THE EZRA LEGACY
The Five Dispensations of Scribal Ministry
THE FIVE DISPENSATIONS OF SCRIBAL MINISTRY
Scribal ministry has transformed significantly over the history of the Bible. To place the ministry of the scribe in its proper context, we should be awe of those transitions and how they affect the apostolic-prophetic ministry of the scribe today.
Now that we have covered the foundation of scribal ministry thoroughly, we can move forward with revealing its depths and bringing some things into perspective. This specific insight is original and dug out from The Scribal Anointing®. While I have taught on this extensively at conferences held over the last four years, I only include this teaching INSIDE the CTT program.
It's one of those treasures that we should take the time to explain.
From my research and study over the past 15 years, I have identified five distinct dispensations of scribal through the history of scriptures.
In theology, a dispensation can refer to “a distinctive arrangement or period in history that forms the framework through which God relates to mankind.” I like to think of it as critical points of progress, growth and grace in biblical history and Christianity that govern key moves of God that affect the global church. While this term is often associated with a particular school of theological thought, it is the concept of a “period in history” that I apply to this conversation – nothing more.
With that in mind, we need to see how scribal ministry as we know it today has evolved across the history, culture and spiritual climate of the Bible. In grasping this, we will have a well-rounded or clearer view of who we are, what has been imparted into us and a picture of what the Lord is doing in our present time.
As you read these, we can see how scribal ministry has expanded and evolved over the centuries from Moses until Christ. Everything that I share here, I encourage you to study it out yourself.
Finally, this is important for two reasons: 1. People often teach that scribes are writers. This revelation proves that scribal ministry is more about administration and instruction, and then later creativity through writing; and 2. It fortifies our arguments on the vast depth of scribal ministry in scripture and how it translates into present day. (See the chart, "The Emergence of Scribal Ministry," on page 35 of The Scribal Anointing).
THE FIRST DISPENSATION
Scribes were organized for the first time under the leadership of Moses, a priest and a prophet (Numbers 11). These scribes were given the gift of the Spirit to prophesy into their scribal mandate. Their primary function in this dispensation was to help Moses carry the burden of the congregation which including administering order and establishing protocols for the people. Their functions were highly administrative as they sat on the first Great Council and served as copyists, judges, chiefs of the people, officers of Moses, policy enforcers, interpreters of the Law of Moses, genealogists, record keepers, archivists, etc. This dispensation of the scribe ended upon Moses' death - never to be repeated again. Present-day scribes are not based on this pattern. However, the scribal functions and the scribal work continued as industrious scribes continued sacred traditions. It is from this place that we see ADMINISTRATION AS THE PRIMARY RELEASE OF SCRIBAL MINISTRY!
THE SECOND DISPENSATION
After the scattering of the scribes following the end of Moses's priesthood, our next introduction to scribes is primarily during the reign of kings. We see them randomly serving kings and being involved in various political, civil, and economical efforts. Their activities ranged from managing national records, finances, guarding the treasury of records, handling the correspondence of the King, maintaining genealogies, and serving in multiple scribal military capacities (See the Chart of Biblical Scribes on page 29 of The Scribal Anointing to glimpse their duties). We also see tremendous interaction with kings and scribal prophets who would write and/or record, track and make reports of prophecies concerning nations and kings. While this era is often referred to as the reign of Kings, we are REALLY introduced to PROPHETS AS SCRIBES! Prophets tracked the lives of the kings they prophesied to... and we see others continue and conclude their stories as a result. Today, however, we do not see SCRIBAL PROPHETS operating at this level. This aspect of their gifting is almost NON-EXISTENT.
THE THIRD DISPENSATION OF SCRIBE
During the reign of kings, King David's administration was a game-changer as it relates to scribal activity in the Bible. This King established elaborate administrative protocols where we find scribes not only leading in military initiatives at high-ranking levels, but we see them organizing and building archival systems, engaging in deliberate historical writing, and intentionally keeping accurate histories of kings and their reign. We see deliberate efforts by scribal prophets become more visible in society. We see David establishing a profitable business (vineyards, managing cellars, establishing storehouses across cities, building municipalities, etc.) with SCRIBES leading. King David was extremely creative in how designed his Kingdom. Solomon continued his father's scribal legacy of administration and creative government. (See the chronicles of David in the Bible.)
THE FOURTH DISPENSATION OF SCRIBES
When Ezra rose to prominence, his ministry changed the course of scribal ministry as we know it. He began corporately teaching the people. Before this time, people were primarily taught in clans and family groups. Ezra, however, began to teach the nations of people -- all brought back after the second exile. He was the first to formerly organize and teach teachers-to-teach, creating a precedent of training and equipping leaders to teach the people in a school-like setting. He also re-established the traditions, set protocols, and processes in place to govern the people. Under his leadership, we see all three levels of The Scribal Anointing working succinctly. It is his pattern that manages to squeeze through and into the New Covenant. By this time, we see a new Sanhedrin in place and formal scribe schools emerge. This, however, is NOT the same order as Moses and unlike Ezra, we meet the corruption of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, etc. at the hands of men who had appointed themselves as leaders of the people. (Read Ezra & Nehemiah to see this at work.)
THE FIFTH DISPENSATION OF SCRIBES
Christ rejected the man-made nature of religion set upon people by many in the Pharisaic and scribal order (Matthew 23). It was in this chapter that he rebuked what these groups had become. In Matthew 23:34, he dismantled their order by denouncing their power and authority over the people. He declared that He would SEND prophets, sages, and SCRIBES who had his heart to the people. It was in this declaration that a new order of scribes was birth in the earth and who would be released during the outpouring of the Spirit in Acts 2. This was the final dispensation of the scribe released. It is important because all the functions in the scribal government continued but under the leading of the Holy Spirit. In addition, creativity was multiplied and increased in the congregation as it permeated not only administration and instruction, but worship -- which released a fresh level of creativity through expression. It is final because it was released through Christ! It has been progressively walked out since the day of Pentecost and continues unto this very day. We, however, are at the height of it. Why? Because it has only been in the 21st century that THE SCRIBE has risen in spiritual prominence in the congregation. THIS IS OUR TIME!
Matthew 23:34 ESV is a significant passage for our time. It reads, "Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town..."
This passage is critical to our 21st-century calling. We will talk about this more as we progress in the course. Please review and print the following article for your records, "Is the ministry of the scribe biblically sound?" It provides several of our key scriptures and a concise explanation of scribal ministry that brings all that we have discussed here into context.
In addition, check out these resources:
An article, "More Than A Writer's Anointing"
An article, "10 Things The Office of the Scribe Is Restoring"
An article, "21st Century Solomon's Arising"