DCLM Daily Manna 2 September 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Priesthood Of Peace
TOPIC: Priesthood Of Peace (DCLM Daily Manna 2 September 2022)
TEXT: Deuteronomy 17:8-13 (KJV)
8 If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the Lord thy God shall choose;
9 And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:
10 And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the Lord shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:
11 According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.
12 And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.
13 And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
KEY VERSE: “And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment” (Deuteronomy 17:9)
MESSAGE:
No leader in society who desires to succeed can do without a large dose of God’s wisdom. At workplaces, they must be prudent to take decisions on recruitment and deployment of personnel that would improve productivity and bring in profits. At the political level, leaders must get connected to God to be able to respond judiciously to local and global events that threaten man and his environment. No king was more conscious of this need than Solomon who did not prevaricate about wisdom as his utmost wish as king of Israel.
When the Lord proclaimed His covenant of peace on the Levitical priesthood as the Israelites made their way to the land God chose for them, He also planted in them the spirit to adjudicate over matters of controversy “too hard for [them] in judgment”. The Lord envisaged that His people, after settling in their new land, would address conflicts “between blood and blood (murder cases), between plea and plea (civil actions), and between stroke and stroke (personal injury).” God directed such cases to the Levites, with whom He had established a covenant of peace. No one was expected to take law into his own hands.
Leaders at every level in society are peacemakers if they allow the Spirit of God to control them. The policies they enunciate and execute must have peace, security, justice and welfare of the people as the main objectives. These will help bind the constituent groups and prevent disharmony, division and strife. The world would be torn apart if these guidelines of the Author of peace are missing.
Believers with insightful understanding of the teaching that we are the salt and light of the world should get fully kitted with the wisdom of God and let the Spirit guide them when controversial matters are brought before them. Every one redeemed by Christ has a great priestly measure of His wisdom to help the men and women of this age untie the knot of sin entangling them.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Believers are today’s Levites bringing peace to a troubled generation.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Leviticus 5-7
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
