Religion & Covenant: The Royal Priesthood #4

It is important that we keep covenant with the Lord as the royal priesthood in the area of our individual lives and how it manifests in the area of religion (Malachi 2:4-9; Hebrews 13:8; 1 Peter 2:9). This includes all believers, not just the pastors and clergy. As the royal priesthood, please repent in our individual lives, for our past family generations and on behalf of our Nation for not representing well or extending the covenant of life and peace with the Lord to others. These can either be acts of commission—things we have done, or acts of omission—things we have not done.

“But you [priests] have departed from the way….You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 2:8 (NKJV)

  • As the royal priesthood, please repent on behalf of us individually, our generations and our Nation for…
    • departing from the way of the Lord (Malachi 2:8)
    • how departing from the way of the Lord has influenced others to do the same
    • how departing from the way of the Lord has injured others
    • walking in perverted ways (Prov 10:9)
    • hearing the Word and not doing it (James 1:22)
    • deceiving ourselves by hearing the Word and not doing it (James 1:22)
  • As the royal priesthood, please replace with…
    • following in God’s perfect way (Psalm18:30; Psalm 37:34)
    • asking the Lord to show you His ways (Psalm 25:4)
    • asking the Lord to teach you His path (Psalm 25:4; Psalm 86:11)
    • walking with integrity (Prov 10:9)
    • hearing and doing the Word (James 1:22)

You [priests] have caused many to stumble at the law.” Malachi 2:8 (NKJV)

  • As the royal priesthood, please repent on behalf of us individually, our generations and our Nation for…
    • any ways we have led others astray by not instructing or speaking appropriately the law with our mouths (Mal 2:8; Matt 5:17-19)
    • any ways we have caused others to stumble at the law by our own actions or lifestyle (Matt 5:17-19)
    • for how we have caused little ones who believe in the Lord to stumble (Mark 9:42)
  • As the royal priesthood, please replace with…
    • preparing our hearts to seek the law of the Lord (Ezra 7:10)
    • putting into practice the law of the Lord into our lives (Ezra 7:10)
    • teaching what we know and do of the law of the Lord to others (Ezra 7:10)

You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 2:8 (NKJV)

  • As the royal priesthood, please repent on behalf of us individually, our generations and our Nation for corrupting the covenant of life and peace of Levi…
    • corrupt words coming out of our mouths (Eph 4:29)
    • acting corruptly by means of idolatry (Deut 4:16)
    • corrupting others by enticing them to idolatry (Deut 13:13)
    • being corrupt by not knowing the Lord (1 Sam 2:12)
    • sowing to the flesh and reaping corruption (Gal 6:8)
    • the “old man” that grows corrupt by deceitful lusts (Eph 4:22)
  • As the royal priesthood, please replace with…
    • good words proceeding from our mouths that imparts grace to the hearers (Eph 4:29)
    • loving God with our heart, soul and strength (Deut 6:5)
    • encouraging others to love God with their heart, soul and strength (Deut 6:5)
    • knowing the Lord your God who is faithful and keeps covenant to those who love Him and keep His commandments and instructions (Deut 7:9)
    • sowing to the Spirit and reaping everlasting life (Gal 6:8)
    • putting on the “new man” and be renewed in the spirit of the mind (Eph 4:23-24)

“Therefore I also have made you [priests] contemptible and base before all the people, because you have not kept My ways but have shown partiality in the law.” Malachi 2:9 (NKJV)

  • As the royal priesthood, please repent on behalf of us individually, our generations and our Nation for showing partiality in the law…
    • showing partiality to the poor in a dispute (Ex 23:3)
    • showing partiality in judgment (Deut 1:17; Deut 16:19)
    • not hearing everyone equally (Deut 1:17)
    • being afraid in a man’s presence to give judgment (Deut 1:17)
    • taking a bribe (Deut 10:17; Deut 16:19)
    • perverting justice (Deut 16:19)
    • judging unjustly (Ps 82:2)
    • overthrowing the righteous in judgment (Prov 18:5)
    • showing partiality to the wicked (Ps 82:2)
    • holding faith of our Lord with partiality (James 2:1-3)
    • showing partiality to the rich over the poor (James 2:1-3)
    • judging with evil thoughts (James 2:4)
  • As the royal priesthood, please replace with…
    • But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (James 3:17 NKJV).
    • preserving justice (Deut 16:19)
    • not showing partiality (Deut 16:19)
    • not taking bribes (Deut 16:19)
    • having the fear of the Lord and not showing partiality (2 Chr 19:7)
    • judging justly (Ps 82:2)
    • blessings on those who keep justice (Ps 106:3)
    • no partiality with God (Rom 2:11)
    • not showing partiality to the rich or poor (James 2:1-3)

This is an excerpt from Chapter 7 of “Covenant & Religion.” The remainder of this chapter and the complete book, “Covenant & Religion,” is available for purchase here.

Copyright 2015 Rivkah Isaacs


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