Power to Rule
Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva
December 6, 2008
Greed for power can overwhelm a person. It can push him to do evil to gratify it. And perhaps, the highest kind of power that many people try to covet is the power to rule.
Do we know that if God places a nation under judgment, He allows a wicked ruler to reign? Yes He does. And though He does it, He rejects those wicked men who crave to rule.
Adonijah proclaimed himself as king while King David, his father, was sick and lying in bed. (1 Kings 1:5). He thought it was he who would be the next king to reign since he was the oldest surviving son of David. But he was wrong. He did not know God had earlier promised the throne to Solomon, their youngest brother.
God spoke to David years back when he thought of building a temple for Him. The Lord said to him, “You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on earth in My sight. Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.” (1 Chronicles 22:8-9). That son was Solomon.
When David was informed about Adonijah’s power grab, he ordered Nathan the prophet and Zadok the priest to go down to Gihon and there anoint Solomon as king over Israel. (1 Kings 1:32-35)
So how does a self-proclaimed leader differ from the God-ordained? He avoids the presence of the one truly called for the highest post. Adonijah invited all his brothers except Solomon to see the proclamation he set for himself as new king. (1 Kings 1:19). He hurried for the announcement of his reign. He sought to gain support by holding a victory party at once. He gained support from the disloyal men of the incumbent king. (1 Kings 1:7; 2:9)
The person God had ordained for power will not do such things as Adonijah did. He will wait for God’s timing. God will surround him with faithful and competent men. These all happened to Solomon. He did not struggle to get into power. God took over and messed up the plans of the power grabber. (1 Kings 2:15)
Solomon did what he was called to do as a king. He built the temple of God. And as God promised, his reign had become the glory days of Israel.
Solomon’s story is an instance that tells us this truth. “No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man. But it is God who judges; He brings one down, He exalts another.” (Psalm 75:6-7, NIV)