Monday, March 28, 2011

You have heard the saying, “What goes around comes around,” especially when someone who has had a pattern of destructiveness and they are now experiencing some pain in their own lives.  It is sometimes said of children who are rebellious as teenagers, and when they grow up into adults and have their own children, their children are just like them.

It’s no truer than in the passage I read this morning in II Kings as I am continuing to read about the histories of the Israelite and Judah kings.  In chapter 15:10-15, Shallum is the son of Jabesh who decided to conspire against Zecharaiah, king of Israel. “He attacked him in front of the people, assassinated him and succeeded him as king.” (II Kings 15:10) As you continue reading, he was only king for one month. 30 days. 1/12 of a year. Why you ask? Menahem, son of Gadi, decided he wanted the throne and so he went up to Samaria where Shallum was staying. He attacked him, assassinated him, and took over the throne. The very thing that Shallum did to King Zechariah Menahem did to Shallum. What goes around comes around.

I’m reminded of a different response on the part of a godly person. David was being chased by King Saul at the time and David had three opportunities to kill Saul. Each time though, David responded by saying, “How can I kill the Lord’s anointed?” David at the opportunity, but he chose a different route. David’s reign and the character of being a man after God’s own heart created a different kind of what goes around comes around.

I guess on this road, we need to evaluate what we want to come around to us before we make decisions that can negatively boom-r-rang back on us. Choose your road carefully as our choices can negatively or positively impact our future.