Today's Sufficient Grace

In the midst of Isaiah's prophecy he singles out one man, Shebna.  For some reason his breach of trust while serving Hezekiah is worthy of demotion. He is replaced by Eliakim.   Therefore we read in Isaiah 22:20–22 (ESV),

"²⁰ In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, ²¹ and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. ²² And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open."

"Eliakim will receive Shebna’s position of power and influence. The key is a symbol of royal authority held by the steward." [2]  "The authority of the steward to make binding decisions in the interests of the king." [2]

The Holy Spirit picks up this thought through the Apostle John in Revelation 3:7 (ESV),

"⁷ “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens."

The glorious role of Christ is revealed.  He has been given all authority and influence.  He is the One that makes binding decisions on behalf of His Father, our God -- the only God.  

"The point of the quotation is that Jesus holds the power over salvation and judgment. In 1:18 the stress is on his sovereignty over death and judgment, while in 3:7 the emphasis is on his authority over those entering the kingdom." [3]  "Christ alone has the authority to admit persons to his heavenly city. Because he is holy and true, no one can ever argue that his admission of some and refusal of others is unrighteous." [4] "The way and manner in which he performs these acts, and that is absolute sovereignty, independent upon the will of men, and irresistible by the power of men." [5]

These are contentious words in our man-centered culture.  But to the Church they are comfort and grace, for they proceed from One who is "holy and true".  We can contend with our human ideologies but we cannot contend with God in Christ Jesus -- we can simply bow and worship this great Sovereign who has the key of David.

 

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1.  Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Is 22:22). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
2. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1279). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
3. Beale, G. K. (1999). The book of Revelation: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 284). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.
4. Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 56). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
5. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 2468). Peabody: Hendrickson.