JESUS Christ THE ETERNAL KING He Raises and Deposes Kings and Rulers on Earth “And He changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding” - Daniel 2:21 R a j a n G e o rg e 1
Jesus is King God ‘Raises’ and ‘Deposes’ Kings
3 God ‘Raises’, God ‘Deposes’ Kings “... MostHigh ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” (Daniel 4:17). The greatness of man amounts to nothing so long as he is limited in his power to control his own being. No man born in the flesh is capable of adding an inch to his stature or subtracting from it. “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” (Matthew 6:27). He cannot extend his life beyond the days allotted to him by God, the Creator. He cannot heal himself from sickness to escape from its afflictions, nor can he give or destroy life. It is true that man can terminate another man’s physical existence, but he cannot destroy the soul. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28). Therefore, pontificating one’s greatness merits no value, because he remains a mere mortal and can wield no power to cross the boundaries set by God, who alone is the power behind his being. Below, we will find a few instances of kings who failed to recognize their limitations and helplessly ended up proving how little man is truly capable of. 1. Sennacherib: (2 Kings Chs 18-19) Sennacherib was the King of Assyria during the reign of Hezekiah, the king of Judah and Prophet Isaiah. His believed that he was the ultimate power above of all things but it did not end well with him. He was indeed a mighty ruler before his subjects and a terror to his foes. But that was cut short by divine intervention when he crossed the line to challenge the God of Heaven. A ruler who could not realize his fragility, reaped divine justice because of his arrogance. He truly was an instrument in the hand of God to punish the Israelites for their fornication with the gods of their neighbors. The Children of Israel who were God’s chosen people pursued lifeless gods who had no senses nor could interact with the worshippers. Through many Prophets, they were strictly warned that chasing the path of the heathens in worshipping graven images would lead them to their calamitous end. But determined upon following their egos and sensual desires they chased after the idols and statues whom they could visualize as gods instead of abiding by the dictates of the LORD who they could not see yet communicated with them constantly through Prophets and Priests. They gave up their commitment to God who had brought them out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. So God sent them invading kings who conquered their land and enslaved them. After centuries of warnings and constant neglects, by the year 722 BC God send Assyrians to invade and subjugate the Kingdom of Israel who plundere, captivated and scattered the ten tribes of Israel across different nations, thus totally dismantling their integrity as a people of common descent with a High Calling as “God’s Chosen People’. Judah became a vassal state of the Assyrian empire of Tiglath Pileser III in 732 BC, when King Ahaz sought the help of Assyria to fight the coalition forces of Israel and Syria pledging Judah’ loyalty and tribute. Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz became
Jesus is King the king of Judah at the age of twenty-five approximately in 715/716 BC. He was a Godfearing king and restored the true worship of Yahweh and all the sacrificial systems as ordained by the LORD through Moses. He prospered in everything he did and wherever he went. But he displeased the king of Assyria when he refused to pay tribute. Sennacherib sent emissaries to force payments. King Hezekiah sent everything as demanded by the Assyrian king. Not fully satisfied, Sennacherib demanded even more. Rabshakeh’s Challenge and Mockery: He sent Rabshakeh and his team to extract payments by force. Rabshkeh threatened the people and King Hezekiah’s emissaries with violent rhetoric, intimidation, and ridicule. He mocked the people for trusting in Egypt, calling it a broken reed. He also questioned the power of God and scorned the people for trusting in God’s power saying, “Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria. ... and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The Lord will deliver us.” (2 Kings 18:30,32) “Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?” Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand? Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?” (2 Kings 18:33-35). People felt helpless: Rabshakeh’s challenge unnerved the people. “But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not. 37 Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.” (2 Kings 18:36-37) Hezekiah’s Prayer: The news worried Hezekiah, the King of Judah. He had no power or capabilities challenge the King of Assyria, for he was the greatest power in the then know world. “Upon hearing the news, King Hezekiah rent his clothes, covered himself with sack clothes and send Eliakim and Shenah the scribe to Isaiah the Prophet. And Isaiah said unto them, “ Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.” (2 Kings 19: 6-7) “Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only. Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. (2 Kings 19:19-20). “This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel. By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel. (2 Kings 19:21-23) “Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the Lord. For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.” (2 Kings 19:32-34)” 185,000 of the Assyrian Camp Killed And it came to pass that night, that
the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. Sennacherib Killed So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.” (2 Kings 19:35-3 Sennacherib was God’s tool to Tame His People Sennacherib, the king of Assyria was only a tool in God’s hands to tame the people of God who strayed away from Him. He challenged the God who used him as God’s agent to tame His people. Isaiah details his predicament in his prophetic writings even before he came to the scene. “O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. 6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. ” (Isaiah 10:5-6) The hammer cannot question the person who uses it, nor can it work against God’s will. His insubordination led him to challenge God, which ultimately led to his utter disaster. Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.” (Isaiah 10:15) He believed his successful conquests and war gains were all a result of his might and prowess, and that they will endure for ever. In his impudence he utters his conviction that he will destroy Jerusalem, as he destroyed Samaria. He also said that his graven images excel the God of Jerusalem thus crossing the boundary he was not allowed. 5 “Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?” (Isaiah 10:7-11) So the LORD God of Heaven in His anger swears the total annihilation of Sennacherib and his kingdom. “Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.” Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. 17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day; 18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth. 19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them. (Isaiah 10:12-19) Rulers who Challenge God are Bound to Doom: Both Biblical and historical records are littered with biographies of kings and tyrants who declared themselves as the ultimate power
Jesus is King and the end of all things. In most cases, they failed to acknowledge the source of their power and believed themselves to be men who became rulers by their might and prowess. But closer peek into their life reveals their inadequacies and vulnerabilities. They were dead wrong. They were mere men who had no control over their own faculties or destiny as they proclaimed and perhaps desired. Even as they fail to acknowledge the true source of their power, they are subject to God’s authority and no power on earth can surpass Divine power. The Holy Srciptures strictly warns anyone who intends to His path with severe consequence. The fate that befell Sennacherib, befalls any tyrant, who challenges ‘YAHWEH’ the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They might be granted an extended time for conversion, but the judgment is sure. God has ordained many persons rulers with a mission, who upon acceding the thrones denigrated themselves to become renegades challenging the power of God. Most of them had tragic end to their lives and even their posterity were doomed to destruction. A few examples are cited to provide appropriate lessons for what can befall a man in power when he challenges God. 2. Jeroboam Anointed King: Jeroboam was a servant of King Solomon. God instructed Prophet Ahijah to anoint Jeroboam to be King over Israel because God decided to bifurcate the kingdom of Israel. After all, they strayed away from God. Out of the twelve tribes, he was given ten. Drunk with power, Jeroboam strayed away from God and met a disastrous end. The story is recorded in the first book of Kings. (1 kings 11:26-35) And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon’s servant, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king. And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father. And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes. (1Kings 11:26-35) Jeroboam deviated from God’s ways and led the people astray from God by setting up gods and altars for their new religion. He did not want the people to go to Jerusalem, because he feared that if people returned to Jerusalem to worship the LORD God of Heaven, they might desert his kingdom (Israel) and rejoin the kingdom of Judah. The best way to avoid such an embarrassing situation he believed was to set up a new religion and establish new sacrificial services for them. In so doing, he invited the wrath of God upon himself and to his posterity. He did the same sins against God for which the kingdom of Israel was divided and the major
portion was given to him. Man cannot create gods without incurring the wrath of the ‘True God’. He took up on himself to establish a religion, install idols as gods, set up altars for them and anointed priests at will challenging the God of Heaven. The LORD took note of his rebellion. He sent prophets to warn him about his evil ways. He was given opportunities to turn back from his wicked ways and return to God. He refused to relent and amend his ways to draw closer to God. Prophecy against Jeroboam: “Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone. Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the Lord hath spoken it.”(1 Kings 14: 7-11). Prophecy Against Jeroboam fulfilled: Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead. 29And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite: Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel toanger. (1 Kings 15:29) 7 3. Ben Hadad and Hazael: Ben Hadad, the King of Aram (Syria) fell ill and he was informed that Prophet Elisha was in Damascus. So he ordered Hazael (probably his chief courtier or minister), to go and meet the prophet with gifts and inquire of the prophet whether he would recover. As per the order, Hazael embarked on his mission with forty camel loads of all the finest wares and met with the prophet. The Prophet said: “The king would recover, but will not live”. While speaking the prophet stared at him and began to weep. Caught in a surprise Hazael asked. “Why is my lord weeping?” “Because I know the harm you will do to the Israelites,” he answered. “You will set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women.” Hazael said, “How could your servant, a mere dog, accomplish such a feat?” “The Lord has shown me that you will become king of Aram,” answered Elisha. Hazael returned to the king and gave him the message. The following day, Hazael wet a thick cloth and put it on the king’s face that he died. Hazael became king. Hazael, who could not dream of becoming king, and who loathed his own personality, suddenly rose to the throne of Aram. 2 Kings 13:22 says “ But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.” God installs kings and deposes them according to His sovereign plan. Man can do nothing. Here we see that a man who could not dream of ever ascending the royal throne was elevated by God’s will. When Prophet Elisha revealed to him what the LORD God almighty had revealed to him, he was awestruck and exclaimed “...how could your servant, a mere dog, accomplish such a feat?” 4. Baasha: Basha was the son of Ahijah of the house of Isaachar. He conspired against the Nadab, king of Israel who was the son of Jeroboam slayed him and took over the kingdom
Jesus is King in the second year of King Asa of Judah. He reigned over Israel for two years, and smote all the house of Jeroboam. (1 Kings 15:25-30) Prophecy against Baasha: Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu son of Hanani concerning Baasha: “I lifted you up from the dust and appointed you ruler over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins. So I am about to wipe out Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat. Dogs will eat those belonging to Baasha who die in the city, and birds will feed on those who die in the country.” (1 Kings 16:14) Prophecy against Baasha Fulfilled: This prophecy is fulfilled in the following verses. The entire family of Baasha was killed . In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha became king over Israel in Tirzah, and reigned two years. His servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against Elah. Now Elah was in Tirzah, getting drunk in the house of Arza, who was in charge of the [king’s] household in Tirzah. Then Zimri came in and struck and killed Elah in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and became king in his place. When he became king, as soon as he sat on his throne, he killed the entire household of Baasha; he did not leave a single male [alive], either of his relatives or his friends. Thus Zimri destroyed the entire household of Baasha, in accordance with the word of the Lord which He spoke against Baasha through Jehu the prophet, for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, which they committed, and made Israel commit, provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idols. (1 Kings 16:8-13) 5. Nebuchadnezzar: The King of Baylon Nebuchadnezzar was acclaimed as the architect of Babylon, as it was known in the ancient 6th century BC. Babylon, under his reign was the superpower of the then-known world. He is still deemed the greatest king of Babylon in its history. Today, Iraq, the ancient Babylon, considers Nebuchadnezzar their model of power, strength, and prosperity. But the story of King Nebuchadnezzar has a fascinating twist which is recorded in the Bible. The authorship of the 4th Chapter of the book of Daniel is attributed to him. The chapter surmises that Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful king of the then-known world. (Daniel 4:22). He was ultimately led to confess that God was the source of his power and that he did not have control over it. “... MostHigh ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (Daniel 4:17). Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream: Daniel Chapter 4 narrates a dream that Nebuchadnezzar saw while asleep. The dream disturbed him and summoned all the Magicians, Astrologers, Diviners, and Wisemen to interpret the dream, but no one could. It was commonly believed that kings were God’s agents on earth and God spoke to them in dreams. Therefore the king was sore and troubled because he lost track of divine communication. That caused him deep distress. That is why he promised great rewards and positions in the government for anyone who could narrate the dream and interpret it for him. At last, Daniel upon whom the Spirit of the Holy God dwelt, stood before the king and narrated the dream and its meaning to King Nebuchadnezzar. Captured as a slave from Judah, Daniel was elevated to the seat of Prime Minister by God. Yes, God inspired Nebuchadnezzar to appoint Daniel as Prime Minister of his kingdom because God did not want to utterly destroy Nebuchadnezzar as He did with some other kings before him like Ben Hadad, King of Aram and Sennacherib, King of Assyria, and even some rulers of Israel and
9 Judah. God intented to teach Nebuchadnezzar and convince him to be subject to the heavenly rule. God had a plan of redemption for the king despite his arrogance. Daniel as Prime Minster was God’s assurance that his kingdom would be retained for him to return to power after his seven-year life in the wild as an oxen eating grass. Daniel was probably the stump he was shown in the dream. Daniel was God’s agent who retained power for Nebuchadnezzar while he spent seven years in the wild See what happens twelve months later. Nebuchadnezzar forgot about the dream and probably did not take to heart the message that was conveyed to him by divine revelation. “That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” (Daniel 4:25) Nebhadnezzar Returns to Power And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.” (Daniel 4:34-36) “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to base.” (Daniel 4:37) Nebuchadnezzar’s Fall: “At the end of twelve months, he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. “The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. (Daniel 4:29-33) 6. Herod:The Murderer of Innocent Children At the time when the Messiah was born ‘Herod the great’ (37BC-4AD) was the king of Judea. The wisemen came to Herod, querying about the birth place of Jesus who was born king of the Jews. Never willing to cede his royal authority to another, he was willing to kill even his own children to retain power. He deceived himself into believing that he was all powerful. Not being aware of the place where Jesus was born, Herod commanded the Wisemen to report to him after they had found Jesus, pretending as if he wanted go and worship the Child who is born King of the Jews. The phrase ‘King of the Jews’ rattled his sovereign power senses, hence he was determined to kill Jesus as a little child. He could not allow anyone to threaten his grip on power. But Herod did not know where Jesus was born. God does not consult oppressive tyrants who consider themselves to be gods, to carry out divine plan. God does not need their their help, and if needed, He will have Herod
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