A Tale of Three Kings

by Gene Edwards

God did not have—but wanted very much to have—men and women who would live in pain. God wanted a broken vessel.

You can easily tell when someone has been hit by a spear. He turns a deep shade of bitter. David never got hit. Gradually, he learned a very well-kept secret. He discovered three things that prevented him from ever being hit. One, never learn anything about the fashionable, easily mastered art of spear throwing. Two, stay out of the company of all spear throwers. And three, keep your mouth tightly closed. In this way, spears will never touch you, even when they pierce your heart.

But David left alone. You see, the Lord’s true anointed can leave alone.

There is a vast difference between the outward clothing of the Spirit’s power and the inward filling of the Spirit’s life. In the first, despite the power, the hidden man of the heart may remain unchanged. In the latter, that monster is dealt with.

A person can be living in the grossest of sin, and the outer gift will still be working perfectly. The gifts of God, once given, cannot be recalled. Even in the presence of sin. Furthermore, some people, living just such lives, are the Lord’s anointed . . . in the Lord’s eyes. Saul was living proof of this fact.

What does this world need: gifted men and women, outwardly empowered? Or individuals who are broken, inwardly transformed?

And the passing of time, and the way you react to that leader—be he David or Saul—reveals a great deal about you.

People will not work too hard, even if they are following God.

All kingdoms follow a bumpy course. And people, especially God’s people, never follow any dream in unison.

“I find it curious that those who feel qualified to split God’s kingdom do not feel capable of going somewhere else—to another land—to raise up a completely new kingdom. No, they must steal from another leader. I have never seen the exception. They seem always to need at least a few prepackaged followers. “Beginning empty-handed and alone frightens the best of men. It also speaks volumes of just how sure they are that God is with them. Their every word, if truly understood, tells of their insecurity. “There are many lands unspoiled and unpossessed. There are many people in other places waiting to follow a true king, a true man of God. Why don’t ‘would-be kings and prophets’ simply walk quietly away, alone, then find another people in another place, and there raise up the kingdom they envision? “Those who lead rebellions in the spiritual world are unworthy. There are no exceptions.

You fled rather than cause division.

God put me here. It is not my responsibility to take, or keep, authority.

May God come tonight and take the throne, the kingship, and . . .” David’s voice faltered. “And his anointing from me. I seek his will, not his power. I repeat, I desire his will more than I desire a position of leadership. He may be through with me.”

“And thank you for suffering, for being willing to lose everything. Thank you for giving God a free hand to end, and even destroy, your kingdom— if it pleases him. Thank you for being an example to us all.

“God always knows—but he does not tell.”