The Fallen

For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

Malachi 2:7-9

Perhaps you haven't met a whole lot of crooked people. Then again, it's not like they go and just put themselves out for hire. Instead, it's a slow creep that follows evil's natural progression. Then before you know it, you're in over your heads. That is where it all starts, with the mouth of the Lord. Remember his being made unto us wisdom. That's knowledge of what to say, how to do, and where to walk right there. Nor is wisdom just a license unto foolishness as some would like to think. You know how some of you do. Some of you would have thrown out the baby and bathwater too were it not for the Lord. Somebody tell me what we ought to do. I have a feeling we rather ought to go inquire of the Lord, at least most of us should if you're being perfectly honest. Is that not though what God has made you to do. Remember your purpose in creation, that of being sent forth for the glory of God. How closely the Levite's call mirrors that of the angels, fashioned into his ministers. What would it look like for Ezekiel to catch sight of the Lord only to proclaim 'woe is me for I am undone.' Then the angel took the coal from off the altar touching his lips to proclaim his sin atoned for having thereby been taken away. This is a holy God of which we speak that cannot look upon sin. Is it any wonder he should ever think of us at all were it not for all that. So, David himself once came to a similar conclusion. Just to think, if the angels have been made ministering spirits and themselves flames of fire, what then of the priests who also share this singular focus. It seems to make these as keepers of the altar of God, does it not. Or at least these once were back in the days of the Old Covenant before the Lord came to take it away. Well, he rather came to fulfill but it's a taking away for you, if you will. It implies a keeping thereof not to be had any longer. So then, if you're lacking in wisdom, you should rather seek unto him. That is the best source of wisdom any could be, better even than your own mother and father or spiritual counselor even. Which, we all know the Lord delights to be for us should any but trust. Before we even seek his face, we are undone in his sight as Ezekiel had found. For wounds such as this then, are we not in need of his guidance. Then too, for wounds such as these he has been sent. Remember as he said in the gospels, that he came to preach deliverance to the captive, to bind up the broken-hearted, and to proclaim on the mountains how our God finally reigns. He is the best Father, indeed, is he not to his people. Even so can he be counted on to never forsake us nor to leave us alone. Then again, he is the best keeper that ever there was, will be, or hope yet to have. For so does he give his angels charge over us all, so that in all our ways we might be kept safely from falling and preserved faultless to stand before his throne. Just in case though, that some aren't doing their job as was the case here, there remains always the Father and that of his house. See, at times we too can so easily fall and come into sin. After a while, sin that the Father hasn't dealt with remains in the house. It breeds becoming disorder, chaos, unto every evil work. Many it seems can stumble and fall at such a thing. Then too see how it eats from within. After a while, the priests are no longer thinking and speaking the Lord. What is in the heart, see, will soon find its way out of the mouth. That's because the heart is as a raging, surging current overflowing the channels thereof. When the Lord came to redeem man, he didn't send just a heart to die on the tree. Oh no, to be complete the sacrifice demanded he send himself for all man. See, our God holds us responsible for the light that we have and also how we handle it well. It reminds me of the nobleman that once came to the Father asking a question. In the beginning though, he made a mistake. He made a slip of the speech when he called him "good master." Jesus being greater, said "why do you call me good, there is none good but God." Seeing the Lord in his rightful place then is the cure for all else. He is your fulfillment like no other, for as with the priests, oneness in him should be sought. So, it seemed the Levite would have found had they but spoken and taught of the Lord. Seek unto God then and let him be your wisdom, your guidance, your good Word, your Father, your counselor, your clean-the-house-upper, and also your keeper of all you could bring. No matter what you're facing, he's got you kept and covered as well.