Power corrupts; Absolute power corrupts Absolutely

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In the kings of the Old Testament, we see powerful examples that power corrupts. That absolute power corrupts absolutely.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The 19th century English politician Lord Acton said:

Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

 

In the Bible, this phenomenon is seen most clearly in the kings.

As monarchs, they had near-absolute power. And over the course of time, they were absolutely corrupted.

Here are three examples of their corruption:

  • In the Book of Kings, the leaders exhibit narcissistic behaviors. They demand subservience. They commit idolatry and murder. They disobey sexual laws.
  • Of the 20 kings of Judah, most were bad guys. Only four did what was right in the LORD’s eyes.

Most of the kings were Bad Guys. They were evil. That was the case no matter how popular or acclaimed they were.

This is especially evident in king Ahaz. He lived a life of severe depravity. And he influenced his nation in that way. He unleashed an epidemic of depravity.

Ahaz was not committed to the LORD God. For that reason, he was not qualified to lead the people. Yet he was indeed their leader.

 

IMPACT

 

One might argue that the moral character of a ruler is not important; that what matters is the policies of the ruler.

However, the moral character of the ruler is highly influential in the life of a nation.

In the biblical kings, we see a predictable sequence of events. A consistent pattern. In broad brushstrokes, it is this:

  1. The ruler is corrupt
  2. The people follow his example
  3. The nation falls into corruption
  4. The nation is conquered

It all begins with the ruler of the nation. The moral character of the leader sets the tone. The nation follows in the moral footsteps of the leader.

 

BIBLE VERSES

 

Deuteronomy 32:15. But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have grown fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then he abandoned God who made him, and rejected the Rock of his salvation.

2 Chronicles 26:16. But when [Uzziah] was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly and he trespassed against the LORD his God, for he went into the LORD’s temple to burn incense on the altar of incense.

2 Chronicles 28:6. For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men, because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers.

2 Chronicles 28:19. Arrogant King Ahaz, acting as if he could do without God’s help, had unleashed an epidemic of depravity. Judah, brought to its knees by God, was now reduced to begging for a handout. (MSG translation)

Proverbs 16:18. Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 18:12. Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.

Ezekiel 28:5. by your great wisdom and by your trading you have increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches—”

Obadiah 1:3. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, who says in his heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’

 

SEE ALSO

Selecting a Child as King. A child is almost certainly not qualified to be king. However, the people of Judah anointed three children as their king.

Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. In the kings of the Old Testament, we see powerful examples that power corrupts. That absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Evil kings who were assassinated by their own staff. Four kings in the Old Testament were assassinated by their own staff. It was because those kings were truly horrible people.

Kings of Judah who did what was Right in the LORD’s eyes. Of the 20 kings of Judah, most were bad guys. Only four did what was right in the LORD’s eyes.

Corrupt Leaders. In the Book of Kings, the leaders exhibit narcissistic behaviors. They demand subservience. They commit idolatry and murder. They disobey sexual laws.

 

RESOURCES

Lord Acton Quote Archive at the Acton Institute

 

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.