Truth #26 - God establishes leadership and sustains it - Isaiah 18-22

Isaiah 22:22-25

“Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder,

When he opens no one will shut,

When he shuts no one will open. 

“I will drive him like a peg in a firm place,

And he will become a throne of glory to his father’s house.

So they will hang on him all the glory of his father’s house, offspring and issue, all the least of vessels, from bowls to all the jars. In that day,” declares the Lord of hosts, “the peg driven in a firm place will give way; it will even break off and fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut off, for the Lord has spoken.”

In chapter 22 of this prophet's book, there is a prophesy in regard to the leadership of Jerusalem.   Suffice it to say for this small writing that one leader will replace another leader.   Since each leader does not glorify God, one is replaced with another.    Although the names change the results remain the same.   In the above passage God is said to put the "key of the house of David (Jerusalem) on his shoulder," referring to a new leader.   By God's authority he will be able to "shut" and to "open" the doors to anyone.  This means he will have absolute authority.   And, as the philosopher has said, "absolute power corrupts, absolutely."    He is going to be a firm leader ... for awhile.    He will be a like a "peg in a firm place."   We might think of a peg driven into the wall from which we could hang pots and pans and other vessels.   God establishes power and gives leaders their stability, structure and strength.   He places their "pegs" in their chosen walls.   Yet, man, without Christ sustaining him, cannot hold the responsibility of leadership.  Unless it is done in the Spirit and through Christ.  The "peg driven in a firm place will give way."   It will "even break off and fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut off."    God is the only One who can sustain leadership.   Leadership that is held by its own strength will always fail.   Isaiah prophesied during the time of many kings in Israel.  When one was appointed, he soon fell, only to be followed by another, who would also fall ... so on and so fourth.   Leaders can become so full of themselves that they think too much of their great success (the are the GREAT peg in the wall, holding MANY vessels).  Soon the pressure and the weight of the leadership pulls them right from that wall.    Only God can sustain that leadership.   Note the last five words of the above prophecy:  "... for the Lord has spoken."   That is the final word.   The truth here:  Leadership in His strength is preserved ... leadership in our own strength is pulled from the wall.