Chairman's Message - A Tale of 3 Kings
Lessons On Transition Woes
By Rev. Eu Hong Seng
The stories of the three Kings of the "united kingdom" (Saul, David and Solomon) provide rich lessons about successions and transitions - for both the corporate man as well as the 'man of the cloth'.
We have always assumed that if we do all the right things, transition will be smooth. But there are no magic formulas for trouble-free transitions. Indeed, with changes come woes. Surely we can learn from Israel, Iran and even Ipoh because there are always "the other opposing party" and the devil.
Saul, the first king of the 12 tribes, could not accept that there was a price for his mistakes (disobedience by assuming the priestly role of offering sacrifice), and that there could be another successor.
As long as he was king, it didn't matter who anointed whom (in this case David) at whose behest. People at the apex of power often forget there are boundaries and there is the all-powerful Almighty who promotes and demotes.
No doubt drunk with power, Saul was no history student and had not learned that kings do fall. David did indeed succeed Saul, but not before Saul saw the wickedness of his own heart when he attempted to spear the anointed.
Then in 1 Kings, the book begins with David, advanced in age, circa 1015 BC, just before his turn to transit.
Though he knew he had to transit, his problem was that he had to be prompted to appoint Solomon over Adonijah by the prophet Nathan together with Bathsheba.
While Saul was unwilling and ended his term with a spear in his hand, David, though willing, almost fumbled and was slow. And though he didn't have a spear in his hand, he did have a young virgin (not his wife) in bed, assigned to keep him warm (1Kings 1:2-4)
It was time to transit but before he could hand over the kingship to Solomon (1Kings1:13, 17), his other son Adonijah, exalted himself (1 Kings1:5ff) to take the throne. Priests, prophets, commanders and mighty men were involved. Grand ceremonies were planned. Where there is no legitimacy, grandeur and popular endorsements are crucial to authenticate the coup.
At times like these we need to be reminded of Bathsheba's words of wisdom -
20...the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted as offenders." 1 Kings 1:20-21 (NKJV)
We must provide leadership in seasons of transition; otherwise, innocent people will become "offenders" if we fail to act. In the words of Eugene Peterson, Bathsheba said "my son Solomon and Iare as good as dead."
To his credit, David did make Solomon king that day itself ( 1 kings 1:30, 33-35). Adonijah's reign lasted less than 24 hours. The story almost became a tale of 3 plus 1 kings, but it was not to be so.
When news spread that Solomon was made king, the loyalists of Adonijah left the celebration party. People are basically opportunists - unwilling to follow God's choice initially but most happy to stand by the winning side.
Lines were drawn that day and two lessons can be learned - we sometimes have to leave the baggage of "old relationships" (those who stood with Adonijah) and move forward. Some priests, prophets and mighty men lost their jobs that day.
Secondly, David was wise - he did not declare Adonijah "not king" but took steps to appoint the rightful king. Do the right thing, not so much as undo the wrong thing. It's not what we should do with the wicked but rather how we should work with the righteous.
Sometimes too much time and energy is spent putting out fires, which if left alone, would die out by themselves.
Lastly, Solomon's transition to his son was similarly marked by the unfortunate intervening hand of God (as in Saul's case) because of his idolatrous inclinations and adulterous addictions. "The Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God" (1 Kings11:9a), hence the 12 tribes were divided between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.
Saul had a spear in his hand, David was slow, preoccupied with a virgin in bed, while Solomon had to contend with the sin of idolatry.
Tainted legacies, bumpy transitions, attempted coup.
Troubles and hiccups - at times violent and bloody - plague almost every transition, not only because the stakes are high but because there are power struggles in the heavenlies, be it in business, nation or church.
David was no transition guru, but he did leave behind many invaluable lessons - he was proactive in ensuring a smooth transition (oh yes, he mustered enough strength to get out of bed though it was warm); he was teachable and did listen to advice; he did have loyal, godly men in the corridors of power; he changed the team and he did follow through on the promise made earlier (that Solomon would sit on the throne) and on God's plan for the nation.
It has been said that we are in dire need of statesmen, but the country is crawling with politicians (and political analysts - every subscriber to the alternative media is an 'expert 'today.) Let this be not said of the Church and the people of the Book. With Christian Statesmen, there should be less transition woes. |
