Bishop of Our Souls

The word, bishop, comes from the Greek word, episkopos, and literally means an overseer. In most instances this title has reference to a pastor or gospel minister (Acts 20:28; Phil. 1:1; I Tim. 3:1, 2; and Tit. 1:7) and denotes their responsibility and accountability to watch over the flock (congregation) over the which the Holy Ghost has made them overseers. However, in one instance, the term is used in reference to Christ: 1 Pet. 2:25, "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and BISHOP of your souls."

Jesus Christ is the "bishops of our souls." Jesus and Jesus alone has the responsibility and accountability for our eternal salvation as he said in John 6:37 39, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.  And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." Consequently, we are "preserved in Jesus Christ" (Jude 1) and not a one of us shall be lost: "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." (John 10:28 30).

While we may suffer troubles in this life we are as secure as Job was when Satan designed to destroy him as the Lord said,"Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life" (Job 2:6). Satan cannot touch our eternal life because our Bishop is watching over us and not one of us will be lost!

Jesus' work as a Bishop extends beyond just preserving our eternal life. He also watches over his people as we live in this time world.  According to Ps. 34:7, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." This lesson is illustrated in II Kings 6:13 18 when the king of Syria had sent an host to capture Elisha the prophet and when Elisha's servant saw the great host encompassing the city he cried, "Alas, my master! How shall we do?" To which Elisha answered, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they which be with them." Then Elisha prayed, "Lord, I pray thee, open the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."

Ps. 34, 121, and 139 are full of precious treasures of the Lord's oversight over his people. A few of these nuggets are presented below:

1. Ps. 34:4, "I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." The Lord's people have many fears in life, yet the Lord watches over us and delivers us from our fears.

2. Ps. 34:6, "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." In Job we read that "man is born unto trouble, as thesparks fly upward." We also read in Job 5:19, "He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee." Again, the Lord watches over us in our troubles and delivers us as he did the "poor man" of Ps. 34:6.

3. Ps. 34:9, "O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him." The word "want" here means "lack." Thus the Lord watches over us to supply all of our needs so that we do not lack anything that we need.

4. Ps. 34:15, 17, "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry...The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles." Thus the Lord watches over us, listens to our prayers, and delivers us from our
troubles.

5. Ps 139 tells us just how closely and intimately the Lord watches over us: Ps. 139:1 10, "O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my down sittings and mine uprisings, thou understandest my thoughts afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from they spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."

6. Ps. 121 also speaks of the Lord's watch care over us. The three key words in this chapter are help, keep, and preserve. The Lord is our helper, he is our keeper, and he is our preserver. With such an overseer as this we truly have no reason to want or fear for indeed the Lord is the "Bishop" of our souls.


THE LORD WILL

1. For the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
2. For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
3. But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
4. The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. 5. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
6. The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
7. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
8. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
10. I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
11. For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
12. For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.
13. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:
14. I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
15. The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
16. The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
17. Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
18. And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
19. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
20. For the Lord will not cast off for ever:
21. But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
22. Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
23. The LORD will be the hope of his people,
24. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.