A Tale of Two Kings ∙
Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love. – Proverbs 20:28
Proverbs 30:7-9
7 O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die.
8 First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.
In a piece published in 1883, years after Lincoln’s death, author Robert Ingersoll wrote, “Nothing discloses real character like the use of power. It is easy for the weak to be gentle. Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power. This is the supreme test. It is the glory of Lincoln that, having almost absolute power, he never used it, except upon the side of mercy.”
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power” (attributed to Abraham Lincoln).
Key attributes that define an excellent king include effective leadership, which involves motivating and steering their subjects toward a shared objective; ensuring fairness and impartiality in their judgments and decisions, while upholding the law to guarantee justice for everyone; demonstrating kindness and empathy by being attentive to the needs and concerns of their people; possessing wisdom with a thorough understanding of history, politics, and economics; and exhibiting humility, by being open to feedback and willing to admit errors.
Ultimately, a good king prioritizes the welfare of their people over personal interests and governs with wisdom, fairness, and compassion.
An exemplary figure in history is King Louis IX of France, who reigned from 1226-1270. He was truly extraordinary. His reign was marked by remarkable charity, as he personally tended to the poor and the sick. He was renowned for his justice, piety, diplomatic skill, and military leadership.
How did the kings of the Jewish people fair? Between the era of Solomon and their captivity, there were a total of 39 kings. In Judah, out of 20 kings, only eight were considered good, while 12 were not. In contrast, the northern kingdom of Israel endured a succession of 19 kings, all of whom were deemed evil. They led the people away from the worship of Yahweh, often engaging in idolatry and other practices that were condemned by the prophets.
REFLECT & PRAY
Saul’s downfall began with his reckless and unwise decisions, where he tried to cover up his disobedience with lies. This led to his tragic end, where he ultimately sought guidance from a witch and ended his life on the battlefield.
Father, thank You for bestowing wisdom upon all who seek it with humility and devotion to You. Help me to approach the tasks before me with complete reliance on Your guidance.
INSIGHT
A Tale of Two Kings: Saul
On paper, King Saul seemed ideal. If his resume were available, he would seem like a standout leader, chosen by the people without any scrutiny of his true character or intentions. The darkness of his heart was unknown. A detailed evaluation of his background was necessary but overlooked. Saul’s primary concern was himself, living solely to satisfy his desires.
Saul started as a humble and reluctant leader, but eventually, jealousy and paranoia took hold, leading to his demise. His impatience and disobedience caused him to fall out of favor with the Father and his people. Saul’s life serves as a warning about the perils of power and arrogance, highlighting the need for humility and obedience.
1 Samuel 10:23-25
21 Saul, son of Kish, was chosen from among them . . ..
23 He stood head and shoulders above anyone else.
24 Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the LORD has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
1 Samuel 13:13-14
13 “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. Had you kept it, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.”
14 “But now your kingdom must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already appointed him to be the leader of his people because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”
The man after his own heart is David, “a man who truly has God’s interests at heart” (EBC). According to Hebrew thought, the heart is where a person’s will, desire, and choice are put into action. This may be expressed as “a person whose desire is to serve the LORD” or “the kind of man he wants” (NCV) (UBS).
A Tale of Two Kings: Solomon
On the other hand, Solomon began his reign with humility and dependence upon the Father. He put the people of Israel before himself.
1 Kings 3:5 The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”
Pause for a moment and imagine what that was like. The Father came to him in his dreams. The Father was ready to write checks in any amount. He asked Solomon, tell me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.
Solomon’s humility, character, and heart of faith were revealed for all to see.
1 Kings 3:6-9
6 Solomon replied, “You showed faithful love to your servant, my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued your faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne.”
7 “Now, O LORD my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around.”
8 “And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted!”
9 “Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
The wisest man who ever lived chose to humble himself and become as a child who relies on their father for support. In his time of need, Solomon’s Father showed up and had his back. What could be better than that?
Solomon desperately needed wisdom, knowledge, discernment, insight, and a solid moral compass. He had to discern good from evil, truth from error, and right from wrong. He asked for a discerning heart.
What is a discerning heart?
The phrase a discerning heart is literally a hearing heart. The Hebrew word, which is translated as understanding or discerning, is shama. Shama comes from the Hebrew verb shamah, which is typically translated to hear. It may also mean to understand. The Hebrew phrase could also be translated as an attentive heart or an intelligent heart (UBS).
1 Kings 3:10-14
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom.
11 So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for long life or wealth or the death of your enemies –”
12 “I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!”
13 “And I will also give you what you did not ask for – riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!”
14 “And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.”
Every child of the King has the privilege of requesting a discerning heart from the Father. If one asks with faith and proper intentions, the Father promises to grant their request. (James 4:2-3).
James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
The Father answered Solomon’s prayer and provided godly wisdom, which only comes from above (James 3:15,17). The Father delights in giving wisdom to all children of the King.
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© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 