THE DEATH OF A PRIEST
A. A. Bellamy
2 Chronicles 24: 15, 16; Hebrews 7: 23, 24; Acts 20: 36–38
The death of a priest, beloved brethren, is felt throughout the priestly family. The poignancy of the death of a priest is impressed upon us at this time. One had thought of Jehoiada as having great distinction in his death. Not only had he contributed effectively in his life to the support of what was for God, but he had been faithful—a faithful man, and able to instruct others also. The service of Jehoiada was rendered not only personally, but in the preservation of the royal seed his wife had a very definite part. One has not to emphasize it unduly, but we have known and observed such service in the life of our brother and his beloved wife, our sister, with us today. Jehoiada was distinguished in his death. The Spirit refers to his having “done good … toward God”. That is the true priestly feature, that God is paramount in the mind of the priest, “toward God and toward his house”. There are many here present today, and most of all his local brethren, who will know what has been done in that connection, and it remains by way of example and stimulation to us all. What has now ceased in the service of our brother is to be carried forward, and first and foremost in his own locality.
It says in Hebrews that death comes in as hindering continuity. That is the simple fact—“many priests ... being hindered from continuing by death”. Then our attention is directed to Christ, beloved brethren, away from the scene of death to the One who has the priesthood, and how much is involved in that. One would refer especially to the ministry of comfort, “For we have not a high priest not able to sympathise with our infirmities, but tempted in all things in like manner, sin apart”, Hebrews 4: 15. Everything is in His hand. God has placed everything there. Nothing will fail. We may be perfectly composed in confidence and faith in the One who has the priesthood unchangeable. He does not delegate it; He has it and He exercises it Himself. He has it intransmissible.
One thought of Paul’s departure, and the personal side. It comes into view as the public apostolic service is concluded, his departure from the midst of his brethren at Miletus. How much he had left with them! Beloved brethren, how much has been left with us, how much entrusted to us. What are we going to do with it? Is there to be a slowing down, is there to be an increase in laxity? Far rather is there to be the principle of continuity. Although death may hinder continuity in certain connections, we have part in a living order of things, in a system which has its centre in the One whose life has been taken from the earth, which involves far more than that He died here. His life has been taken from the earth, but it continues in heaven, it continues in the glorious exercise of His headship in relation to the assembly, His body, which is here upon earth.
So Paul is leaving the brethren with their sorrow—it says, “specially pained by the word which he had said, that they would no more see his face”. One just thought of what he was leaving behind and how he was entrusting things to others. He was charging these elders as to continuing their service on a certain level. What a service it is! “Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, wherein the Holy Spirit has set you as overseers, to shepherd the assembly of God, which he has purchased with the blood of his own”, Acts 20: 28. It was no local matter, merely, but the whole range of divine interests, the assembly on earth. Our brother, if one may refer again to his service, had such an outlook. He was not in any sense confined in his prayers and exercises, as many of us can witness, he had before him the whole assembly, and the shepherding of it, down to certain details in his service which many of us can bear witness to. Well now, beloved brethren, this character of service is to be continued in the energy of the Spirit amongst us, by brothers and sisters, and in our local settings. May it be so for His name’s sake.
Words at the burial of Mr. C. Middleton, St. Albans
3 August 1977