YOU AND YOUR CHURCH LEADERS

GRATEFUL FOR GOD’S CARE FOR HIS OWN!

Psalm 134
Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD,
who stand by night in the house of the LORD!
Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the LORD!
May the LORD bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth!

This is the last psalm of ascent. It almost seems to be an invitation by those who have come to Jerusalem to worship, for the priests to continue in their faithful service to the Lord.

The priests offered sacrifices day and night, lifting their hands in service. The holy place through the reign of David was the ark, and then the temple, after Solomon built it.

Since the ark, and later the temple, were in Zion (Jerusalem), there is a sense that the writer is asking the blessing to come from there to the faithful servants.

Today we don’t have priests, but we do have those whom God has placed over us and are responsible to God for our spiritual edification.

Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

It is interesting that God watches their work and will hold them responsible for the ways that they carry out their responsibilities. Our part is to trust them and submit to their leadership. ‘Submission’ speaks about a decision that we make to place ourselves under their authority. Pastors, elders, leaders of churches actually do have authority given by God, but they are able to exercise it only according to the measure to which the believers submit.

If a believer has chosen to become part of a local church, then he needs to submit to God’s given authorities. A rebellious congregation makes the work of its leadership very burdensome. What a wonderful blessing, when both godly believers and godly leaders take their responsibilities seriously. Then there is peace and joy in their church.

The Lord certainly gives instructions about how the shepherds of the flock should behave.

1 Peter 5:1-5
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”


Elders should serve because of the wonderful privilege it is to do so, not losing sight of their responsibility to Christ and never forgetting that the chief Shepherd is Christ. All of their efforts, therefore, must point to His glory and not to any personal gain.

Elders must notice the seriousness of this verse:

Acts 20:28
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

It is God who watches over His church, through its overseers. The value of the church and the care of God is proportional to the cost! He paid for it with His own blood!

As I read this psalm, I could not help but be reminded of the oversight and love that God has for His church. I have a responsibility to support, with both my prayers and actions, the work of those whom God has placed in leadership in my local church. I need to make their job easier. I should never criticize and never be divisive.

I should be faithful in prayer for those in leadership. I should pray that they would prepare well during the week, to teach the Word of God clearly. I should lift them up in prayer, as they disciple and counsel my brothers and sisters. I should be an instrument within the local church to promote godly submission to the leaders. If I believe that some are not leading well, then my first responsibility is to pray, trusting God to take care of this matter in His time and His way. He loves the church far, far more than I could ever do: He died for it!

We are blessed: we have God’s Word and the Lord’s oversight in our lives. The One who made the heavens and the earth is watching over us!