This young prince of the king was very handsome, and also vain about his long hair. He was also very proud and crafty. By demonstrating his form of justice and defending his sister's honor, he believed he could also act similarly for others— if he were king. So he got himself a set of hot wheels and rode down to the courthouse in his fine chariot to meet with the people who had issues that needed to be resolved by the king's court. When the men met the young prince they would bow before him, but then he would hug and kiss them when they got up. He would listen to their complaints, and would agree with their concerns. He would tell them, "If I were king..." He promised he would give them what they wanted. (This sounds like a lot of politicians today.) He did this day after day until he had stolen the hearts of the people. The people deserved justice and he would be the one to give it to them.
Finally, it was time to act and have a vote, and so the conspiracy began. He lied to his father the king. Then he went to a neighboring city and threw a big party for himself by inviting some military officials, religious leaders and wealthy people. At the party he declared himself King of that city; the people all agreed with this handsome young prince. Perhaps with new blood and fresh ideas they would see the changes they desired. After several days partying—and encouraged by the peoples' acceptance—the wanna-be king along with some army officials planned a coup. In a short time they had gathered the military together and headed for the capitol to overthrow the shepherd King.
When word of this got back to the shepherd King, who loved God with all his heart, he was saddened and alarmed. He didn't want to fight against his own people or his son whom he loved. He decided to leave fate in the hands of God if he were to ever return to the capitol of the kingdom. So he packed his bags, took some servants and the rest of his large family, then headed out of town along with some friends that night, lest they be all dead by morning, For the King knew his son had it in his heart to kill anyone who stood in the way. (How that must have felt to a loving father, one can only imagine.)
When the new wanna-be king arrived at the palace he was furious to find that his father had escaped. One of the councilmen who stayed behind advised him that if he wanted to "get even" he could have sex with ten of the king's concubines in the sight of the whole city, and then the people would really know the difference between he and his father. And so he did; but that didn't satisfy him. He wanted more, so he sought more advice from another councilmen who was a spy left behind by his father. The wanna-be king listened to his advice as to wait and not pursue his father right away, because he was told his father would be very dangerous. Therefore, this gave the shepherd King time to rest and regroup for the attack he knew was imminent.
The wanna-be king and his army finally headed out to kill the shepherd King. As he entered the battle area there were a lot of trees, which was good for cover but bad for the wanna-be king. For in the process of riding under a large oak tree, the vain prince's beautiful long hair got tangled in the branches, yanking him from his steed, leaving him dangling in the air and vulnerable to attack. As it so happened, one of the shepherd King's captains was nearby, saw him and ran the young prince through with a spear—even though his King had commanded that his son's life was to be spared. When the shepherd King heard the news that the young prince was killed, he wept and grieved for days over the loss of the son he loved so much. For the king loved all his sons, even when they were bad.
The shepherd King returned to the city as to reign again in the mercy of the God he loved and served. Years later a similar attempt was made by another foolish son who also wanted to be king. This time the shepherd King announced who would be the next king. It was to be his last son whom God had chosen, just as he was chosen. But this time it was a son of the king who was to be exalted to his rightful position, and this was a Promise made to the shepherd King by the God he loved with his whole heart. And so this young new King who didn't seek the throne for its wealth, honor or power got the privilege to rule. He became the King of Wisdom and built a beautiful temple for his God whom he loved; He also asked for wisdom to serve God's people. Because of that request, Almighty God blessed him with everything, making him king over all other kings.
This story shows the heart of several different kings and a wanna-be kings. There will always be those who are not content or patient, or those who see mercy and kindness as a weakness. God has given us so much, and yet too many people are not content. They want to be (wanna-be) "king of the mountain," a game kids play by pushing other kids down so that they alone remain on the top of their little domain. As adults, many try to do the same, as to control their destinies.
When word of this got back to the shepherd King, who loved God with all his heart, he was saddened and alarmed. He didn't want to fight against his own people or his son whom he loved. He decided to leave fate in the hands of God if he were to ever return to the capitol of the kingdom. So he packed his bags, took some servants and the rest of his large family, then headed out of town along with some friends that night, lest they be all dead by morning, For the King knew his son had it in his heart to kill anyone who stood in the way. (How that must have felt to a loving father, one can only imagine.)
When the new wanna-be king arrived at the palace he was furious to find that his father had escaped. One of the councilmen who stayed behind advised him that if he wanted to "get even" he could have sex with ten of the king's concubines in the sight of the whole city, and then the people would really know the difference between he and his father. And so he did; but that didn't satisfy him. He wanted more, so he sought more advice from another councilmen who was a spy left behind by his father. The wanna-be king listened to his advice as to wait and not pursue his father right away, because he was told his father would be very dangerous. Therefore, this gave the shepherd King time to rest and regroup for the attack he knew was imminent.
The wanna-be king and his army finally headed out to kill the shepherd King. As he entered the battle area there were a lot of trees, which was good for cover but bad for the wanna-be king. For in the process of riding under a large oak tree, the vain prince's beautiful long hair got tangled in the branches, yanking him from his steed, leaving him dangling in the air and vulnerable to attack. As it so happened, one of the shepherd King's captains was nearby, saw him and ran the young prince through with a spear—even though his King had commanded that his son's life was to be spared. When the shepherd King heard the news that the young prince was killed, he wept and grieved for days over the loss of the son he loved so much. For the king loved all his sons, even when they were bad.
The shepherd King returned to the city as to reign again in the mercy of the God he loved and served. Years later a similar attempt was made by another foolish son who also wanted to be king. This time the shepherd King announced who would be the next king. It was to be his last son whom God had chosen, just as he was chosen. But this time it was a son of the king who was to be exalted to his rightful position, and this was a Promise made to the shepherd King by the God he loved with his whole heart. And so this young new King who didn't seek the throne for its wealth, honor or power got the privilege to rule. He became the King of Wisdom and built a beautiful temple for his God whom he loved; He also asked for wisdom to serve God's people. Because of that request, Almighty God blessed him with everything, making him king over all other kings.
This story shows the heart of several different kings and a wanna-be kings. There will always be those who are not content or patient, or those who see mercy and kindness as a weakness. God has given us so much, and yet too many people are not content. They want to be (wanna-be) "king of the mountain," a game kids play by pushing other kids down so that they alone remain on the top of their little domain. As adults, many try to do the same, as to control their destinies.
However, that attitude is not pleasing or acceptable to God. He exalts those who humble themselves, those who wait on Him to be what he wants them to be, those who love and serve Him with all their hearts. God is raising up other sons of David, sons who will be people after God's own heart, people who will rule and reign with him. This little story is a condensed version from the Holy Bible, from I Samuel 16 through I Kings 7. Read it and enjoy the life of David—a man after God's heart—and the lineage of his son, Jesus Christ, the son of David, the King of kings.
No comments:
Post a Comment