Administrators Trust in the Lord

Scripture: In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. Isaiah 22:20-22

Observation: This passage is a prophesy concerning a man named Shebna. Shebna is the palace administrator - the person who runs the king's household and personal affairs - under Judah's king, and apparently Shebna did three things. First, he was openly afraid of the message of the Assyrians when they arrived at Jerusalem. Second, he counseled the king to hire Egyptian mercenaries to aid them. Third, he assumed Judah would fall so carved a tomb for himself in preparation for his death. In response to this lack of faith, the Lord will replace Shebna with Eliakim.

What is most interesting about this passage is what is said about this transition of power. Eliakim will receive "authority", he will become a "father" to the faithful, and he will be given the "key" to the house of David whereby what he opens (or unlocks) no one can shut (or lock against him) and what he shuts no one else can open.

There is an unmistakable parallel here to what Jesus says to the apostles, and especially Peter when Peter declares Jesus to be the Messiah. Jesus himself is the promised eternal ruler from the line of David. Eventually, Jesus will reveal to the apostles that he is giving them all authority. At one point, he declares that those things Peter and the disciples unlock on earth will be unlocked in heaven, and those things they lock on earth will be locked in heaven.

Through these parallels, there seems to be a transition in the stewardship and administration of faith. The transition of the 'palace administrator' meant that a different person now had authority over the administrative affairs of Judah, which was the priestly nation the Lord appointed to reveal himself to the world. Likewise, and using much of the same phrasing, Jesus transitions that same authority - the appointment of what people-group will serve David's family line and reveal the Lord to the world - from the Jews to the Christians.

Application: As Christians who have received this commission - the commission to be the 'administrators' of faith - we may try to figure out what we should do. However, not much is known about what Eliakim did in his lifetime. Therefore, we can at least look at Shebna and know what poor administration looks like, and thus what we should avoid.

First, we must not be afraid, but rather know that the Lord is above and more powerful than any earthly threat. Second, we must look to the Lord for assistance in everything in life, seeking his plan and direction, instead of seeking earthly methods or our own earthly wisdom to solve our challenges. Thirdly, we must live life with confidence the Lord will provide for us, rather than living in a manner that effectively just plans for our own demise.

In summary ... we must simply trust in the Lord, in all ways, at all times.

Prayer: Lord, every day I do what I want, using my own thoughts and my own solutions to address challenges, and forgetting to simply hand my life over to you and seek your solutions. I may not act like it, but I do trust in you, Lord. May my actions reflect my beliefs more and more. Amen.