When the Church becomes a house of exclusivity, it becomes home to self-made kingdoms. This unfortunately, perpetuates idolatry “unaware”.

Many are familiar with the passage from Isaiah 22 known as The Valley Of Vision, as it is often quoted from verse 22, “And the key of the house of David I will lay upon his shoulder; he shall open and no one shall shut, he shall shut and no one shall open.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭22:22‬ ‭AMPC‬‬.

However, if you read the chapter in it’s entirety, this is a changing of the guard verse. Earlier in the chapter the leaders in Jerusalem fled with the King, they saw breaches in wall of the city of David and tore down houses to provide themselves materials to expand the city wall. Additionally, Shebna who was a steward and in charge of the royal household was building himself a tomb worthy of a king. The Lord refers to Shebna as the shame of his masters house for his lack of humility and assuming a position that he wasn’t entitled to. Furthermore, he was attempting to affix himself in the foundation. “Come, go to this [contemptible] steward and treasurer, to Shebna, who is over the house [but who is presumptuous enough to be building himself a tomb among those of the mighty, a tomb worthy of a king], and say to him, What business have you here? And whom have you entombed here, that you have the right to hew out for yourself a tomb here? He hews out a sepulcher for himself on the height! He carves out a dwelling for himself in the rock!” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭22:15-16‬ ‭AMPC‬‬. The foundations are at risk, says the Lord!

Not all that is being built is from the Lord, and it may seem right to man, even those who are in leadership but the Lord will have His way. It’s better to yield to the Lord now than have it stripped away by Him. As written above, we may be taking from the security and provision of others (tearing down homes) to build what seems to be a stronger wall for the protection of all and/or ‘the greater good’, yet it is damaging to those within those fortified walls, aka The Body.

“Behold, the Lord will hurl you away violently, O you strong man; yes, He will take tight hold of you and He will surely cover you [with shame]. He will surely roll you up in a bundle [Shebna] and toss you like a ball into a large country; there you will die and there will be your splendid chariots, you disgrace to your master’s house! And I will thrust you from your office, and from your station will you be pulled down. And in that day I will call My servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. And I will clothe him with your robe and will bind your girdle on him and will commit your authority to his hand; he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. And the key of the house of David I will lay upon his shoulder; he shall open and no one shall shut, he shall shut and no one shall open. And I will fasten him like a peg or nail in a firm place; and he will become a throne of honor and glory to his father’s house.” Isaiah‬ ‭22:17-23‬ ‭AMPC‬‬