The Role We Play

Day 69:  2 Kings 6–10; Ezekiel 31–36; 1 Timothy 4–6

I am in the home stretch! I have only 20 days left and I will have accomplished what I set out to do...read the entire bible in 90 days.  Others have done this before and in even less time, but I have really enjoyed this challenge.  Because others are reading my thoughts recorded here, i feel like I am accomplishing something good for God and for them.  I am thankful.

Shakespeare said something like "all the world is a stage and we are the players."  The actual quote comes from As You Like It Act 2, scene 7, 139–143 and is spoken by the character Jacques

"All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages."

 

The first act is infancy, the last is senility. But what of this who never reach old age and that second childhood?  In the harsh world of the ancient near east people died young all the time.  Like the continuing saga of blood and treachery in the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah, kings die, young and old. Prophets live to a ripe old age and never taste death while less fortunate ones are killed by the sword or lions or mobs. 

Many would look at all this drama and death as meaningless.  In fact one of the chief objections to faith in the loving God revealed in Christ is that there is so much senseless suffering in the world.  But as I read these stories I find myself beginning to see that all lives have their part to play, No matter if a life gets written about in a book, God sees, God cares, God loves and God judges. 

We are the players on the stage and God is directing.  Some players take direction better than others.  Some parts are bigger than others, but every part contributes to the whole production. 

Elisha is proving that his ministry is double strength to that of Elijah's by the wonders God wroughts through him.  He causes an axe head to float up from the bottom of the river. He hears the plans of the enemy without being anywhere near them.  He calls down angels on chariots of fire to fight for him and for Israel.  His role is to show that there is a God in Israel, contrary to how the idolatrous kings may behave.

Jehu is anointed as king to carry out God's designs to bring Ahab's house to an end.  These chapters are filled with death and treachery.  Jehu kills Joram and the king of Judah Ahaziah (son of Jehoram). During this period Judah's kings were marrying daughters from the line of Omri/Ahab.  Their alliance made them military partners.  He has Jezebel thrown out a palace window to her death. Dogs eat her leaving only a skull, feet and the palms of her hands.  She will be scattered about the fields in the form of dog feces, a fulfilment of Elijah's prophecy against her in response to the murder of Naboth.  Because of Jehu's military prowess, he convinces the elders of Samarai who are charged with caring for King Joram's 70 sons to decapitate each one of them.  The heads are delivered in two baskets and piles on either side of the the city gates of Jezreel as a warning and a sign.  God is ending the house of Ahab as promised.  Then Jehu kills all the elders formerly loyal to the house of Ahab. He killed all the king's servants in Samaria. The role of all these dead is to be a sign to others that God will execute punishment on those whose sin becomes a stench in His nostrils.

Finally Jehu commands all prophets of Baal to attend a sacrifice at the temple of Baal pretending to worship the pagan deity.  They kill everyone, pull the temple down on top of the bodies of the pagan priests and turn the the ruin into a latrine!  Jehu is not completely loyal to Yahweh.  He keeps the golden calf shrines at Dan and Bethel.  Still God blesses Jehu with a four generation dynasty for his service to Yahweh in snuffing out the house of Ahab.  It's clear Jehu's role is to be a tool of justice in the hands of Yahweh.  He is not a good man.  He is brutal and violent, but God uses him for His purposes.  Kings are supposed to lead the people in a just society.  God has shown through His law what justice requires, but when kings for His chosen ignore His law, Yahweh acts to depose the guilty rulers.  Kings in Israel play the role of bad king and become a sign when we meet their doom.  Good kings are blessed and they too communicate that God's blessings are with the obedient king who honors God and keeps His covenant.

Ezekiel prophesies against the priests of Jerusalem who are supposed to be shepherds to the people, feeding and looking after them.  Instead they feed themselves.  We learn what the role of a priest from Ezekiel chapter 34.

"You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty (Ezk 34:4).

Since Jerusalem's priests are not playing the role of the good shepherd, God Himself will shepherd His people.  Like a good shepherd Yahweh...

• looks for his sheep (Priest tries to bring the wayward back into the fold)
• rescues them from all the places where they have been scattered (exiled)
• tends them with good pasture (justice)
• Separates the rams who bully the weaker sheep (wealthy and oppressive Israelites)
• Protects from wild animals (enemy nations) 

The priest is to care for God's people as a shepherd tends the sheep, but these priests play the role of the fat and bullish rams using their position to benefit themselves.  Elisha refuses a gift from Naaman the Syrian general for healing his leprosy, but Elisha refused because Yahweh deserved the glory.

Paul encourages Timothy in his role as pastor to the church in Ephesus.

"...you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Be conscientious about yourself and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers (1 Tim 4:12-16)."

A pastor's role is a lot like the priests with the exception that he does not offer sacrifices.  The sacrifice has already been given.  Jesus Christ is the once and for all sacrificial offering.

Timothy is to exhort older men as if he were gently encouraging his own father with regard. He is to maintain "all propriety" when exhorting young women.  Treat older women like his own mother and young men like his brothers.

He is to provide for widows who are truly in need and not busybodies or ones who should be relying upon their remaining family.  Families who don't care for the needs of their own are worse than unbelievers (1 Tim. 5:8).

Each church is like a little kingdom with pastors and lay leadership play the roles of priest, prophet and king.  They are to help create a community that reflects the character of Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Ands each member is to obediently contribute to this very effort, for such communities change the world and make it more and more like heaven just like a pinch of yeast rises the whole batch of dough.

We all have a part to play as Christians.  We are to witness to the gospel with our words and deeds.  The question is will you accept direction from the Director? 
Raise the curtain! Raise the lights! Let the show begin!