Old Testament reading: Isaiah 9-11
In Isaiah 10, we find some who were unwitting servants of God, namely the Assyrians. In verse 5 God calls Assyria “the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hand is My indignation.” Note also how God says He is sending Assyria against “an ungodly nation and the people of My wrath” (v 6). He is here speaking of Judah, His own people. Now look in verse 7. Regarding Assyria, God says ‘it is not his intent to serve my purposes nor does he consider such in his heart.’ But the lack of intent does not mean an absence of Divine service. God simply used Assyria’s bloodlust (vv 7-11) to accomplish His own will. But in verse 12 we see that unwitting service is not in any way accounted for righteousness, as God intends also to punish Assyria for his wickedness. I love how God describes Assyria’s arrogance in verse 15 – “Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it?” Have you ever heard someone mock the conceit of another by saying, “As if!”? God essentially does the same in verse 15, “As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!” The next time you use “As if!”, remember that God used it first!
New Testament reading: Titus, Philemon
Bones provide our bodies with structure, strength and protection. Broken bones have to be set, repaired, protected to heal properly so the body can function as it ought. This is usually by an orthopedist. Paul commanded Titus to “set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you” (Titus 1:5). “Set in order” utilizes the Greek orthos, meaning to set straight. The importance of the eldership is seen in the earliest days of the church, as elders served alongside the apostles (Acts 11:30). Peter served as an apostle and elder (1 Pet 5:1). God’s church was not meant to function without elders. On their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every new church that had been established (Acts 14:23). The church was not designed to be guided by men’s meetings or function as a democracy. Without elders, the church lacks the structure necessary to uphold and protect the body.
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