This chapter is about leaders in the church. I want to say at the outset that it's good for EVERY believer to strive to live up to these qualifications even if we are not called into the position.
The first office mentioned is "elder." Some translations render this "bishop" which literally means "overseer." The terms "elder," "bishop," and "pastor," all refer to the same office in the church. Each term places a slightly different emphasis on the pastor's responsibilities. This is an honorable position; therefore, an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. Of course, no believer is perfect, but a pastor (and the rest of us as well) should live in such a way as to not bring shame or reproach on the testimony of Christ and His church. Following are some examples of areas of his life that a pastor/bishop/elder be careful of
- He should be faithful to his wife--literally a "one-woman man." This forbids polygamy (which may have been an issue in the 1st century) and promiscuity. Nothing destroys a person's testimony faster than rumors of or actual guilt in the area of adultery.
- He must exercise self-control
- Live wisely
- Have a good reputation
- Be hospitable
- Able to teach
- Not given to alcohol
- Not violent
- Gentle
- Not quarrelsome
- Not a lover of money
- He must manage his family well
- He must not be a new believer
If this psalm sounds pretty familiar, it's because it is closely related to Psalms 57 and 60. It is a psalm of praise and thanks to God for a great victory. There's not much in this world that we can have total confidence in, but we can say, "My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!"
The psalmist (David in this case) thanks God among the people and sings His praises among the nations. We should praise God always--in private and in public!
Then he mentions some of the reasons we should thank and praise God:
- His unfailing love is higher than the heavens
- His faithfulness reaches to the clouds
The remainder of the psalm is asking God for victory over Israel's enemies. The last verse includes these words, "With God's help we will do mighty things." And indeed we can; with God's help we can do more than we think possible!
Here is a song based on this psalm. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QRXCYHh9hg
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