What do you tell a leader whose leadership actions have become abhorrent, not only in the sight of men, but particularly in the sight of God? What do you say when the impact of a leader’s decisions and actions have caused great distress and burdens to those whom he leads? When his decrees and legal stipulations create obligations that mimic some type of human “deity.” When the erection of “golden” images of perceived power become the standard by which his “subjects” are obligated to submissively prostrate themselves. When those who dare express reluctance and/or resistance are persecuted and prosecuted even unto death.
Who dares to raise a word of opposition, or even refuses to bow their knee to his decrees without severe punishment, even death? Who speaks for the sovereignty of the real king? Who dare challenge that fleshly king with words from the heavenly king? Who dare affirm that such behavior is actually a manifestation of a spiritual illness? One that only God, the real king, can cure!
Enter God’s prophet Daniel with a burdened word of advice to King Nebuchadnezzar:
“Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.” – Daniel 4:27 (KJV)
Even in the direst of times there will always be someone to stand up and declare their opposition, and even disdain, for that which challenges their moral and spiritual principles! Someone, or ones, whose personal, moral and spiritual convictions prohibit them from submitting themselves and obligating others to succumb to the spiritually deluded and deranged perceptions and proclamations. Of one who must learn the hard way some of the consequences of trying to rise above his physical and spiritual limitations.
Unfortunately, that illness is resultant from a spiritual ailment called sin. That conscious decision and determination to strive to become more than what he was created to be or to become. That persistent effort and conscious determination to impose self above any and everyone else – even God. Sin – that pernicious inflammation of “I” trouble.
Watch the various manmade “images” that become the fallacious “measuring rod” of self-importance! Ah, yes, that/those “images of gold” which are fashioned to and by self-imposed values. That/those “images of gold” which become the “forced” standards of another person’s (or group’s) acceptance and submission to that self-perceived perception of “self.”
Who becomes the Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego of the day? Who dare stand against and even submit themselves to the consequences of the imposed doom of defiance? Who dare stand under the power and presence of the true king in the “fiery furnaces” of punitive actions?
Unfortunately, even in the face of so many who have faced, endured and overcame those experiences, there are so many others who cower under the demoralizing threats of the false “kings” of this world. The “sickness is contagious. But the “cure” is redemptive.
Take serious note of “God’s prescription” for such self-defeative expressions of perceived power and prominence. There is a two-fold direction with a life-changing consequence.
First, break yourself away from that which you hold or cling to by turning to “righteousness”. Righteousness can only come by ones behaving in compliance with the word of God. One can never be “right” in God’s sight by thinking and behaving contrary to God’s word, will and way.
Secondly, break away from your own “perverseness,” your own ungodliness. Belittling, mistreating and preventing the basic and potential development of those who have social, medical, economic, ethnic, cultural and even religious limitations can never be expressions of “mercy.”
A sick person, whether physically or spiritually, cannot be healed, nor become whole until he or she first admits their own “illness/sickness,” and their desire to end that personal condition. Then that person must take that second step and do all that he or she can do to stop doing those things that caused and/or enhanced that debilitating condition.
One cannot keep wallowing in a pig pen and expect to still come out smelling like a rose, nor looking like a prince. One can dwell in a palace, but the stench and influence of the pig pen will eventually overpower and reveal the reality of ones perceived sense of “royalty.” And spread that contagion on all who seek to dwell in that pig pen with him!
There must be a personal, conscious and spiritual graduation experience from “pig pen university.”
“And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.” – Luke 15:15-19 KJV
So, Mr. Nebuchadnezzar – Mr. “king” – whomever you are, and wherever you may be, failure to take the real king’s prescription will soon result in your experiencing the consequences of your own spiritual illness.
“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.” – Daniel 4:31-32 KJV
Mr. Nebuchadnezzar, whomever and wherever you may be, failure to take God’s medicine will result in you, who at a period of time may be considered by yourself and others as a “high” leader, soon becoming a “low” loser.
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Pastor Samuel W. Hale, Jr. is the former pastor of Zion Missionary Baptist Church and president of J.L. Powell Mission Ministries.
