When Leadership Fails

Well, I finished reading through Chronicles. Some books of the Bible are harder to get through than others. Chronicles covers about 20 kings of Judah, plus David And Solomon, spanning over 400 years.

Every time a king would die, his son would take the throne.

If he was a good king, it says "he did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord" and if not, "he did evil in the sight of the Lord."

Each king was responsible for setting the "vibe" of the nation. If an evil king was on the throne, the people were led astray. Worshipers of Baal, sacrificing their children. And then along comes the next king, tearing down all the idols and setting order.

This concept disturbs me to the core. So if it's trendy to throw your babies in the fire, then we all go along with it? (This gives new meaning to, "if your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?") How are people so easily led astray? What about the people who were born under the evil kings, never seeing a "renaissance"? This was over 3000 years ago. And of course before that. It's been up and down, up and down. A bad leader will turn the whole nation against the Lord, as well as each other. Corruption. Spiritual darkness.

But we know this. We switch out every four years or so. Morality taking a turn so fast, we get whiplash. It's disgusting. So much confusion and ignorance, all it takes is a four year term to turn the hearts of people. The blind leading the blind.

If I learned anything through Kings and Chronicles, it's that the need for good leadership, can't be stressed enough.

God calls His people to live differently, regardless of who sits in office. The Bible gives up a clear picture of what good leadership looks like. And if it's not available on a large scale, then we can have it in our homes, and in our hearts. We are to conduct ourselves in a way that brings glory to His name. Not wavering. Being wise, gracious, hardworking, humble, gentle, watchful, respectable, hopeful and Holy.

When I get overwhelmed, I know who to look to. I can stand firm in the One who never wavers, a king who will never be dethroned and is always good and steady. No whiplash.