PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY - MEDITATE DAY AND NIGHT
July 5th, 2026.
Shebna was a steward in the palace of David. He was the palace administrator and he held the keys to the doors (Isa. 22:15-16). He opened and closed the doors and had the power to decide who came in and who did not. But he was corrupt and the Lord said; “Beware, the Lord is about to take firm hold of you and hurl you away, you mighty man ... .I will depose you from your office, and you will be ousted from your position.” (Isa. 22:17 & 19) Link this to what Jesus said: “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.” (John 12:31) Cross reference with Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:16-18 and Revelation 12:7-12.
The link to the above is that Jesus chose Caesarea Philippi to reveal who He is. ‘Apparently known as Baal Hermon and Baal Gad in the Old Testament period, this site later was named Panias after the Greek god Pan who was worshiped here. There is no record of Jesus entering the city, but the great confession and the transfiguration both occurred in the vicinity of the city (Matt 16:13), then known as Caesarea Philippi.’ (Biblical History) “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Mat. 16:15-16) The Truth standing where deceit had lived for years.
The next is the collecting of the keys from Shebna (Satan rep) and passing it on to Eliakim son of Hilkiah. “I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” (Isa. 22:22) In the same manner, Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. …. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Mat. 16:19) Just as Eliakim served as the prime minister or chief steward over the earthly kingdom of David, Peter is appointed as the chief steward over the spiritual kingdom of Christ (the Church). The two images fit perfectly. A steward opens and shuts the door of the house, a teacher opens the door to the word of God. Both are about giving access. (See Mat. 18:18 Jesus was not talking to Peter alone now but all believers - John 20:23 the key is about opening the door for forgiveness)
Otherwise, the keys in the hands of the wrong people will be subject to abuse. “...... teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” (Mat. 23:13) Which are you? Shebna, hypocrite, Eliakim, or Peter? The keys to stewardship of the kingdom of God are in your hands.
THE WORD: “And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:22-23 NIV)
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