Another dynamic
scripture stresses is that leaders must recognize where they stand in
relationship to God. They must understand that He is God and they are not, that
their status and success comes from God, and that they must conform to God’s ways
and will to retain their positions.
Listen then, kings, and understand; rulers of remotest lands,
take warning;2 hear
this, you who govern great populations, taking pride in your hosts of subject
nations!3 For
sovereignty is given to you by the Lord and power by the Most High, who will
himself probe your acts and scrutinize your intentions.
4If
therefore, as servants of his kingdom, you have not ruled justly nor observed
the law, nor followed the will of God, 5 he will fall on you swiftly and terribly. On the highly
placed a ruthless judgment falls; 6 the lowly are pardoned, out of pity, but the mighty will be
mightily tormented.7 For
the Lord of all does not cower before anyone, he does not stand in awe of
greatness, since he himself has made small and great and provides for all
alike;8 but
a searching trial awaits those who wield power.
Pilate then said to him, 'Are you refusing to
speak to me? Surely you know I have power to release you and I have power to
crucify you?'11 Jesus replied, 'You would have no power over
me at all if it had not been given you from above
Like flowing water is a king's heart in
Yahweh's hand; he directs it wherever he pleases.
There is no authority except from God
When Hezekiah and the officials came to
inspect the heaps they praised Yahweh and his people Israel.
Blessed be Yahweh, God of our ancestors, who moved the king's
heart in this way to restore the beauty of the Temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem,28 won
for me the faithful love of the king, his counsellors and all the most powerful
of the king's officials!
David
consulted God and asked, 'Shall I attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them
into my power?' Yahweh replied to him, 'Attack! I shall deliver them into your
power.'
***
David again consulted God, and God replied, 'Do not attack
them from the front; go round and engage them opposite the balsam trees. 15 When
you hear the sound of footsteps in the tops of the balsam trees, launch your
attack, for that will be God going out ahead of you to defeat the Philistine
army.'16
David did as God had ordered, and they beat the Philistine army from Gibeon to
Gezer.
[Uzziah] consulted God throughout the
lifetime of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. And as long as he
consulted Yahweh, God gave him success.
He did not humble himself before
Yahweh as his father Manasseh had done; on the
contrary, Amon wilfully added to his guilt. 24 His retinue plotted against him and killed him in his own
palace.
You have chosen me to be king over your people, to be judge
of your sons and daughters.8 You
have bidden me build a temple on your holy mountain, and an altar in the city
where you have pitched your tent, a copy of the holy Tent which you prepared at
the beginning. 9 With
you is Wisdom, she who knows your works, she who was present when you made the
world; she understands what is pleasing in your eyes and what agrees with your
commandments.10
Dispatch her from the holy heavens, send her forth from your throne of glory to
help me and to toil with me and teach me what is pleasing to you; 11
since she knows and understands everything she will guide me prudently in my
actions and will protect me with her glory. 12 Then all I do will be acceptable, I
shall govern your people justly and be worthy of my father's throne.
The shepherds are the ones
who have been stupid: they have not searched for Yahweh. This is why they have
not prospered and why their whole flock has been dispersed.
Once seated on his royal throne, and for his own use, he must
write a copy of this Law on a scroll, at the dictation of the levitical
priests. 19 It
must never leave him, and he must read it every day of his life and learn to
fear Yahweh his God by keeping all the words of this Law and observing these
rules,20 so
that he will not think himself superior to his brothers, and not deviate from
these commandments either to right or to left. So doing, long will he occupy
his throne, he and his sons, in Israel.'
King David then went in, sat down in Yahweh's presence and
said: 'Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my lineage, for you to have led me as
far as this?
1 Samuel 22:1-7, 21-23, 29-32
David addressed the words of this song to Yahweh, when Yahweh had delivered him from the clutches of all his enemies and from the clutches of Saul.2 He said:
David addressed the words of this song to Yahweh, when Yahweh had delivered him from the clutches of all his enemies and from the clutches of Saul.2 He said:
Yahweh is my rock and my fortress,3 my deliverer
is my God. I take refuge in him, my rock, my shield, my saving strength, my
stronghold, my place of refuge.
My Savior, you have saved me from violence;4 I
call to Yahweh, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my foes.
5 With
Death's breakers closing in on me, Belial's torrents ready to swallow me,6
Sheol's snares on every side of me, Death's traps lying ahead of me,
7 I
called to Yahweh in my anguish, I cried for help to my God, from his Temple he
heard my voice, my cry came to his ears!
***
21
Yahweh rewards me for my uprightness, as my hands are pure so he repays me, 22
since I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and not fallen away from my God.
23 His
judgments are all before me, his statutes I have not put away from me;24 I am
blameless before him, I keep myself clear of evil.
***
29
Yahweh, you yourself are my lamp, my God lights up my darkness;30 with
you I storm the rampart with my God I can scale any wall.
31 This
God, his way is blameless; the word of Yahweh is refined in the furnace, for he
alone is the shield of all who take refuge in him.
32 For
who is God but Yahweh, who is a rock but our God: 33 this
God who girds me with strength, who makes my way free from blame,
On that day, David was the first to assign to Asaph and his
kinsmen the giving of thanks to Yahweh
Hence, in the presence of the whole assembly David blessed
Yahweh. David said: 'May you be blessed, Yahweh, God of Israel our ancestor,
for ever and for ever! 11Yours,
Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, the splendor, length of days and glory,
everything in heaven and on earth is yours. Yours is the sovereignty, Yahweh;
you are exalted, supreme over all.12 Wealth and riches come from you, you are ruler of all, in
your hand lie strength and power, and you bestow greatness and might on
whomsoever you please.13 So
now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name,14 for
who am I and what is my people, for us to be able to volunteer offerrings like
this? - since everything has come from you and we have given you only what you
bestowed in the first place,15 and
we are guests before you, and passing visitors as were all our ancestors, our
days on earth fleeting as a shadow and without hope.16
Yahweh our God, all this wealth, which we have provided to build a house for
your holy name, has come from you and all belongs to you.
17
'Knowing, my God, how you examine our motives and how you delight in integrity,
with integrity of motive I have willingly given all this and have been
overjoyed to see your people, now present here, willingly offering their gifts
to you.18
Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel our ancestors, watch over this for
ever, shape the purpose of your people's heart and direct their hearts to you,19 and
give an undivided heart to Solomon my son to keep your commandments, your
decrees and your statutes, to put them all into effect and to build the palace for
which I have made provision.'
20
David then addressed the whole assembly: 'Now bless Yahweh your God!' And the
whole assembly blessed Yahweh, God of
their ancestors, bowing down in homage to Yahweh, and to the king.
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