Handel's Messiah: The Person and Work of Christ

13. 'He Shall Purify the Sons of Levi'

By Dr. Paul M. Elliott
Who are the "sons of Levi" spoken of in Malachi chapter 3?

From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Part 13 of a series. Read part 12.

Who are the "sons of Levi" spoken of in Malachi chapter 3?

After the bass soloist has concluded the recitation of Malachi 3:1-2, the chorus continues Handel's Messiah with verse 3:

And He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

A Name for the Believing Remnant

In the articles preceding this one, we have seen the nature of the purification that is to take place, and the identity of those who are the subjects of the purification of the "refiner's fire." They are those who have trusted in the person and finished work of Jesus the Messiah alone for their salvation. Prophetically, "Israel" and "Judah" are the believing remnant who are the members of the true Body of Jesus Christ. "The sons of Levi" is the name given to that remnant in this verse. We know this to be true based on many other statements in Scripture, including those which follow.

In a previous article, we have already mentioned the Messianic prophecy found in Isaiah chapter 61. In that prophecy, the Lord, the Messiah who was to come, spoke the following words addressed to the remnant:

But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, they shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles [a prophetic term for the unbelieving], and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs. (Isaiah 61:6-7)

Furthermore, in Isaiah chapter 66, the Messiah who was to come declared that believing Gentiles would be numbered among "the sons of Levi" as well:

"And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles.... And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites," says the Lord. "For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me," says the Lord, "so shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the Lord. (Isaiah 66:19, 21-23)

"A Spiritual House, A Holy Priesthood"

The Holy Spirit speaks of these things through the New Testament writers as well. The members of the true Body of Christ in all ages are His eternal priesthood, the true "sons of Levi." In Peter's first epistle we find this:

Coming to Him [Jesus the Messiah] as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone," [quoting the Messianic prophecy of Psalm 118:22] and "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" [quoting the prophecy of Isaiah 8:14]. They stumble, being disobedient to the Word, to which they also were appointed.

But you [believers in Christ, both Jew and Gentile] are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:4-10)

"Kings and Priests to Our God"

And in Revelation, we find these words concerning the future office of the "sons of Levi":

John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:4-8)

Now when He [Jesus the Messiah] had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:

"You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood 0ut of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:8-10)

Are You Among the "Sons of Levi"?

Dear reader, will you be among that number, the eternal "sons of Levi" who have been washed from their sins by the Messiah's blood, whom He has ordained as kings and priests to rule and reign with Him forever in the new heavens and new earth? Only those who are trusting in Him alone for their salvation, apart from any works of their own, are able to say, as the Apostle Paul did when his earthly life was drawing to a close,

[T]he time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

 

Next: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son"

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