Selecting a Child as King

Published on Arguing, Complaining, Fear, Gift of Administration, Gift of Discernment, Gift of Helping, Gift of Knowledge, Gift of Serving, Greed, Racism, Servant

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

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Very few people are truly qualified to be king. A child is almost certainly not qualified to be king.

However, the people of Judah anointed three children as their king:

  • Joash the son of Ahaziah became king of Judah when he was seven years old (see 2 Kings 11:12).
  • Manasseh the son of Hezekiah became king of Judah when he was twelve years old (see 2 Kings 21:1).
  • Josiah son of Amon became king of Judah when he was eight years old (see 2 Kings 22:1).

 

Here are just a few reasons why a child is almost certainly not qualified to be king:

  • A ruler is bombarded with persuasive arguments by self-interested people. The ruler must have talents similar to the Gift of Discernment.
  • A ruler must reach out to the people with the kind of help that only a government can offer. To be effective, the ruler must have talents similar to the Gift of Helping.
  • The population looks to the leader for wisdom. To be effective, the ruler must have talents similar to the Gift of Knowledge.
  • Many people confuse ruling with reigning. However, to be a ruler is to be called to the servant-lifestyle. To be effective, the ruler must have talents similar to the Gift of Serving.
  • To be a ruler is to be immersed in a world where people are motivated by fear and greed and racism. They constantly argue and complain, often quite loudly.

 

All that said, there is a remote philosophical possibility that a specific child will grow into a person who is thoroughly qualified to be king. That was the case with Josiah.

But it is not likely, because, among the adult population, there are very few people are truly qualified to be king.

In our day, populations no longer select a child to be their ruler. However, they often select people who are thoroughly unqualified.

 

BIBLE VERSES

 

2 Kings 11:12. Then he brought out the king’s son, and put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, “Long live the king!”

2 Kings 21:1. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.

2 Kings 22:1. Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.

Ecclesiastes 10:16. Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!

Isaiah 3:4. I will give boys to be their princes, and children shall rule over them.

 

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.

 

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.