When Leaders Fail
- Justin Ray
- May 18, 2020
- 4 min read
II Chronicles 27-30
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests. II Chronicles 29:34
Ouch! That verse stings. Can you imagine being a priest during that time, and for all eternity, that verse is recorded about you. This is like saying that the Sunday School teachers had to fill the pulpit because they were more righteous than the preachers. I'm not taking anything away from Sunday School teachers, praise God for them, but they are not preachers. Most of them wouldn't want to fill the pulpit because that is not their calling. Yet, here we have priests, those who represented the people to God, and they are not fit for duty.
Let me explain. The people went to the priests. They brought the priests their sacrifices and the priests carried out the ritual of the sacrifice. Depending on which offering the individual made, there were slight differences in the ritual. In any case, the priest was the intermediary between the offerer and God. At the time of chapter 29, the intermediaries were unfit for duty and substitutes had to be found. I don't know about you but that is not a person that I would want representing me to God.
When it comes to our position before God, we have offended him with our sins. Therefore, he carries out judgment and justice on us. Only when a payment for sin has been made is our sentence pardoned. We do not have to face the punishment for our crimes against God when the record shows that the price has already been paid. The priests represented the people to God to show that they price had indeed been paid. But, if they were not fit for duty, they could not fulfill their jobs.
I am so glad that I do not have to worry about a priest being fit for duty today. Look at what they writer of Hebrews said.
Hebrews 4:14-5:6
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Since his resurrection, Jesus Christ has been our high priest! We do not have to worry about him being fit for duty. He died for our sins because he was fit. This should be a great comfort to us. We do not have to worry about what the priest has done, is doing, or might do in the future. Jesus is always ready to represent us to God the Father, and does day and night!
One other thing we see in our text verse, the job was too big for the priests. Those who were fit for duty were not up for the task at hand. This is not anything against them. It simply reveals their finite abilities as men. Again, we do not have to worry about this with Jesus. He was the all sufficient sacrifice for all the sins of the world. The job was not too big for him. Now, he makes intercession for us
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25
Thank you Jesus for being both my High Priest and the sacrifice for my sins. Thank you for the peace that comes from never having to worry is you are fit for the job, or capable of doing the job. You came to bring us to peace with the Father, and with that comes peace of mind. You alone are worthy of our praise and adoration. Amen
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