The temptation of power

The story of Israel’s King David’s rise to power is upside down. David had no resume other than his shepherding prowess. He had no aspirations to leadership. He was consistently overlooked by everyone – even by his own family. He was not the ideal candidate to lead a fledgling nation. Nor was he whom most would have chosen to depose a morally compromised national leader – King Saul as Israel’s first king had started well but drifted into pride and obstinance. Yet David was God’s choice, for inexplicable reasons to most.

His only qualification is revealed in 1 Samuel 13:14 and quoted again in the New Testament:

“After removing [Saul], [God] raised up David as their king and testified about him, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my will.’’ (Acts 13:22)

David didn’t want power. He wanted God’s heart. That was enough.

In days of worldly leadership and national elections, we may with a high degree of confidence state that none on the ballot want God’s heart above all else. So what do who have sincere convictions that when a nation honors and follows God’s laws will be blessed when its leaders don’t cherish those same divine laws and ways? How does a Jesus follower vote?

One verse stands out as deeply thoughtful and challenging that may apply. It requires utmost faith in God (which verses don’t?!), and if applied correctly, we may see hope and God’s sovereignty for our confidence – not in the frailty of human leaders -whether political, corporate, educational or even celeb influencers.

What a great promise and premise! “The scepter of the wicked” represents means in which earthly, wicked people role, influence and manipulate. God told His people that He would not allow them to continue. The reason for their end was so that God’s people, “the righteous,” might be tempted to use the same means and become corrupt themselves. What “scepters” have we seen the wicked wield in our day? When we consider how the courts, the media, academia, and even technology companies have become a means for those in power to oppress political opponents and thoughtful dissent, we too can embrace gratitude for God’s promise that the “scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous.” It’s not just that the wicked themselves need to be switched out for the righteous. It’s that we must learn lessons about the temptation toward evil when anyone gets in a position of power.

Lord Acton said, “”Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The scriptures apply this caution about power even for those who are “righteous” in one of the Psalms. We can be grateful for examples of men like David who wielded power as he sought after God with all his heart. He did so imperfectly, to be sure, but his legacy is such that at the end of the day, he’s remembered as a “man after God’s heart.”

Here’s a couple of questions:

• What are scepters in our lives that we must turn from?
• What are things that cannot be repurposed for righteousness?
• When have you been tempted to use your position/power/influence to oppress or demean others?