2 Kings 23:17 English Standard Version (ESV) Then he said, “What is that monument that I see?” And the men of the city told him, “It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and predicted[a] these things that you have done against the altar at Bethel.”

In 2 Kings 23:17, the King James Version has “title” for tsiyyun. The word is connected with tsawah, “to command,” and King James Version seems to have understood tsiyyun as “that giving directions,” “sign-posts” (compare Ezekiel 39:15). The word, however, means “grave-stone,” “monument.” Ref. International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

The word title came to me this morning and in doing my study this morning I discovered it is not used in the ESV at all and appears only five times in the KJV. Once in second Kings, twice in Job and twice in the gospel of John.

Job 32:21-22 King James Version

21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.

Elihu’s comments gave me pause as I considered how the word title was used in the gospel of John.

John 19:19 King James Version (KJV) And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews.

For Jesus Christ, His monument, His sign-post, His directions were not at His grave site, it was His Cross. The message of the Cross is clear but until today I had not discovered how God’s Word had connected all the dots to give that deeper meaning to it as a monument.

I discovered this only because the Lord gave me a word and I went where the Lord led me. In my thinking it might have been about titles like apostle, pastor, teacher, priest, but I was wrong.

We must give way to what we think we know in order to discover what the Lord is showing us.

In the grand scheme of things this is not important, but the next Word of the Lord might have some significant impact on someone’s life. We never know until we listen and follow where the Lord is leading us.

1 Peter 5:1-5 English Standard Version

Shepherd the Flock of God

5 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Think of one individual in your experience that you have submitted to willingly.

Odds are that person exhibits gracious humility. For all the respect and honor bestowed upon that person, they have not allowed it to go to their head.

They will choose their words wisely. They will consider the situation and offer sound advice that brings peace to doubt. Their lives will be ordered without chaos or clutter. They will be focused on the subject at hand. Their calm makes you comfortable, putting you at ease and reducing any stress you might have come with in the moment.

These are the attributes of one person I know has shown the best examples which inspire me to be better than my past. We should be inspired. They are human and have achieved a measure of grace, wisdom and humility which should say to us, “Christ can do this in me also.”

None of the attributes listed are restricted to title or position, gifts or callings. Peter calls for all of us to be clothed in like manner, to be an example to the next generation. Examples do not need titles to be effective.