In the previous verses, God showed his disfavour towards the priests. But in this verse God declares that the people of God would also show the priests their disfavour. What is the correlation between God’s attitude and the attitude of God’s people towards the priests?
The priests had lowered the standard of God’s demand in the matter of sacrifices. They allowed the people to keep the best animals for themselves, and to offer blemished animals to God. Undoubtedly, they did so to curry the favour of the people.
But this verse shows that when leaders are willing to incur God’s disfavour in order to curry the favour of those under their authority, the latter does not occur. Instead of being held in honour and treated with esteem, God (who directs the hearts and minds of men, Malachi 2:6) causes his people to treat the priests with contempt. They will regard the priests as vile, worthless, despicable.
The Scriptures show that when leaders enjoy the favour of God, they also enjoy the favour of those under their authority. Think of young Samuel. In contrast to the unfaithful priests Hophni and Phinehas, Samuel enjoyed both the favour of God and of man (Proverbs 21:1). In Luke 2:52 we learn that those who are willing to be guided by God’s Word and Spirit will enjoy favour with God and man. This was certainly true for our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”