The Old Testament prophets and priests functioned as the spiritual leaders of God’s people. Jeremiah 23 frames the dismal picture of what that role had become. Truly, it does not sound far off from many of those in spiritual leadership today.
11 For both prophet and priest are profane;
yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 23:11
The spiritual leadership in the prophet Jeremiah’s day claimed they spoke for God but never tried to restrain the people from doing evil. They only comforted them and told them everything was fine. However, God reminded Jeremiah that His Word was not comfortable. It was a fire, and like a hammer breaking rocks in pieces. God’s Word is not meant to leave us in our sin. It is meant to refine and chisel us into His image.
The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. 29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23:28-29
Godly, spiritual leadership requires boldness. It speaks God’s truth despite the culture. Spiritual leaders, those who claim to speak for God, are also held accountable for what is taught.
34 And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house. Jeremiah 23:34
Many people today attempt to adapt God’s truth to fit into the culture. Young people often tell me that the Bible is old-fashioned and does not speak for today’s modern world. However, it is most likely that these young people are listening to more people talk about the Bible than they are reading it themselves. Those who make the effort to read God’s Word for themselves will find the timelessness of God’s truth. They will find God’s truth dynamic, meaning it is a living book that finds new application in every season of life. Whether it is read or not, however, the world is still responsible for what it says. It is crucial that those who claim to follow Jesus know what Jesus believed and then lived out. John 1:14 boldly states that Jesus is the Word made flesh. Therefore, everything in God’s Word has been preserved by God for the followers of Jesus to learn and obey.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14
How do we know that the Scripture we hold in our hands is the same Word made flesh that John wrote about? Do we really doubt that the God who sustains the Universe could not preserve His Word as He promised in Psalm 12:6-7?
The words of the LORD are pure words:
as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD,
thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. Psalms 12:6-7
Right now, women in the pulpit are a hot topic because Southern Baptists are attempting to codify their bylaws. While Jesus elevated and welcomed women into His ministry, He did not appoint them as His disciples. Perhaps that was cultural, but the Apostle Paul had more to say about it in 1 Timothy 2:12-14. Eve was misled by Satan; Adam made a conscious choice to disobey God. This is Paul’s reasoning for women not holding authority over men.
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 1 Timothy 2:11-14
However, it should be noted that a woman was the first to share the good news of the Resurrection with the disciples.
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. John 20:1-2
A woman and her husband counseled a man who only knew John’s baptism.
And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. Acts 18:24-26
Women prophesied, ministered, and prayed together with the men in the early church.
And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. Acts 21:8-9
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. Acts 9:36
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 1:14
Again, Paul’s instructions to the early Gentile churches put structure in place where Jewish tradition held no history. 1 Timothy 3 specifies that bishops must be husbands of one wife. Titus 2 directs the older women to instruct the younger women. Ephesians 5 organizes the structure of the home, reminding the women to submit to their own husbands because the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church.
Ultimately, this is why women do not hold the role of pastor in the church. Marriage is the picture of Christ and His church. When women submit to their husbands, they, like the church, ultimately submit themselves under Christ. When a woman pastors, she is taking a role and responsibility that was never meant for her. While it may not fit with the culture we live in now, it is still God’s timeless truth.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Ephesians 5:22-33
Once again, every person must decide for themselves whether they will believe and obey the entirety of God’s Word, or only those things that they like. As Jeremiah said so long ago, however, truth was never meant to be comfortable and enjoyable. It burns away the dross, and it breaks our wills as it brings us into submission to God. The devils believe and tremble, but they do not obey. What will you do with God’s Word?
His Song in the Night 
Amen!
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