“And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will… clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah” (Isaiah 22:20,21).
TEXT — Isaiah 22:15-25
Message
When Robert Kennedy was Attorney General of America, he was reported to greet new young lawyers entering the Department with the following message: “This may appear to be a large organisation, but when you do something well, I will hear about it, and it will go on your record. I want you to recall that I was recently a lowly worker in the Justice Department but now serve as Attorney General due to perseverance, long hours, hard work, and the fact that my brother became President of the United States…not necessarily in that order.”
After God rebuked and demoted Shebna, the steward, as prophesied by Isaiah, He filled his position with His servant, Eliakim. This was not just a change of personnel but a shift in the divine order. Shebna, the scribe, had held a position of authority and responsibility. However, God now bestows upon Eliakim an even more significant role. God pledged to entrust Eliakim with the authority of the house of David, securing his position as a steadfast guardian. As second-in-command to King Hezekiah of Judah, Eliakim held the highest responsibility as the chief gatekeeper, granting or denying access to the royal presence and its divine authority, blessings, and resources. With the power to open or shut the door, Eliakim controlled access to the king’s chamber, the treasury, and the storehouse. His decision was final, and no one could override his authority. This position was a significant honour bestowed upon Eliakim, a faithful servant of God. He was among the officers who stood with Hezekiah when the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh to humiliate Israel. He prayed and stood with the king to face off the enemy’s aggression.
Believers who abandon their post in times of danger will not share in the joy of peace when the battle is over and won. Hard times are bound to come. It is the unalterable law of life. Sometimes, things can go wrong. At such a time, the hypocrites run away, and the genuine servants stay and serve. Christians who stand with God and right at the present will reign with Him in His coming kingdom.
Thought for the day
In the long run, faithfulness never goes unrewarded.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
1 comment
I bless the Lord God for today’s homily. Almighty God, please help me to remain steadfast and righteous in my intimacy with you as long as l live, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
I bless the Lord God for today’s homily. Almighty God, please help me to remain steadfast and righteous in my intimacy with you as long as l live, in Jesus’ name, Amen.