The four-fold Office of God

Uni-verse 292-10,000 The four-fold office of the Lord Isaiah 33 v 22
Isa 33:22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.




God is our government. In that sense,we are all government servants. Government anywhere consists of legislator or lawgiver, executive and judiciary. God is not only legislator, executive in His Kingly office and judge but He is also Saviour through the person of Jesus. In His role as King, He is with us as a mighty warrior. Our movement through our life on earth is less like a pilgrim’s progress and more like the Israelites’ journey towards the promised land through the wilderness and combating and overcoming natural barriers, foes and enemies. In His first three functions or offices, He is absolutely righteous or holy. In His fourth office as Saviour, He is absolutely forgiving and gracious. In His role as Saviour, Jesus has been the sacrificial lamb that has absolved us. In this role, He is also our High Priest before God, our Advocate on record, our intercessor.


When we accept God as our lawgiver, we will give priority to His Word in our life. We will realize that His Word enshrines the very principles of the moral and spiritual universe and abide by it. When we accept God as our King, we will respect His sovereign will. We will know that He will be as a warrior in our midst who will not let our enemies triumph over us. As far as earthly rulers are concerned, God is both the king-maker and “king-breaker”. When we accept God as our Judge, we will seek justice from Him and be fearful of His judgements on our unrighteous acts. When we accept God as our Saviour, we accept His mercy, forgiveness and love.

When we accept willingly and wholeheartedly, the significance of the four fold offices of God in our lives, He becomes our song, our strength, our light, our fortress and our salvation. He becomes the cause and the source of our joy, the focus of our lives. We will avail of His mercy and wait for His righteous judgements. More than any human court of justice, we will depend on Him to vindicate us. We will trust in His ability and willingness to protect and save us.

Prateep V Philip

UV 271-10000 Proverbs 27 v 23

Uni-verse 271/10,000 For better through verse Proverbs 27 v 23
Pro 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.


Our leadership style must be that of a shepherd-king. David was a shepherd-king. Jesus is a Shepherd-King. We must be diligent in knowing not just the number of the sheep in our flock but also the state of the flock and indeed, the state of each sheep or believer in the church.

A shepherd is aware of the threats the flock are facing at any given moment and takes proactive steps to defend them from becoming a prey. Similarly, we too must evaluate the threats the flock face and take steps to thwart the threats. We must ensure the fencing around the pen is close enough and without gaps for the foxes of deceit and cunning and strife to enter. Our prayer must be proactive and protective. As the Lord Jesus Himself prayed, “ let none of the sheep be lost.”

We must always feed the sheep. Peter was asked repeatedly to feed the Lord’s sheep as a mark of his love. We feed the sheep with the Word of God. We must not look to our own profiting from the sheep but look to the well being of the flock. We must be courageous like David to snatch the sheep from the jaws of an attacking lion (sin, sickness, death). We must multiply the Father’s sheep like Jacob increased the flock of Laban, his father-in-law. We must not while away our time as the sheep graze in different pastures( professions, careers,)but keep harping on praising the Lord, as David did, for what He has done in the midst of the flock and in the life of each believer.


Prateep V Philip