King Amnon’s Power

Synopsis     2Chron 34:1-10     5/20/2020 

After his prison internment, King Manasseh made good his repentance. So, he followed through on his commitment to remove idols from the Temple. Even so, the people had once again begun worshipping on the high places throughout the nation.  

After this, Manasseh died. And he was replaced as king by his son whose name was Amnon. However, King Amnon was renowned for doing evil against God and the people. As a result, his own officials assassinated him after only two years.  

But, the people reacted against the assassins. In a popular revolt, they killed the high officials who had plotted against the king. And then, the people made Amnon’s young son their new king. His name was Josiah. 

The Power of the King 

Amnon was killed as an act of the will of one group of people. And Josiah was made king by an act of another group of people. No one involved feared killing of the Lord’s anointed. And no one in opposition, sought out the will of God in naming a new king.  

It was a negotiation in violence. This is social contract.  

Moral Authority and Social Contract 

Even for men who reject revelation, there is typically an acknowledged difference between legitimate authority and moral authority. So, what we typically describe as “legitimate authority” is that which is derived from the nature of our relationship to other people. This kind of authority is the result of a transaction. It comes from giving and taking.

This is our social contract. 

But, moral authority springs forth from a person’s response to their circumstances based on the light of truth alone.  

Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6