Month: November 2020

The unfolding drama of the US elections reminds me of fairy tales. So I have to start with…

Once Upon a Time…

…when the ruling king was on his death bad, one of the claimants to the throne rushed to declare himself as the successor. He recruited some of the major voices of his days, that agreed it was high time for change, and they came alongside him. They didn’t wait for the proper process of coronation and ordination to come to its culmination, and thus brought great embarrassment upon themselves.

Sounds familiar? Contemporary, even? I’m not referring to Trump vs. Biden, however, but to king David’s heir. Back than, new kings were crowned by true prophets. The coronation included a clear instruction from God, followed by an act of anointing (see 1 Sam 10:1; 16:12-13; 1 Kings 11:26-39; 2 Kings 9:1-4). It was not public opinion, certainly not the media, that proclaimed who the new ruler is.

For what it’s worth – newspapers and media material crowns
[taken from atyourservice.seattle.gov/2014/06/30/childrens-recycling-fashion-contest-july-12-2/]

Adonijah, David’s son, thought it was his time to sit on the throne, and hurried to feast (1 Kings 1:5, 25). Alas, he ignored two important ingredients: a recognition from God, and anointing by one of His true prophets. The result: Nathan (the true prophet) and Bat Sheba (the queen-bride) devised a plan in order to intervene.

History seems to repeat itself with the results of the US elections. The seemingly obvious heir rises and says: “I will be king” (see v. 5). He even has supporters who proclaim: “indeed, long live the new king”.

How long do these crowns last, even if they are covered with gems?
[taken from esredmond.com/#!(sold)/zoom/c1ox8/imageoq1]

Is it God who chose Biden for such a time as this, or is Trump supposed to keep sitting on the throne for another term? Truth is I don’t have a clue. I do know, however, that modern media has not proven itself to be a true prophet or Shofar (v. 39).

A Strategy

This ancient chapter (1 Kings 1) gives us the strategy: it may look like the eleventh hour has passed; that a new reality has been established; that everything is lost for those who support Trump. But it is actually the best time for the true prophets and the Bride to intervene, and come before the King in order to align reality with His design. They have His ear, and that is all that matters.

King David said: “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon.  There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’  Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”

 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted: “Long live King Solomon!” And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound (v. 32-40).

Horn of anointing oil
[taken from royalcourt.no]

Both stories have all the necessary ingredients that lead to a fatal fall: pride and self exaltation, aids running ahead of the heir (v. 5), connections with the highest and most powerful ranks (v. 7), and even the premature coronation by the crowds / media (v. 9). But apparently that is not enough. In Adonijah’s case, the anointing was missing. These two cannot be faked. Yet, these are the two voices that really count.

What a relief to know that above every high official, there is a higher official who watches over him and her (Ecc. 5:8), and that even they are subject to the Most High. His crown cannot be recycled. It stands on a solid foundation.