Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes form Numbers 11:10-17.

“10 Now Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each man at the doorway of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased.  11 So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You been so hard on Your servant?  And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all this people on me?  12 Was it I who conceived all this people?  Was it I who brought them forth, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which You swore to their fathers’?  13 Where am I to get meat to give to all this people?  For they weep before me, saying, ‘Give us meat that we may eat!’  14 I alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome for me.  15 So if You are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once, if I have found favor in Your sight, and do not let me see my wretchedness.”

16 The Lord therefore said to Moses, “Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you.  17 Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit who is upon you, and will put Him upon them;  and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not bear it all alone.”  Numbers 11:10-17.

———————

People have needs.  People complain.  People have burdens.  It is too much for one minister to handle alone.

But, there is hope!

God provided elders and deacons.  Today, we focus on elders.

We noticed from today’s Scripture the importance of the Spirit (“Him” – verse 17) to be upon the elder.

In addition, we assume from what today’s Scripture states about them from their existing, maybe informal, positions as elders that they were perceived by the people to be wise and already accepted by the people as leaders.

We read the qualifications of an elder in Titus 1:6-9:  “namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.  For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”  Titus 1:6-9.

We also read the qualifications of an elder in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.  “It is a trustworthy statement:  if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.  An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.  He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.  And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”  1 Timothy 3:1-7.

We also read the following from the Belgic Confession in the following Articles 30 and 31.

Article 30:  Concerning the Government of, and Offices in the Church.

We believe, that this true Church must be governed by that spiritual policy which our Lord hath taught us in his Word;  namely, that there must be ministers or pastors to preach the Word of God, and to administer the sacraments;  also elders and deacons, who, together with the pastors, form the council of the Church:  that by these means true religion may be preserved, and the true doctrine everywhere propagated, likewise transgressors punished and restrained by spiritual means:  also that the poor and distressed may be relieved and comforted, according to their necessities.  By these means everything will be carried on in the Church with good order and decency, when faithful men are chosen, according to the rule prescribed by St. Paul in his Epistle to Timothy.

As today’s Scripture recognized the use of elders to relieve the distress and comfort the people, so does Article 30 recognize that use.

Article 31:  Of the Ministers, Elders, and Deacons.

We believe, that the ministers of God’s Word, and the elders and deacons, ought to be chosen to their respective offices by a lawful election by the Church, with calling upon the name of the Lord, and in that order which the Word of God teacheth.   Therefore every one must take heed, not to intrude himself by indecent means, but is bound to wait till it shall please God to call him; that he may have testimony of his calling, and be certain and assured that it is of the Lord.   As for the ministers of God’s Word, they have equally the same power and authority wheresoever they are, as they are all ministers of Christ, the only universal Bishop, and the only Head of the Church. Moreover, that this holy ordinance of God may not be violated or slighted, we say that every one ought to esteem the ministers of God’s Word, and the elders of the Church, very highly for their work’s sake, and be at peace with them without murmuring, strife or contention, as much as possible.

The fact that elders “ought to be chosen to their respective offices by a lawful election by the Church” (as stated above in Article 31) is consistent with what we read in today’s Scripture by which we assumed that from their existing, maybe informal, positions as elders that they were perceived by the people to be wise and already accepted by the people as leaders.

Because elders are elected, that fact would also help the people “esteem the ministers of God’s Word, and the elders of the Church, very highly for their work’s sake, and be at peace with them without murmuring, strife or contention, as much as possible.”