THE LORD SPOKE (July 3)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: II Chronicles 26-28

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord high and lifted up...." (Isaiah 6:1)

Do you think Uzziah had anything to do with that. Surely Isaiah's vision of glory came from the Lord but King Uzziah's long reign of 52 years was characterized by great improvements in Judah's fortunes. Initially, King Uzziah "sought the Lord" (II Chron. 26:5) who gave him great success in his multiple nation-building projects. For the Judeans, it must have felt very much like the glory days of David and Solomon. Just look at the similarities:

• he rebuilt the port city of Elath (II Chron. 26:2)
• frontier settlements and fortifications were replaced and strengthened (II Chron. 26:6-7)
• he secured the borders on all sides (II Chron. 26:6-8)
• Jerusalem was built up and beautified (II Chron. 26:9)
• there were many agricultural advancements (II Chron. 26:10) - "he loved the soil" and I like him already!
• the army was given excellent training and reorganized under competent leadership (II Chron. 26:11-13)
• innovative and advanced military equipment was acquired and deployed (II Chron. 26:14-15)
• and, did you notice? in the meantime he built up himself (II Chron. 26:8, 15, 16)

Take a look at the downward progression in his own life during this same period:

• he let himself be impressed with his own importance (II Chron. 26:16a)
• he set himself above the rules (II Chron. 26:16b) - this is known as rex lex (the king is the law) as opposed to biblical government wherein lex rex (the law rules)
• he refused to listen to wise, godly correction from multiple sources (II Chron. 26:17-18)
• he did not control his own spirit (II Chron. 26:19)

Apparently that which elicited Isaiah's vision of God's glory was an oozing leprotic sore smack on the king's forehead. Like the beautiful maiden with a wart on the end of her nose, you couldn't help but notice it. Whenever you looked in that direction your eyes unerringly fixed themselves on that canker. In a very short time this highly visible king was shut away from public view. For as long as he had the disease which, in this case was the rest of his life, the Law required that he live alone ("outside the camp") and warn anyone who approached him, "Unclean! Unclean!" (Lev. 13:45-46). And that's when Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up!

What a reminder! "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Prov. 16:18).


New Testament: I Thessalonians 2

Having just praised the brothers at Thessalonica for their exemplary faith, love, and hope (I Thess. 1:3), Paul launches into a description of his ministry there among them in the second chapter. Joining together some other characteristics from the remainder of these two epistles, we come up with the following list of a pastor’s responsibilities:

• Praying (I Thess. 1:2-3; c.f. 3:10-13)
• Evangelizing (I Thess. 1:4-5, 9-10)
• Equipping (I Thess. 1:6-8)
• Defending (I Thess. 2:1-6)
• Loving (I Thess. 2:7-8)
• Laboring (I Thess. 2:9)
• Modeling (I Thess. 2:10)
• Leading (I Thess. 2:11-12)
• Feeding (I Thess. 2:13)
• Cherishing (I Thess. 2:17-20)
• Watching (I Thess. 3:1-8)
• Warning (I Thess. 4:1-8)
• Teaching (I Thess. 4:9 - 5:11)
• Exhorting (I Thess. 5:12-24)
• Encouraging (II Thess. 1:3-12; c.f. I Thess. 1:12)
• Correcting (II Thess. 2:1-12)
• Confronting (II Thess. 3:6,14)
• Rescuing (II Thess. 3:15)

That’s quite a job description! Are you praying for your pastor? Are you responding to his ministry to you? Can he describe you to others as his “glory and joy” (I Thess. 2:20)?