The Anointed Tyrant
Reflective Reading: 1st Samuel 24
Do you have an anointed tyrant in your life? If so, be prepared, things may get worse! Not familiar with the term “anointed tyrant”? Let me explain…
When I was in my twenties I had a difficult boss. He rarely smiled and every Friday he met with me to go over my weaknesses. I just loved Fridays!
I hated those weekly appointments. They felt more like tormenting exercises. I can remember times when I would share my plight with another colleague, both of us agreeing that we were being unjustly wronged by a roughshod boss who cared only for himself. Enough was enough; I wasn’t going to take this anymore. So one day I confronted him and told him that if he continued to treat me like a dog, I was going to quit.
I will never forget his response. “You’re not here to serve me, you’re here to serve God and if you’re going to quit here, you’ll quit every time the going gets tough.” That wasn’t the response I was expecting. Was he right? Would this set a pattern of quitting every time I was confronted with a difficult task or a difficult boss?
Maybe he was right. And though I didn’t like the treatment, I stayed. The next few years didn’t get any better, until I read I Samuel 24. It is the story of David who is finally in the position of getting rid of abusive king Saul once and for all. For years David has been fleeing for his life and now he has the perfect opportunity to not only get rid of the godless tyrant but also take his place as king. And why not? God had already promised David the position of king years ago!
There they are in the cave of Engedi. Saul is defenseless and vulnerable. David’s mighty men are whispering to strike while the iron is hot. “Strike him David! Now is your time!” Certainly the opportunity to defeat this foe seems to be arranged by the Providence of God. But David said something that struck my heart:
“The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD” (1 Samuel 24:6b).
Twice David points out that the man who is making his life miserable is indeed God’s anointed. David understood that his difficult boss was God’s preparation for kingship. The day I understood this truth was the day that I was able to move forward in my preparation for leadership. One of the most important preparations for leadership is to first learn to follow, especially when it’s difficult to do so.
“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:6-7).
Sincerely,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.
Recommended Reading:
Sir Malcolm audio drama (Ages 6+)
Rising to the Top book/audiobook (Ages 9+)
Come What May (Ages 12+)
Tale of Three Kings (Ages 12+)
