Today’s reading: 1 Chron 2:1–55, 1 Tim 3:1–7, Ps 75:1–76:12
Today’s theme: Qualified leadership
Today we read about the biblical qualifications for leaders in the church. We see the way God chooses and lifts up those He has elected to lead while cutting of the plans of the wicked.
1 Chronicles 2:1–55
Break the flow of evil
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah; these three Bath-shua the Canaanite bore to him. Now Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death. 1 Chronicles 2:3 (ESV)
We had an amazing early morning prayer meeting (on this day in 2014). Pastor Dennis led us from today’s reading focusing on this verse, showing us that God’s plan is to break the flow of evil in our lives as He did in the line of Judah… it was awesome.
God’s providential choice
Ozem the sixth, David the seventh. 1 Chronicles 2:15 (ESV)
God chose David to be the line through which He would bring Jesus the Messiah, it is significant that He is the 7th son.
In one sense this makes Him the least likely as the honour would usually be given to the firstborn. In another sense the number 7 speaks of God’s perfect and complete choice.
God shows His providence and sovereignty even over the tribe of Judah and the line of David. God chooses and orchestrates lives from generation to generation to bring His great promise to pass. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. See Revelation 5:5,
1 Timothy 3:1–7
Qualified leadership
Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 1 Timothy 3:2–5 (ESV)
Our post-modern culture pays no respect to experience, qualification, rules or structure. This mind set has infiltrated areas of the church and we must guard against it. Paul makes very clear the required qualifications for an overseer (other words for this include Pastor or Elder).
We should not try to throw any of these qualifications away in favour of modern philosophies and trends. We should hold to this very practical and faithful scripture for the sake of the church for whom Christ died.
We should thank God that we have leaders that meet the requirements. We should pray that churches where the leadership is lacking or just plain wrong would submit to this scripture which will lead to the flourishing of God’s people.
Psalm 75:1–76:12
God puts down and up
but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. Psalm 75:7 (ESV)
We saw this in our Old Testament reading today, (as Pastor Dennis showed us) in verse 3, God put down one and in verse 15 brought one up. Promotion comes from the Lord, He is our sovereign king and we should trust Him to exalt us in due time. Remember 1 Peter 5:6–7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.
Additional resources
The Gospel Coalition on 1 Timothy 3