Week Fifty - The Tired Pastor

Today I want to share some Scriptures that caught my attention during my daily Bible reading. In 2 Chronicles 29:34, we read, "But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings; wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests."

I made a little note next to this verse: "Interesting." These priests seemed lazy in their work and ill-prepared when Hezekiah called for the passover. I wondered why and dismissed them as lazy souls.

I moved on with my reading and came to 30:18-20 reading, "A multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, the good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people."

That is interesting, too. Even though the people weren't ready to do the passover as God had prescribed, He granted them mercy and acceptance.

Reading on, I came to 31:4. Here I had to stop and think for a while. It reads, "Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the Lord."

Why did these priest needs encouragement? As I thought about what had been taking place, I remembered they had been under Ahaz, a wicked king, and hardly anybody was going to "church." The house of God was not cared for, full of evil and idolatry, and now Hezekiah was trying to put things right. These men of God were discouraged, probably wondering why God even bothered to have a tribe dedicated to a temple that wasn't loved and appreciated. They needed encouragement to pick up the banner and get back on board with the task.

Before I share a few thoughts, the Bible speaks of encouragement again in 2 Chronicles 35:2 when Josiah calls for the passover. "And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the Lord."

This idea of encouraging spiritual leaders and servants has carried through several chapters, reminding us of the need to uplift and encourage those who serve us in spiritual matters.

Theirs is a different weight of responsibility than ours in the pew. Theirs is a calling, and we should not be neglectful in remembering them in prayer, showing appreciation, and helping and giving where we can. These small acts of kindness and thought, and our faithful attendance and participation, are a source of encouragement for them.

Does your pastor seem weary? Is the light in his eyes dim? He may need encouragement and some appreciation. This is a good season to express love. How will you encourage him in his work?