2:6
This is in some ways a difficult verse to handle. It could be taken as referring to Moses, in which case it would have some meaning. Or it could be referring to an idealised picture of the Levitical priesthood and its purpose, which was to instruct the people in the ways of God. In doing so, it would certainly have taught life giving truth to many, and turned them away from sin. This would be in stark contrast to the current batch of priests.
2:7,8
We have here what a priest is meant to be like, and a similar description applies to all teachers and preachers today. We are there to preserve knowledge of God and His ways. We are meant to be the messengers of God. Our task is not to deliver our own words, but to deliver God’s words. And so when people come to listen to us they do so in order to hear the word of God, not the thoughts of men. But instead of being like this the priests had failed utterly, and many preachers today fail utterly. This happens when a preacher or teacher turns away from God to their own way. Oh, we need to watch ourselves most carefully. If we do fall away like this, then one of the consequences is that we cause others to fall as well. We have an awesome responsibility. And if do stop preaching God’s word then we have violated God’s covenant.
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