INTRODUCTION:

    1. God begins by speaking directly to the priests.
        a. We don't have priests, as such, today. Who is he speaking to?
        b. Don't confess our sins to a priest for him to mediate for us -- I Timothy 2:5.
        c. Hebrews 4:14 -- Jesus is our High Priest.
        d. God's Word declares that we, the saved, are priests before God -- Rev. 1:6 ; I Peter 2:5.
            1) Before the Law, heads of households served as priest for the family.
            2) Job sacrificed for his children in case they had sinned -- Job 1:5.
            3) Noah, Abraham, even Cain & Abel offered sacrifices to God.
        e. Then, by application, these verses speak to us.
    2. In the first ten verses of this chapter, God:
        a. Decrees a warning to the priests.
        b. Describes the work of the priests.
        c. Declares the wickedness of the priests.

  I. THE WARNING TO THE PRIESTS -- VV. 1-4.

    A. It Is A Direct Warning -- Vv. 1-2a.
        1. The Lord says, "This commandment is for you."
            a. Notice how plain He is.
            b. No question who He is speaking to.
        2. The nature of sheep & the Word of God.
            a. Have to point sheep to pasture.
            b. Sometimes have to say, "This is for you."
        3. Illus. -- Ever have to get your child's attention?
            a. "Look at me. Listen to me."
            b. This is what God is doing with us.
            c. "I'm talking to YOU!"
        4. What are we supposed to do with the commandment?
            a. Vs. 2 -- We are to hear (w/idea of obeying) it.
            b. Vs. 2 -- We are to "lay it to heart" (take it to heart).

    B. It Is A Described Warning -- Vv. 2-4.
        1. These verses warn of God's judgment if we do not hear and take the commandment to
            heart. He will:
            a. Curse the blessings (yea, has cursed them already).
                1) Take away the blessings.
                2) Turn things which had been a blessing to a curse.
            b. Corrupt the seed.
                1) Because of lack of dedication, children not faithful to the Lord.
                2) Lamentations 5:7.
            c. Condemn their faces.
                1) Refusal to accept their worship.
                2) Notice vs. 13 ; see 1:7-8, 10.
                3) "Even the dung of your solemn feasts" -- Their failed worship would condemn them.
        2. Vs. 4 -- "Ye shall know that I have sent this commandment."
            a. He's not going to leave any doubt who is in charge, who is to be obeyed.
            b. Rev. 2:22-23 -- Thyatira/Jezebel.
            c. Acts 5:11 -- God is serious about church & worship (even if we aren't).
        3. God's warning to us is that we better hear His Word and heed His Word and honor
            His Word with our obedience.

 II. THE WORK OF THE PRIESTS -- VV. 5-7.
       Speaks of:

    A. Their Reverence.
         1. "For the fear wherewith he feared me."  "Was afraid before my name."
         2. Proverbs 9:10 -- "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
         3. One reason the saved aren't dedicated to God is lack of reverential fear.
             a. Come into worship services and do everything but worship God.
                 1) Daydream, plan the week, or Sunday lunch.
                 2) Find other things "more interesting."
             b. "Never speak God's name casually, for it is holy."
         4. Exodus 20:7 -- God's name is special.
             a. "Take it in vain" in ways other than cursing.
             b. Can do it individually, or as a church.

    B. Their Righteousness -- Vs. 6.
         1. "Law of truth was in his mouth."
             a. Loved God's truth. Proclaimed God's truth. "Protected" God's truth.
             b. Have so many today that profess to be His but don't love His truth enough to
                 stand for it.
             c. Also tells us he knew God's truth.
                1) Can't know it without loving it.
                2) Can't love it without knowing it.
           2. "Iniquity was not found in his lips."
               a. Not only proclaimed the truth, but refused to promote (speak) error.
               b. Psalm 119:104, 128 -- If you love the truth, you'll hate error (as the psalmist did).
               c. Can't we accept just a little false doctrine? NO!
           3. "He walked with me in peace and equity."
               a. Indicates fellowship.
               b. EQUITY = concord, uprightness, straightness.
           4. He "did turn many from iniquity."
               a. He was a faithful witness.
               b. He was concerned about others.
               c. Notice the pre-requisites to being a witness.
                  1) Reverence God --> love His Word --> hating error --> fellowship -->
                      evangelistic.
                  2) See why most don't witness today.

    C.  Their Responsibility -- Vs. 7.
          1. Keep knowledge.
              a. This is the right kind of knowledge -- godly knowledge.
              b. Where does godly wisdom begin? Fear of the Lord.
              c. Speaks of the responsibility to know God's Word. Can't know it without spending
                  time in it.
                 1) So many today are Missionary Baptists without knowing why.
                 2) Has led to a weakening of MB churches.
                 3) Don't see any difference between us and others.
              d. Keep knowledge means know it, hold it, share it.
          2. Others should be able to depend upon us for the truth.
               a. "They should seek the Law at his mouth."
               b. Who did the people bring their spiritual questions to? The priests.
               c. Should have a reputation for knowing God and His Word so well people bring
                   their questions to us.
           3. Why such responsibility?
               a. "For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts."
                   1) II Cor. 5:20 -- We are ambassadors for Christ.
                   2) John 15:16 -- Jesus chose us.
                   3) Eph. 2:10 -- (WORKMANSHIP = [poiema] epic poem.)
                   4) We are to show & share with the world what God can do with a repentant sinner.
               b. With whom does the responsibility of witnessing lie? Preachers only? All believers!

III. THE WICKEDNESS OF THE PRIESTS -- VV. 8-9.

    A. Their Practice -- Vs. 8.
         1. "Ye have departed out of the way."
             a. The way of truth.
             b. The way of faithfulness.
             c. The way of righteousness (purity). [Many times, as God's people, we will be just as
                 unrighteous as the world's expectations will let us be.]
         2. "Ye have caused many to stumble at the Law."
             a. What happens when we depart from God's way? We cause others to stumble.
             b. Romans 14:13 ; Gal. 5:13 ; I Cor. 8:9 -- warnings against being a stumbling-block.
             c. II Sam. 12:13-14 -- Our sin gives occasion to the enemies of God.
         3. "Ye have corrupted the covenant . . . "
             a. CORRUPTED = ruin, destroy, pervert; to make good for nothing.
             b. Have many who have corrupted their covenant.
                 1) With God.
                     a)  When saved probably made promises to Him.
                     b)  If Jesus was no more than a "fire escape" to you, I wonder if you are truly saved.
                 2) With the church (Church Covenant).
             c. Matt. 28:19-20 -- "Lo, I am with you" comes after "go."

    B. Their Punishment -- Vs. 9.
         1. "Therefore" -- refers to their practice.
         2. "I have made you contemptible and base."
             a. CONTEMPTIBLE = despised.
             b. BASE = vile, low.
             c. "Before all the people."
         3. What is the attitude of the world toward the Lord's churches today.
             a. French want to declare SBC a dangerous cult. (If think that of them, what about us?)
             b. Why do so many say there are too many hypocrites in the church?
             c. The world recognizes our hypocrisy whether we do or not!
         4. "According as ye have not kept my ways."
             a. "I'll treat you as you have treated Me."
             b. "I'll give you what you deserve." (I Pet. 4:17).
             c. "Have been partial in the Law." (PARTIAL = "lifted up the face against.")

  CONCLUSION:

    1. Don't want to leave it right here.
    2. Vs. 10 -- God asks them some questions; pleads for their obedience to Him.
    3. Equates "profaning the covenant" with dealing treachously with others.
    4. When we fail to live for God and speak for Him, we short change those about us.
    5. I Cor. 4:7 -- Close with a series of questions Paul asked the church at Corinth.
        a. Aren't we all recepients of God's grace?
        b. Then, why are we so reluctant to share this grace with others?
        c. Someone "took a chance" (that you'd laugh, ridicule, etc, them) and shared the Gospel
            with us. Why won't we do the same?