February 12, 2021
Psalm 50:1–6; 1 Kings 14:1–18; 1 Timothy 1:12–20
Jeroboam was raised up as a king in judgment against Solomon and Rehoboam, but even though he had a divine mandate in one sense, that did not excuse him to do anything he wanted. He acted wickedly and so likewise was judged by God.
American politics at least (I don’t know if a similar thing applies in other countries,) has this sense where when a president is elected they then have the people’s mandate to act as they will for 100 days or so. I have heard it noted that maybe because it is a democracy there is the sense that I as a voter have already acted and now there’s nothing to do but watch and wait to see how the new president acts.
Perhaps the parallel is that if someone is chosen for a specific purpose, they have a mandate for that purpose and not for any other. For other things, they must do right by the people and especially do right by God.
Paul consistently in his letters seems to maintain that he is ultimately undeserving of his position. In his letter to Timothy, he mentions as he often does that he is the worst of sinners as one who persecuted the church before being confronted by Jesus. If his letters are any indication of his day-to-day behavior, he strives to balance two things. Humility, knowing that he doesn’t deserve to be an apostle, and a fierce boldness for the gospel, going so far in the letter to the Galatians to say they follow another gospel because they think following Jewish law is essential.
He is strong wherever the gospel itself is at risk. We could take the oft quoted maxim as a guide: In essentials unity, non-essentials liberty, in all things charity/love.
The question will always arise however, as to what is truly essential to the gospel.
