“You may… set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose.” Deuteronomy 17:15
Leaders are to be qualified in character and ability. Moses gives us seven marks of a godly king, and all of them are reflected in the New Testament qualifications for deacons and elders.
- The king must be anointed by God (17:15). “Pick out from among you seven men… full of the Spirit” (Acts 6:3).
- The king must be from among God’s people—not a foreigner (17:15). “Pick out from among you seven men…” (Acts 6:3).
- The king must exercise faith—he must not put his trust in horses (17:16). “They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5).
- The king must be loyal—he must not have many wives (17:17). “An overseer must be… the husband of one wife” (1 Tim. 3:2).
- The king must not be greedy—he must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold (17:17). An overseer must not be “a lover of money” (1 Tim. 3:3).
- The king must be a student of Scripture—he is to read the law all the days of his life (17:18-19). Deacons “must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience” (1 Tim. 3:9).
- The king is not to consider himself better than his brothers (17:20). Elders are to serve, “not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:3).
Do you see the wonderful unity of this? God is looking for a particular character in those who are given responsibility for His church—in every generation and in every place.
Reflect on the qualities of your spiritual leaders and give thanks to God for them.
