Who Makes the King?

Synopsis     1Kings 15:28-16:4     5/22/2019 

Nadab was the son of Jeroboam. As a result, he became king after Jeroboam’s death. But his reign lasted only two years before he also died. 

But before he died, Nadab led the Israelite forces against the Philistines. His army besieged the Philistine city of Gibbethon. During the siege, a man named Baasha assassinated Nadab. And then, Baasha named himself king of Israel.

Nadab hailed from the tribe of Issachar. And once he was king, he killed all of Jeroboam’s descendants. He did this to prevent a rival to his throne. However, Baasha continued the practice of idol worship that had begun with Jeroboam.  

And so, one day Jehu the prophet came to King Baasha. He prophesied that Baasha would meet a similar fate as had Jeroboam and his family.

Who Makes the King? 

The northern tribes of Israel had several kings in quick succession. And the trend was disturbing. They went from the situation where tribal leaders appointed Jeroboam as king to the situation where Baasha simply made himself king. The migration toward “might makes right” seemed to quickly be leading toward tyranny. 

Who Made My King? 

God is in authority. He is my king.  

And to accept the truth of this claim means that I accept that God actually is king. But, not only that. For, He isn’t king because I said He was king. And He isn’t king because I think He should be king. What’s more, He isn’t even king because most humans agree he should be followed. 

It’s important for me to recognize that my freedom doesn’t extend this far.

I’m not the kingmaker. He’s king because He is creator and author. He is worthy and He is eternal. He could be nothing else.  

“Thomas answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” John 20:28