Friday, October
20, 2017
“When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself
this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. He must always keep that copy with him and
read it daily as long as he lives. That
way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms
of these instructions and decrees. This
regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is
above his fellow citizens. It will also
prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants
will reign for many generations in Israel.
Deuteronomy 17:18-20(NLT)
Before
the nation of Israel even crossed the threshold from the wilderness into the
Promised Land, God laid out instructions for the kind of king they must have if
they chose a new leader.
Familiar with Scripture
The
new king would have to personally
copy the Scriptures and keep the scroll with him every day, reading and
understanding it as a lifestyle for a lifetime.
Familiar with Humility
The
Scripture, read daily and taken intimately as a guide is the best prophylactic
for pride. When a person becomes king the
rarified air of state dinners, cameras flashing, people bowing, motorcades, and
all the pomp and circumstance associated with power can lead to thinking you’re
above everyone. In fact, however, that
only works against the reality that a servant must find a way to be under those he serves. That, not budgets, treaties and managing the
underlings, is the real task of a king.
From
my perspective, I do not see much of that kind of leadership in our world these
days. I see plenty of posturing, jawing,
and lording it over those with less power, but what I do not see is the kind of
character and integrity of a leader in Scripture’s instructions. Indeed, Scripture is relegated to a
manipulative tool when speaking to those groups who are “religious” and band
together to manipulate their own brand of power-brokering.
There
are bright spots in leaders from time to time, so this is not a blanket
indictment of all modern leaders, but the modern prototype for a king seems to
be brash, forceful and proud, with a decided arrogance that uses a lot of the
personal pronoun to evaluate whatever’s going on.
This
is a formula diametrically-opposite of that which ensures a crown will endure
for many generations.
Contrary
to what my grandchildren think, I am not old enough to have observed the likes
of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.
They may have been their generation’s version of today’s leaders;
history doesn’t paint them so, but rather as more humble and servant-like. May their tribe be found again.
For You
Today
Who
and What are under the crown of your leader?
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