---

Azariah was "the ruler of the house of God" (ver. 11); concerning a thousand seven hundred and sixty it is said that were "very able men for the work of the service of the house of God" (ver. 13). Here we have high authority and eminent ability in the service of the Lord.

I. AUTHORITY IN SACRED SERVICE. Our Saviour did not establish a hierarchy in the Christian Church. The apostolate was obviously a temporary institution. We read of "elders that rule well" (1 Timothy 5:17), and the Hebrew Christians were charged to "obey them that had the rule over them" (Hebrews 13:17). There was, as there is now, a place in the Church for authority on the one hand and for loyalty on the other. There are, as there ever will be, those who direct, control, organize, appoint, remove. On the part of such there should be:

1. A sense of deep responsibility; for on their decision and direction great things depend.

2. A constant appeal for Divine guidance. In the affairs of his kingdom surely the Divine Sovereign should be continually con-suited by those who speak in his Name.

3. Great carefulness to act in harmony with his revealed will, so that they may not, while professing to work for God, be simply imposing their own fallible judgment on other minds.

4. The cultivation of humility, lest they should aspire to "have dominion over the faith" of men, instead of walking humbly with God, and serving in love like that Son of man who "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister."

II. ABILITY IN SACRED SERVICE. (Ver. 13.) The ability which these priests displayed in the service of the sanctuary was of a somewhat different order from that which is now required in the service of man in the Church of Christ. But it was inspired by the same Divine Being, and it aimed at the same end - the spiritual well-being of the nation. We remark concerning ability in sacred service:

1. That it is, in large part, the gift of God. "Very able men" are "what they are by the grace of God." Their conspicuous ability is his endowment. From the Author of their being come the faculties (memory, imagination, judgment, reason, enthusiasm, strength, will, etc.) which distinguish them from their fellows. They owe their eminence to the supreme hand that raises and levels all things. Therefore

(1) let those who possess remarkable ability wear their honours meekly, remembering whence they came; and therefore

(2) let not those who lack it be envious of those who enjoy it, for then their "eye would be evil" because God is good.

2. That it is, in large part, the product of human effort. The greatest "abilities" will come to no ripeness and bear no fruit without human industry, patience, effort. Many who have it in them to do great things go to the grave having lived useless, wasted lives. Therefore

(1) let those who are gifted of God see to it that they train, mature, and use the capacities they have of him; and

(2) let those who receive the benefit of such ability honour the human while they bless the Divine Author of it.

3. That it is a gift for the use of which its possessors should feel a large measure of responsibility. Who shall measure the vastness of the influence for good or evil which one man of great ability may exert, if we take into account not only the direct but all the indirect results of his action?

4. That the approval and award of the Master depend, not on ability, but on faithfulness. They who have served God with special powers will have the gratification of seeing peculiarly large results; but whether our talents be few or many, if we be faithful at our post, we shall all share the "Well done" of the righteous Judge. - C.

---

---

KJV: And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;

WEB: and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;