Forsaken Crowns
August 2021
Some of Israel’s most prominent kings through whom God won extraordinary battles to build His kingdom blundered greatly. Their victories in battle were overshadowed by their floundering in leadership during key moments in their reign. These moments of apathy would cause irrecoverable loss not only for themselves, but for the kingdom as a whole…and for generations.
Following their footsteps in reverse leads back to a single starting point where each one began to stray. That point was when they resigned from their God-given responsibility to lead and re-assigned it to someone else. In essence, they forsook the duties of the crown.
In the valley of Elah, King Saul resided in his tent while young David ran into battle against Goliath and the Philistines (1 Sam. 17:1). In the lush halls of the Jerusalem palace, King David reclined on his roof top while his general, Joab, led David’s armies to the battle’s front (2 Sam. 11:1). King Asa, the first king of the divided kingdom who brought a revival of righteousness to the land, rested at home while Benhadad, king of Syria, fought his battles for him (2 Chro. 16:2). These were all moments when these kings would forsake their crowns.
In much the same way, you and I have been redeemed to God by His blood out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation and made kings and priests! (Rev. 5:9-10). We dare not forsake our crowns as these great earthly kings of Israel did. We must not cast away the great honor of interceding for the salvation of the lost supposing that someone else will do it. We must, instead, gird up our own loins and step forth into the fray of battle ourselves! We must stand strong in the Lord and in the power of his might: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit—that utterance may be given unto God’s ambassadors—our missionaries.
It is by the persistence of these prayers that they make known the mystery of the gospel! (Eph. 6:18-20)
I trust that you are praying, or that you will be praying in this manner even now. Be encouraged that the battle does indeed belong to the Lord (2 Chron. 20:15)!
Asking of Him!
Rodney Myers
GFF General Director