Albert Barnes Commentary Malachi 2:5

"My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might fear; and he feared me, and stood in awe of my name." — Malachi 2:5 (ASV)

My covenant was with him life and peace; - literally “the life and the peace;” that which alone is true “life and peace.”

The covenant was not with Levi himself, but with Aaron, his representative, with whom the covenant was made in the desert, as is indeed expressed here; and, in him, with all his descendants after him, who succeeded him in his office. Thus, when it is said (1 Chronicles 6:49), “Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of burnt-offering,” it must be understood not of Aaron in person alone and his sons then living, but of any of his descendants who succeeded in his and their place.

So our Lord promised to be with His Apostles (Matthew 28:20), “always to the end of the world,” that is, with them and those whom they should appoint in their place, and these others, until He Himself should come. God promised, if they would keep the law, that they should live in peace on the earth; indeed, that they should have peace of mind and a life of grace. “Life” is an indefectible being, which man does not forfeit by sin, to which death is no interruption, changing only the place of the soul’s life.

And I gave them to him -, in, or as, “fear.” “Fear, not servile but filial and pure, as Paul bids Christians (Philippians 2:12), ‘work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.’” God gave them an awe-inspiring gift, to be held with fear and awe for its very preciousness, as one would anxiously hold what is very precious, yet very fragile and easily marred.

And he feared Me, and was afraid before My Name - Malachi unites two words, the second expressive of strong fear, by which a man is, as it were, crushed or broken. They are often united in Hebrew, but as expressing terror, which men are commanded not to feel before other men.

Toward other men it is always said (Deuteronomy 1:21; Deuteronomy 31:8; Joshua 1:9; Joshua 10:25; 1 Chronicles 22:13; 1 Chronicles 28:20; 2 Chronicles 20:15, 20:17; 2 Chronicles 32:7; Isaiah 51:7; Jeremiah 23:4; Jeremiah 30:10; Jeremiah 46:27; Ezra 2:6; Ezra 3:9), “fear not, neither be ye dismayed;” toward God alone, it is a matter of praise. Man’s highest fear is too little, for he does not know who God is.

So Isaiah says (Isaiah 8:12–13), “Fear ye not their fear (the fear of this people), nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself, and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread.”

“What can be more precious (than this fear)? For it is written (Proverbs 13:13), ‘He who feareth the Lord will be rewarded.’ , ‘The fear of the Lord is honor and glory and gladness and a crown of rejoicing.’ He says, “the fear, wherewith he feareth Me and was afraid,” that is, he received the fear of God in his whole heart and soul. For these reduplications and emphases suggest to the hearer how rooted in virtue are those thus praised.”