1 & 2 Kings: Inauguration

It might seem strange to start the year with a devotional on 1 & 2 Kings but it actually is quite appropriate.  In this new year a president-elect is soon to be inaugurated. Somewhere around 1010 B.C., David, arguably the nation of Israel’s greatest king, just before he died passed great wisdom to his son Solomon. His words if heeded by any newly elected leader or monarch in modern times would make a significant difference.

Meditation
1 Kings 2:1-4—As the time approached for David to die, he instructed his son Solomon, “As for me, I am going the way of all of the earth. Be strong and be courageous like a man, and keep your obligation to the Lord your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees. This is written in the law of Moses, so that you will have success in everything you do and wherever you turn, and so that the Lord will carry out His promise that He made to me: ‘If your sons are careful to walk faithfully before Me with their whole mind and heart, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’”
 
The kingdoms of Judah and Israel are specifically referenced in the original book called Kings (later divided by the translators of the Septuagint—the Greek translation of the Old Testament).[1]  Twenty kings of Judah, 22 Israelite kings, and scores of named and unnamed prophets are featured.  David’s final message to Solomon set the immediate tone for what God expected of His leaders.

Sadly, the majority of the kings in Judah and Israel’s history were evil. They failed because they ignored the historical words of the warrior/songwriter and the warnings of contemporary prophets. Corruption, vacillation, selfishness, nepotism and depravity rose and dominated until kingdoms crashed and burned. About 410 years contain the tragic stories of steady corrosion caused by wicked rulers eventually leading to both kingdoms being conquered, humiliated and deported.[2]
           
In stark contrast, those crowned who heeded David’s words were blessed. Periods of prosperity favored rulers who lovingly served God. How the leader behaved determined how the nation fared.  God rewarded strong, courageous kings with victories. He honored those who obeyed Him with peace and guidance from wise prophets. Essentially the books of Kings share the formula for a nation’s failure or success.  
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Therefore, when a nation inaugurates it should do so with a sober realization of history.  It should embrace prayer for its leaders for what is needed, required and expected by God.  For a free republic, the people should understand and own their responsibility to ensure that those they put into positions of governance are held accountable to the dictates first of their Constitution and most importantly to the sovereign will of Almighty God.  
 
Meditation
Our world does not want clever leaders, it wants credible leaders.  We want leaders who will emphasize integrity instead of image, leaders who have nothing to fear and nothing to hide.—James R. Carter in his sermon “Maintain the Honor.”
 
©2021 Daniel York ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)


[1] HCSB Study Bible, 2010, Holman Bible Publishers, p. 542.
[2] Ibid