THE SONS OF LEVI

THE SONS OF LEVI

There are some wonderful words of hope and encouragement in the book of Malachi. He was a Prophet of the last days, and what he wrote pertains to us who are living today.

Let's look at a portion of his message, with some added emphasis on my part, for I believe God is trying to tell us something here.

Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

We sometimes get the impression that when he writes about the sons of Levi, he is meaning the Levitical priesthood. But such is not necessarily the case.

Look at Isaiah 66:21 And I will also take of them for priests [and] for Levites, saith the LORD.

Isaiah was speaking of a group of people, who "tremble at My Word" (vs 2), and were not mentioned as being of the tribe of Levi.

What does it mean to tremble at the Word of the Lord? Whatever it means, there will be a people who qualify for the category.

It is doubtful if their qualifications are based as much on the sovereignty of God as on their response to the Word of God. Our response is very crucial.

I wonder sometimes, if we should not be more diligent in seeking the face of God for an inward purification, rather than going after material prosperity. One endures-- the other will perish.

What does it mean to "offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness?"