In Genesis 4:9 the Lord said to Cain, where is Abel your brother? Cain replied, I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper? What does a keeper mean in scripture? God’s statement of inquiry appears to be the summary of one of our duties and responsibilities to God on earth by which we will be judged hereafter. If Jesus had said to God, am I mankind’s keeper where would we be now without his sacrifice? We pray that the Holy Spirit will lead us to espouse his word.
Who is a keeper?
A keeper is a person to whom a duty has been entrusted. A keeper must be capable of performance. The duty of a keeper is usually entrusted in utmost good faith of which any breach has consequences. Scripturally, it means God’s ambassador of care for his fellow or neighbour. Neighbours are relatives and none relatives; loved ones or enemies; friends or persecutors; those of the same faith, creed or doctrinally opposed. Jesus’ reference to sheep when he instructed Peter to feed his lambs and sheep in John 21:15,17 meant a keeper of both Jews and Gentiles. A keeper is required to act with conscience, a reasonable mind, honesty and trustworthiness.
A keeper’s duty of care is by divine appointment because God is our keeper as well. God has given us what it takes to perform this divine responsibility towards others. A keeper keeps the divine needs and concerns of others and same is irrevocable till death. It is a show of love to Jesus; and obedience to God as we attend to the needs of others in many and varied material or spiritual forms. A keeper in effect is a custodian of care with accountability to God who is his principal. He can question and be questioned as the rightful person regarding his duty. Today, God is asking of his creation, sons and daughters. Have we been worthy keepers in obedience to God’s command?
We have countless examples of keepers recorded in the bible though sometimes different words or phrases have been used interchangeably to refer to the same or similar functions.
God as a keeper
The Lord God Almighty has been described as a keeper. Psalms 18:2 says the Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. Psalms 21:1-2 say in thy strength the king rejoices, O Lord; and in thy help how greatly he exults! Psalms 23 says the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalms 27:1 says the Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Psalms 91:1-16 say the Lord is a fortress to he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High and who abides in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalms 121:4 also says behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. These examples are by no means exhaustive of references to God Almighty as our keeper.
Jesus Christ as a keeper
Jesus Christ as the savior of the world is our keeper. Jesus said in Matthew 15:24 I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Jesus said in Luke 19:10 the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost. Jesus said in John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. John 10:14 says I know my own and my own knows me. Jesus said in John 10:15 I lay down my life for the sheep. Paul also perceived Jesus as a keeper. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says the Lord comforts us in our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction. 2 Timothy 1:12 says I am sure that he (Jesus) is able to guard until that Day what he (God) has to me.
Other references to a keeper
In our daily lives, God has appointed keepers for us in many forms. Kings are keepers of the kingdoms; Presidents are keepers of their nation; Chiefs are keepers of their communities; Family heads are keepers of their families; Parents are keepers of their children; Teachers are keepers of their pupils or students; Senior siblings are keepers of their younger ones; Pastors are keepers of the souls of their congregation; and Employers are keepers of their employees. We are all keepers of one another; and shepherds are keepers of their flock. Each of these responsibilities is a divine duty so in whatever category we place ourselves, we have a duty to discharge under divine instructions. What matters is the divine duty which does not change with semantics.
God’s charge to a keeper
A charge means a responsibility. God charged David to be a shepherd of the sheep of Israel, Ezekiel 34:23. God made Saul a shepherd of the people of Israel, 1 Chronicles 11:2; 2 Samuel 5:2. We are sons of Christ Jesus by adoption through faith, Romans 8:22-23; Galatians 4:4-5. The consequences for neglect of duty as a keeper is contained in Zachariah 11:17 that woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword smite his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded! Right arm symbolizes the power of truth so if struck, we become only evil or worthless to stand for the truth. Right eye stands for memory or knowledge of good and right and its loss makes us enemies of conscience and of good knowledge.
Jesus’ charge to a keeper
Jesus said in Matthew 5:44-48 I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 19:19 says honour your father and mother, and, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:23; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27 say you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus elucidated in Matthew 25:34-46 I was hungry without food, thirsty without water, stranger without welcome, naked without clothes, sick without visit, in prison and you did not visit me and as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. The story in Luke 10:29-37 about the Good Samaritan depicts the required care of a keeper. A divine charge is so dear to God just as He made Jesus Christ as our keeper. It is ordinarily not negotiable.
Paul’s charge to a keeper
Paul says in Romans 13:5 one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. Romans 13:8 says owe no one anything, except to love one another. Romans 13:9-10 refers to the Ten Commandments. Galatians 5:14 says for the whole law is fulfilled in one word, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. James 2:8 says if you really fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, you shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well. Romans 12:20 says if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink. God will require the blood of those we have directly or indirectly cause death to spiritually or physically out of our hands. Are we our brothers’ keepers? Let us REPENT and pray for FORGIVENESS in the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, we have failed as keepers and now know the penalties of our neglect. We repent and ask for grace to be worthy keepers. Touch our hearts to feel what others feel. Release us from the bondage of neglect and flood our hearts with love and care from above. In your holy name we pray, Amen!!
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