I will make your Overseers Peace and your Taskmasters Righteousness.

[Mr. M]

Isaiah 60:17 Instead of bronze I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver;
instead of wood, bronze, instead of stones, iron.
I will make your overseers peace and your taskmasters righteousness.

To understand the dynamics of the taskmaster and overseers in their relationship to the Ecclesia, we can turn to the narrative in Exodus 5 in regards to Hebrew slaves and the Egyptians. The taskmasters were the Egyptians, but the officers were Hebrew overseers who acted as intermediaries to the laborers.

Exodus 5:

6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen (overseers), 

7 You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves.

Converts to Christianity should be made aware that they will face difficulties which by design will drive them toward serving righteousness, that they may know peace in their lives and homes, and among themselves. 

In the unrighteous dynamic of man's system of slavery, the overseers are widely reviled for cooperating with the oppressor. They are found to be cruel beyond measure and for good reason. When the taskmaster was dissatisfied, the overseers paid the price in punishment.

14 And the overseers of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?”

This became most evident of the sinful nature of man in the concentration camps. Jews who were given the slightest authority in the camp were cold and merciless to fellow Jews with few exceptions. This is a straight up base survival instinct. A most insightful reference for this dynamic can be found in Victor Frankel's "Man's Search For Meaning", and his harrowing account of life in the camps from the perspective of one who was a preeminent psychologist.

In the New Testament this dynamic is played out in the role of the publicans. The Jewish tax collectors served the Roman taskmasters, and were reviled by the people as opportunistic and criminal. With these insights and a study of the Gospels with a perspective on the tax collectors, interactions of Christ with Levi/Matthew and Zacchaeus and many other teachings of Christ become all the more instructive.

Here is the mandate for the Church

Romans 6:

16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 

17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 

18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 

19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

I will leave the reader with the opportunity to apply this to the Church and its leadership in spiritual mindedness.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

 

Edited August 19, 2024 by Mr. M

[farouk]

There's also the vital aspect of righteousness within the central truth of justification (Romans; Galatians); which should produce not self-righteousness but the 'obedience of faith'/'obedience to the faith' - Paul to the Romans.

[Mr. M]

On 8/13/2024 at 10:34 AM, farouk said:

There's also the vital aspect of righteousness within the central truth of justification (Romans; Galatians); which should produce not self-righteousness but the 'obedience of faith'/'obedience to the faith' - Paul to the Romans.

Justification, like salvation, is worked out through acts of obedience.

When works of righteousness=obedience of faith,

the actions are justified in Christ.

To move forward beyond the doctrines of Christ, we transgress.

2 John 1:9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide

in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.

He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 

 

Righteousness and Peace form a powerful dynamic for the believer.

James 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

This is also the basis for chastening in discipleship.

Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful;

nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness

to those who have been trained by it.

 

None of this stands without the absolute necessity for humility.

Luke 18:

13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much

as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying,

‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; 

for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,

and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

 

To be self-righteous is to be unjustified.

Edited August 20, 2024 by Mr. M

[Mr. M]

11 hours ago, Mr. M said:

Righteousness and Peace form a powerful dynamic for the believer.

James 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Isaiah 32:

17 The work of righteousness will be peace,
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
18 My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation,
In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places,

[In the Clouds]

2 Cor 5

¹⁵ And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

¹⁶ Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

------

Righteousness is our task to honor God.  Thank you, Jesus

[Mr. M]

On 8/13/2024 at 10:07 PM, Mr. M said:

Isaiah 32:

17 The work of righteousness will be peace,
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
18 My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation,
In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places,

Jeremiah 51:10 The Lord has revealed our righteousness.
Come and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God.

1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you.

He who practices righteousness is righteous,

just as He is righteous.

[BibleGuy]

Righteousness is something we DO (1Jn.2:29;3:7).  What do we do?  John goes on to tell us:  God's commands (1Jn.5:3).

Where are God's commands found?  Torah!  (1Ki.2:3).

 

We DO righteousness in obedience to Torah.  (also Mt. 5:19-20.  also Is.51:7.  also Dt. 6:5,25.  also Ps. 119:3+1Ki.2:3.  etc.)

Blessings...

 

 

 

[steve morrow]

THE  SNARE  OF  COVETEOUSNESS

 

GALATIANS 5:7  you did run well who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth 

--5:8--  this persuasion cometh not of  HIM  that calleth you 

 

PROVERBS 22:20  have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge 

--22:21--  that I might make thee know the words of truth that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee 

 

ROMANS 6:16  know you not that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey his servants you are to whom you obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness 

ROMANS 10:3  for they being ignorant of  GODS  righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of  GOD

 

PSALM 9:15 the heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made in the net which they hid is their own foot taken

--9:16-- THE  LORD  is known by the judgment which  HE  executeth the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands 

 

--9:17--  the wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget  GOD

 

PSALM 119:144  the righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting give me understanding and I shall live 

PSALM 119:36  incline my heart unto thy testimonies and not to covetousness 

JOHN 5:34  but I receive not testimony from man but these things  --I  SAY--  that you might be saved 

 

PROVERBS 12:13  the wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips but the just shall come out of trouble 

PSALM 60:11  give us help from trouble for vain is the help of man 

 

THE  TORAH ??

 

ROMANS 8:1  there is now therefore no condemnation to them which are in  CHRIST  JESUS  who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit 

--8:2--  for the law of the spirit of life in  CHRIST  JESUS  HATH  made me free from the law of sin and death

2 CORINTHIANS 2:7  but if the ministration of death written and engraven in stones was glorious so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance which glory was to be done away 

--3:11--  for if that which is done away was glorious much more that which remaineth is glorious 

--3:14--  but their minds were blinded for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament which vail is done away in  CHRIST

 

HEBREWS 7:12  for the priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change also of the law 

--7:22--  by so much was  JESUS  made a surety of a better testament 

--7:23--  and they truly were many priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death 

--7:24--  but this man because  HE  continueth ever hath an unchangeable priesthood 

 

LOVING  THE  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST

 

[D. Adrien]

7 hours ago, steve morrow said:

THE  SNARE  OF  COVETEOUSNESS

 

GALATIANS 5:7  you did run well who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth 

--5:8--  this persuasion cometh not of  HIM  that calleth you 

 

PROVERBS 22:20  have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge 

--22:21--  that I might make thee know the words of truth that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee 

 

ROMANS 6:16  know you not that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey his servants you are to whom you obey whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness 

ROMANS 10:3  for they being ignorant of  GODS  righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of  GOD

 

PSALM 9:15 the heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made in the net which they hid is their own foot taken

--9:16-- THE  LORD  is known by the judgment which  HE  executeth the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands 

 

--9:17--  the wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget  GOD

 

PSALM 119:144  the righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting give me understanding and I shall live 

PSALM 119:36  incline my heart unto thy testimonies and not to covetousness 

JOHN 5:34  but I receive not testimony from man but these things  --I  SAY--  that you might be saved 

 

PROVERBS 12:13  the wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips but the just shall come out of trouble 

PSALM 60:11  give us help from trouble for vain is the help of man 

 

THE  TORAH ??

 

ROMANS 8:1  there is now therefore no condemnation to them which are in  CHRIST  JESUS  who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit 

--8:2--  for the law of the spirit of life in  CHRIST  JESUS  HATH  made me free from the law of sin and death

2 CORINTHIANS 2:7  but if the ministration of death written and engraven in stones was glorious so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance which glory was to be done away 

--3:11--  for if that which is done away was glorious much more that which remaineth is glorious 

--3:14--  but their minds were blinded for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament which vail is done away in  CHRIST

 

HEBREWS 7:12  for the priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change also of the law 

--7:22--  by so much was  JESUS  made a surety of a better testament 

--7:23--  and they truly were many priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death 

--7:24--  but this man because  HE  continueth ever hath an unchangeable priesthood 

 

LOVING  THE  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST

 

O.T. establishes the letter of the law.

N.T. sets forth the spirit of the law.

[farouk]

On 8/14/2024 at 1:07 AM, Mr. M said:

Isaiah 32:

17 The work of righteousness will be peace,
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
18 My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation,
In secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places,

Ji @Mr. M I just thought of Isaiah 32.17 also and then saw you had posted it........