Wednesday, October 19, 2016
SCRIPTURE ALONE: THE KINGS
Even at the time of Israel's greatest leaders and at the height of their power as a nation, Scripture alone was still at the forefront of their lives with God. David, Israel's most famous king, relied heavily upon Scripture in his life. After all of David's struggles early on in his life, with Saul threatening to kill him and foreign nations seeking to destroy his people, God eventually gave him peace and rest. Upon receiving this gift, David remarked to the Lord, "For Your word's sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them" (2 Samuel 7:21).
Later, near the end David's life, and even after his own son, Absalom, tried to take the throne; David reminded himself of the same hope he always had in the Word of God, "This God-- his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him" (2 Samuel 22:31). Scripture alone was the way for David, but not all of the kings who would follow the same path in the years after. Faithful rulers would come and go. Eventually, the written Word of the LORD faded to the background.
It took another reformation of sorts to bring it back to the central place of the peoples' lives where it deserved to be. Young King Josiah, upon finding the Book of the Law in the temple, re-instituted the Lord's ceremonies and laws throughout the land. Yet, despite Josiah's reforms, it was ultimately a lack of Scripture that led to the end of the Israel and Judah's kings. 2 Chronicles 36:16 records ominously, "But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy."
When Israel was at its greatest, the Word of God was active in their lives. When they despised and forsook it, they caused great calamity and heartache. We would do well to remember that great leadership is God's gift to us by His Word. It is a product of His grace and mercy and therefore it flows from the power of His voice as it comes to us in Scripture.
