Rise and Fall of False Kings

How do the wrong people get into leadership roles?  Where do dictators come from?  Does the Bible have any examples of false leaders who should not have been in their role?  Yes, there are many examples of both good and bad leaders in the Bible.  Below are only five examples from the Old Testament.

Saul was originally the chosen king of Israel (1 Samuel).  However, he did not follow God's directions and fell from God's grace to be replaced by David the newly chosen king.  David did not want to usurp God's first king, even though David had already been anointed to take Saul's place, because he respected the elder's position.  David waits until Saul is no longer king to take his rightful place in leading his country and his people.

“For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: 
because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people."
- 1 Samuel 12:22

As David aged, he selected the next king to replace him.  However, during his reign he had two people who wanted to be king even though they were not worthy of that leadership role.   The first false king was Absalom, a very handsome son of David, who at one time had been expelled from the kingdom because of his wickedness (2 Samuel).  When Absalom was finally welcomed back by his father, he began to scheme a takeover of the throne.  Absalom was killed in part due to his vanity during  his attempt to overthrow the rightful king. Adonijah was the second false king as he to tried to take over the kingdom via a coup too (1 Kings).  He had been a selfish son of the reigning king and believed his good looks were all that was required to be the next king. He was unsuccessful at that time and David remained the true king of Israel.  Adonijah tried again to be king by aemoting a coup over David's chosen successor later and was killed in that attempt. 

"Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: 
for consider how great things he hath done for you. 
But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, 
both ye and your king.”
  1 Samuel 12:24-25

King David chose his son Solomon to be the next true king.  As the chosen king, Solomon ruled wisely and kept a genuine covenant with God for most of his life.  Unfortunately, some of the kings that cam after Solomon did not have as close of a relationship with God.  As a result, their country and people suffered.

Leaders selected by God will be true to their country and people.  Leaders who get their positions by wrongful actions of man or via evil contracts with satan, are false leaders 


No comments:

Post a Comment

Comments on this blog are moderated. If you want it published, please keep it clean