“The purpose of My covenant with the Levites was to bring life and peace, and that is what I gave them. This is required reverence fro them, and they greatly revered Me and stood in awe of My name. They passed on to the people the truth of the instructions they received form Me. They did not lie or cheat; they walked with Me, living good and righteous lives, and they turned many from lives of sin.
The words of the priest’s lips should preserve knowledge of God, and the people should to to them for instruction, for the priests is the messenger of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. But you priests have left God’s paths. Your instructions have caused may to stumble into sin. You have corrupted the covenant I made with the Levites,” says the Lord. “So I have made you despised and humiliated ion the eyes of all the people. For you have not obeyed Me but haven shown favoritism in the way you carry out My instructions.” (vv. 5-9, NLT)