.
One of the things that many individuals cannot stand (and rightfully so) is when a person is found to be committing fraud or embezzlement (especially when it comes to a non-profit or religious organization). It is my prayer that embezzlement is never the case in the Lord’s church in any location. The only way for this not to be an option is to be people who remain faithful to the covenant we have entered into. Injustice dies when men reflect the character of the Author of Justice. It has no place here. Rather, a priest must be determined to do justice and keep knowledge.
Yes, a priest must have the ability to speak the knowledge of God to those who come seeking His Law. A corrupt leader cannot hope to dispense that knowledge justly and with credibility if his practices detract from the message. God called them out as ones who had departed from His ways, and in turn, because of their partiality, He would make them a subject of contempt.
So what can the New Testament learn from this study? Corruption reeks; it is an anathema to all peoples, governments, and organizations. In the church, we must recognize that this goes beyond the elders, preachers, etc. We all must be people dedicated to truth and justice. Why so? The Bible declares us to be a royal priesthood.
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
(1 Peter 2:9-10)
He has made us kings and priests (cf. Rev 1:6, 5:10). So with this great blessing comes great responsibility. We cannot treat that which is holy as profane. We must be serious people dedicated to our work in the kingdom (cf. Matt 28:19-20). We must deal justly and never cheat our fellow man, but love our neighbor as ourselves (cf. Matt 22:36-40). The world will be quick to know what corruption looks like. The righteous must reflect the character of our Just and Holy God.
