THE LORD SPOKE (November 26)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Ezekiel 44-45

Ezekiel 44:23a - They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common....

The requirements sound like a resumé of the laws found elsewhere (Ex. 19-24; Lev. 11-15; Deut. 4-11), just slightly notched up. True, the priests were held to a different standard (Ezek. 44) but nearly all the individual requirements are found elsewhere and applied to every Israelite. The substance of God’s righteous expectations didn’t vary greatly between priest and people. There were a few items which set the priests apart but the moral principles were applicable across the board.

In a very similar sense, the New Testament requirements for a pastor/bishop/elder in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 are found scattered in many other texts with application to all believers. It seems to be the qualifying nature of the combined list that sets it apart. Some will quibble over the terminology of “requirements”, “qualifications”, or “characteristics” but that seems to miss the point. Because of their role as spiritual leaders, God holds them to a higher standard.

Both the priest in the Old Testament and the pastor in the New are held accountable for the spiritual state of others. “They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common” (Ezek. 44:23a). James warns us, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly (Jas. 3:1). Teaching others means you better know it first yourself.

Because, by their example, they could so easily lead others astray, God required the priests to be different. It’s not that certain sins are excusable for laymen. It’s that they were unacceptable for spiritual leaders. You’ve heard it said, “like father, like son”? Well, it’s also true, “like priest, like people”. Of the wicked sons of Eli (I Sam. 2:12-17) it was said, “they had no regard for the Lord” (I Sam. 2:12). The result is that people concerned with righteousness will be discouraged and may grow disheartened in their pursuit of God. Those unconcerned with righteousness will grow colder yet or be confirmed in their godless living. For the spiritual leader it means double-jeopardy - for his own sin and for those he encourages others to commit by his poor example.

God’s spiritual leaders must teach His people the difference between the holy and the common.


Psalms 141-142

Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. (Ps. 141:3)

Someone has said:

If your lips you would keep from slips,
Five things observe with care:
To whom you speak, of whom you speak,
And how and when and where.

But there might be some danger in thinking you can do it alone. For success in this endeavor, be sure to do this:

If your tongue you’d keep from wrong,
One thing be sure to do:
Commit your way to God above,
His grace will see you through.

Here are some selected Proverbs that might help you in your use of the tongue:

10:18-19 - He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

11:9,12-13 - With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor.... A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

12:19,22 - Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.... The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.

13:3 - He who guards his lips guards his soul, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

15:1,4 - A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.... The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

16:23-24,28 - A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.... A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

17:27-28 - A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

18:2,6-7,13 - A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.... A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.... He who answers before listening - that is his folly and his shame.

20:19 - A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.