ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 DECEMBER 30

Aaronic unblessing

Ko e Tapuaki Fehalaaki Faka-’Elone

MALACHI 1:11-12

FOR MY NAME WILL BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS, SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS. BUT YOU PROFANE IT WHEN YOU SAY THAT THE LORD'S TABLE IS POLLUTED, AND ITS FRUIT, THAT IS. ITS FOOD MAY BE DESPISED.

MALAKAI 1:11-12

11 Tala atu, mei he hopo‘anga la‘ā ‘o a‘u ki hono tō‘anga, ‘oku fotu hoku hingoa ‘i he ngaahi pule‘anga, pea ‘i he potu kotoa pē ‘oku ‘atu ‘a e ‘inisēnisi ki hoku hingoa, mo e feilaulau ma‘a: he fotu hoku hingoa ‘i he ngaahi pule‘anga–ko e folofola ia ‘a Sihova Sāpaoti. 12 Ka ko kimoutolu ‘oku mou to‘o hono tapu ‘i ho‘omou pehē, Ko e tēpile ‘o ‘Ātonai ‘oku va‘inga‘aki, pea ko e me‘a ‘oku hiki mei ai, ‘a hono me‘akai, hono sia‘a!

Malachi's rhetorical attack on corrupt priests is razor-sharp rhetorically and biblically ingenious. He takes the language of the Priestly Blessing (Num. 6:23-27) and turns it upside down through a whole series of clever puns. The priests are to put God's name on the people, but they despise it (1:6). Rather than God lifting up his face upon them (1:9), he will smear dung on their faces (2:3). Rather than a blessing, he will send upon them a curse (2:2). Maiachi tells them to "entreat" (chalah) God's favor, but they have "profaned" (chaial) his altar (1:9, 12). The goal of the Priestly Blessing is for the Lord to be gracious (chanan), but in vain (chinnam) the priests kindle fire on the altar (1:9-10). Malachi's sermon might well be titled "The Aaronic Unblessing."

We are not surprised, therefore, when Maiachi says the Messiah will purify and refine the sons of Levi (3:1-4). And so he did. Christ has purified for himself a royal, "holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through" himself (1 Pet. 2:5), to "proclaim the excellencies of him who called (us) out of darkness into his marvelous light" of mercy (v. 9).

Jesus, our great and merciful High Priest, lift up your countenance on us and give us peace.