Taking Someone's Position (1)

Have you ever had to take someone else's position before? 

Ever had to be the usurper, so to speak?

I hesitate to post on this, because there are people out there who will take this teaching and use it to justify and rationalize plotting against their pastor, bosses and other leaders. But I soon figured out those people don't need excuses from me, they'd proceed no matter what I say. So for the benefit of everyone else, people who'd actually NEED this teaching, I'll proceed. 

Romans 13:1 (ESV) - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 

So every person in authority has been appointed by God. Therefore, to plot against them, to seek to remove them from power, or even worse, to take their place, is an extremely serious matter. 

1 Samuel 15:28 (ESV) - And Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 

We have to be very clear - any removal of anyone from a position of authority has to start from God. If he did not decree it, it will not happen. And you risk very serious consequences, in both the material and in the spiritual realms, should you try. 

1 Samuel 16:12 (ESV) - And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 

Likewise for who is to be that leader's replacement. That is a decision to be made by God, not by us. It is not for you to desire and want to be the leader; it is for God to appoint you for it. And even if God himself has appointed you for it, there are still tests and trials ahead, tests and trials that you might very well fail and thus disqualify yourself.

What makes the whole thing very tricky is the fact that God looks at all these matters very differently from how we look at them.

If you were to judge the reigns of Saul versus David, Saul did very little wrong compared to David. He lost his kingdom to David for the sin of sparing the Amalekites. Meanwhile, David messed up horribly compared to Saul. And yet God decreed the throne of David a throne that would endure forever. 

What gives?

This should fill us with humility and the desire to seek the Lord, to walk close with him every step of the way, and strive to obey him in every single area we can. Confidence in the flesh is VERY dangerous, and even more so should you be called by God to leadership in any way, shape or form. We are woefully inadequate to judge if God has withdrawn his support for any leader he has appointed. Does it happen? Yes, of course. But when? It is well nigh impossible for us to judge thus in the flesh. And even more so if you believe you are the one chosen by God to replace him or her. 

Conclusion:

The entire Saul-David dynamic is very interesting to study. It raises questions for which there are sometimes no certain answers. I personally do not know any believer who had to walk David's path to take over someone else's kingdom, but I have read enough horror stories of what happens when people thought they were the David to replace a Saul, and they were wrong. The damage is extensive and far-reaching. 

This thought should spur is to humility and walking closely with the Lord, true? 

See you at the next post. Be blessed!