Encouraging The Lord's Servants

Encouraging The Lord’s Servants Psalm 134 Ps 134:1 A Song of degrees. Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. Ps 134:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. Ps 134:3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion. Introduction: The time of feasts and sacrifices were over. As the people prepared themselves for their journey in the morning back to their homes and lands, the work of the Lord had been taxing on the priests. The excitement and festivities of the solemn feast days were done. However there were now mundane duties which were to be done. The “clean up” began. The priests retreated back into their “chamber” called the holy place. In this room, their priestly duties were not complete. The table of showbread stood on the right, the altar of incense was straight ahead just before the veil and the golden lampstand was on the left. Here, the priests would continue their endless ministry of prayer, communion, and preparation. The altar of Incense: Exodus 30:1: The altar was to be made of the same materials as the mercy seat only smaller. Here see see a shadow of our concern and care for the needs of others as being less than the atonement that Christ made once and for all. The daily burning of incense is a type for us today as the priesthood of believers as we arise to worship God in conduct and communication. Before we can step out to manage the daily sacrifices and sins of the people, we must first go to the Lord in prayer and make intercession for them, for us. Ps 141:1 -4 A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties. Lu 1:8-11 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense Re 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. Re 8:3-4 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. Heb 7:22-28 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 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. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. How important it is for believers, not just Spiritual Leaders, to practice intercessory prayer for their people, friends, family, missionaries, other pastors, etc. We find the cure to Job’s problems was when he turned his eyes upon the needs of others. As Job entered intercessory prayer for his really poor comforting friends, his troubles ceased: Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. It is no unusual thing that one of the first things the priests were ordered to do was to burn incense on the altar, that is, to make intercession for the people. In demonstration of genuine humility, let us not gripe and complain at others, but in sincerity, pray for one another. If there is ought between each other, our duty and obligation – no, rather, our constraint is to make that right one with another. Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. A great while before day, Christ arose to commune with the Father. While in the most agonizing hour of his non-incarcerated life, Christ prayed what we know as the intercessory prayer for his disciples (John 17) Intercessory prayer- Christ instructed his disciples to practice intercessory prayer as they asked for lessons in how to pray. The most abandoned table in the church’s holy place today is the altar of incense. Before any sacrifices were taken up, there was first the private sacrifice of intercessory prayer. When all of the hype is over and the crowds are dispersed, the priests would retreat to prayer. Their prayer not for themselves but it was for the people. The Table Of Shewbread: “The Shittah tree grew in the deserts of Sinai, and the deserts around the Dead Sea. The wood is hard, very heavy, indestructible by insects, and has a fine, beautiful grain, brownish-orange in color. It was remarkably luxuriant in dry places, sometimes attaining a height of twenty feet. It had lovely yellow flowers and its insect-resisting Acacia wood was used in making mummy cases. This Acacia wood undoubtedly speaks of the incorruptible humanity of Christ, for we are told that His humanity would never see corruption.” Bible-history.com Here the priests would face the reality that the Lord’s presence was real. It also foretold that God would tabernacle himself among men. (John 1:1-14) Exodus 25:23-30 Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about. And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about. And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table. And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them. And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them. And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway. 4 Items on the table: Dishes (breadplates) Pans or Spoons (to sprinkle frankincense) Pitchers (for liquid offerings) Bowls (vessels containing the frankincense) Lev 24:5-9 And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD. And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD. Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute. “-Every seventh (Sabbath) day, fresh hot loaves were provided by Aaron. The priests were entitled to eat the old loaves while standing in the Holy Place. -The frankincense that was removed each week was as a special oblation (offering) to God. -12 loaves were the same material, size, and weight (no partiality). -According to Lev 22, if a priest was unclean he couldn't eat of the shewbread. No layman, or daughter married to a layman, or a hired servant could eat of the shewbread. But a purchased slave or those born in his house could. -According to tradition 8 priests held hands as they changed the bread, and passed it for fellowship. -They were to be holy because of the bread “ Bible-history.com The Priests were constantly reminded that God’s presence was before them. As they came in to the holy place tired, weary, bloodied, and filthy from the blood and burden of the people’s sins, they could not help but be aware of the Table of Shewbread. The pitchers, the pans, the dishes, the bowls – they were not made of anything that was excessive. They were earthen vessels which were used to carry the contents appropriated. There are times when, after I preach, that I wonder why I am even in the ministry. Preaching and instructing the precepts of the Lord, leading in song, bearing the burdens of the people, and fighting the flesh through it all. It just doesn’t seem real anymore. There are times I look around and wonder if I am the only one who is doing anything for God. I momentarily stop and assume that I am the only vessel which is being used by God to manifest the glory of the Lord. Then, I stop and pass by the Table of Shewbread and it puts me into perspective- I am a vessel. 2Ti 2:20-21 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. God uses earthen vessels. God uses clay. The priests upon retreating to the holy place were reminded of what they were. Yes,we are meant to bear the burdens of others. Yes, we are to help people get victory over their sins and live in the liberty of Christ. Yes, we are to get dirty and bloody. Yes, we are to smell like we’ve been around the stink of the world. We are supposed to get in the ditch and help our fellow man out. We are to share the love of God not just in word but also through action. The priests had a special privilege that few others have shared in- they were able to partake of the bread on the Sabbath. These loaves were provided by the High Priest, Aaron. What a blessing it is that Christ feeds us personally with the bread which others cannot partake of. The priests were sustained by the presence of God. Ps 3:5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. 1Ki 17:9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. Ps 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. I Peter 5:1-7 Ex 33:14-15 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. Lu 24:29-30 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. Let us not fail to learn from Samson … And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. May we always be sustained by the presence of the Lord! We measure the success of a week by the offerings and altars. We desire a full house and no angry words after the sermon – perish the thought! (HA) As we retreat back from the outer court, let us take an extra gaze upon the reminder that God’s presence is all we need. The Golden Lampstand Exodus 27:20-21 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel. Here is the lampstand which was to be tended to at morning and at evening. It was the reminder to the priests that their testimony was the light of the world. They were reminded that the light from the candlestick was to guide their feet, so should the Word of God guide not only the priest s but also the people. It was here that the personal walk with God would be most evident to the people. If the presence of God’s word was void in their life, they would be unable to fulfill the duties of the ministry. The priests could eat of the ministry, they could offer up prayers and yet mask the waywardness of their heart, but they could not mask the forsaking of the lamp. Eli’s sons became so routine in the ministry that they did not even recognize the lamp of the Lord had gone out in the temple. Their testimony was ruined. The name of the Lord was blasphemed. They served self and not God. The Word of God was abandoned for better offerings and whatever seemed right to them (abuse of power, sensuality, taking advantage of the weak). I Sam 2:12-17 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. I Sam 3:1-3 1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; Lev 24:1-4 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. 3 Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations. 4 He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually. When the priest was too busy to ensure that his personal walk with God was priority – he was too busy. When the Preacher is too busy to study, prepare, and purify his heart before the Lord – continually, he is too busy – Acts 6:2 The Lamp had gone out of the temple and here we see the Lord calling out Samuel to follow him in Spirit and in Truth. We all like to quote Revelation 3 in regards to the Church of Laodicea but in all honesty, the lukewarm pastor is what made God sick and not the people. Pastors, teachers, don’t let your fire go out! The personal reputation of Eli and the priests were so bad that the people abhorred the sacrifices and things of God. A pastor contacted me the other day in disgust because the woman whom he was counseling admitted to having several intimate encounters with a “PASTOR.” Her adulterous affair was with a “man of the cloth.” Don’t let your fire go out! Now, we have briefly examined the three items within The Holy Place but there was also one other fixture in that room which cannot be left unnoticed. The Veil Ex 26:31 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: The veil was ever present. The Daily Incense which was burned upon the altar was just in front of the veil. The lampstand gave light to the beautiful tapestry which was suspended between the ceiling and the floor and separated the Most Holy Place from the holy place. Once a year, ONE man, the high priest would have access to enter into the sacred presence of God to make atonement for the sins of the people. If that High Priest were to touch it without the sacrifice, he was immediately killed by God. The priests realized their place. They were not able to go and do what the high priest could do. In the NT we see that the high priest could not do what only Christ could do. In this picture we realize the importance of the veil in that there are things that only God can do. As we minister in the Word, we must resign to the fact that the application of the Word upon the heart can only be done by the Holy Spirit of God. Pastors, let us know our role and restrict ourselves from forcing the Word of God and conformity to the Word of God on the hearers. Let us do the duties of our office (Ministry of Word, Prayer, Administration) and let the Holy Spirit do the application. It also served as a reminder to the priests that there was one greater than they. It is easy in the ministry to get caught up as being the “prime example” of the believers ( I Tim 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.) No matter how well or ill spoken we are to the people, the Pastor is not the vicar of Christ – we are simply under shepherds at best. Back To The Text Ps 134 A Song of degrees. Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion. As the crowds retreated from the temple and back to their homes and villages, they stopped and recognized the importance of the priests’ role. They turn back and sing out a prayer of blessing and admonition to the priests to maintain themselves in the ministry and keep themselves upright before the Lord. Sunday Afternoons have always been the worst time of the week for me. All the festivities of the morning have ceased. The building is quiet. All that preparation for the Sunday School and Morning Worship hour came to a climatic end, and I am exhausted. In retrospect, I review in my mind who was present and who was absent. I reflect on the response to the message. Ol’ so and so fell asleep halfway through, and this person wasn’t paying attention, you could tell they were putting together their shopping list in their mind. It can be very defeating. The altar was untouched. The people came out of conscience sake and not out of true worship. What is the use? It is now time to clear my head of the AM service and to review for the evening sermon. However, as I sit in the office and pray and read the scriptures, I cannot help but fight off the discouragement that “I am the only one.” As I retreat to the Holy Place and am surrounded by the Altar of Incense, I hear the sounds of the people praying and singing out encouraging me to not take the ministry of intercessory prayer for their needs, their family, friends, the work of the gospel, even for the preparation of my heart as I preach, not to take it in vain and to remain sober and steadfast in this daily administration of service to the Lord. Paul encourages Timothy “These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” Hey, Pastor, while you are Praying for us- We are praying for you! As I stand around the Table of Shewbread, the petitions and exhortation of the people are being carried back through the air encouraging me to not take of this communion lightly – not to take the service lighthearted but to be sober, patient, with meekness and reverence for the Lord and the things pertaining to Him. The Lord knows me by name. The Lord knows where he has placed me. He knows my uprising and my sitting down. He knows my thoughts afar off. He is tabernacled with me. Hey, Pastor, Be encouraged! Hey, Sunday School Teacher, IT DOES MATTER! Hey, Jr. Church worker- BE FAITHFUL, BE STEADFAST! IT IS NOT IN VAIN IN THE LORD!! As the flame of the lampstand flickers in the breeze, hear the echoes of the people cheering me on to remember the Lord is near. His Filling is available every day, every moment and there is a desperate need for this pastor to continue in the work of the Lord. DON’T QUIT! Don’t let your fire go out! Be zealous! Remember your first love. (Eph 2:4) The loss of passion is due to the pastor not maintaining the wick of the lamp. FIRE UP! Keep the flame pure and bright! The priests may not have been visible to man, but the priests and elders of the city were clearly visible to God. Ezekiel 8:7- 12 And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall. Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door. And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about. And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. Pastor, the Lord sees! Eze 9:9-10 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not. And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. We are called to the sacred ministry of the Word of God. We stand as ministers to the Lord himself. Let us never be confused that we serve man. We serve God. All that we do – our aim is to the glory of God. (I Cor 10:31) Hey, Preacher! Until we meet again, Praise the Lord! Maintain your integrity. Maintain your walk with God. Maintain your calling and vocation. Have reverence for the table of shewbread, the golden lamp, the altar of incense and the veil. Pastors, be encouraged! Keep your focus on the Lord! I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. “ In Remember All the Way, William C. Townsend related the story of an evangelist who was facing discouragement and criticism. One day he said to a colleague, "'Don Guillermo, I'm going to quit.' Guillermo replied, 'Why do you give your resignation to me? When you began your service, you said the Lord Jesus Christ was calling you to tell others about Him. I think you'd better present your resignation to the One who called you. Let's get down on our knees here, and you tell Him that you are going to quit. Let Him hear what you've just told me -- that it's too hard, that too many people criticize you. Tell the Lord -- He's the One who sent you.' 'Well, I hesitate to do that,' he replied. 'I'm afraid He'll tell me to stay with the job.' 'If that's what He wants, don't you think you'd better stay?' 'Yes, I think I should!'" Taking new courage and refusing to look back, the evangelist went on to 'plow a straight furrow for God.’” “Perhaps you have been there. Maybe you have lived for a while behind closed doors. Many good people have. I was reading recently about a young lawyer who descended into the valley of despond. Things were going so poorly for him that his friends thought it best to keep all knives and razors away from him for fear of a suicide attempt. In fact, during this time he wrote in his memoirs, "I am now the most miserable man living. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell. I fear I shall not." The young lawyer who unleashed these desperate feelings of utter hopelessness? His name was Abraham Lincoln.” Its Not In Vain We have labored in the vineyards of the Lord, And it seems the world has stolen our reward. But God has not forgotten And when He calls us home We'll receive eternal treasures And a place of honor near his throne. It's not in vain It's not in vain We serve a risen Savior Jesus rules and reigns. The heavens cheer us on We do not walk alone. Our labor, our witness, our faith, is not in vain. God has seen our faithful service through the years, All our heartaches, all the burdens, all the tears. So do not be discouraged, There's a purpose, there's a plan, There's a reason for each season. So trust the leading of His hand.