"A Tale of Three Kings" by Gene Edwards
Report by Hannah Angier
1. Breifly summarize the entire book:
"A Tale of Three Kings" by Gene Edwards is written much like a play. Edwards opens the book as if we are the audience to a reenactment of King David's life. We begin by seeing David, the youngest of his brothers, as a shepherd boy. We watch him grow and soon come under the supervision of King Saul. After a short while, the king becomes threatened by young David as he sees the potential in David. He becomes afraid at the thought of losing his place on the throne, so in turn, King Saul threatens David. Since David was honoring of the authority anointed by God, he flees rather than fighting back. David was crushed; utterly broken. He spent his days living in caves. Others also started fleeing the kingdom because of King Saul's madness. David had followers but never rebelled against the king. By no act of disrespect, David took his place as king. After many years of reign, David's son, Absalom began rallying citizens against King David, against his own father. But David did not fight because he knew that the throne was not his to take, not his to protect, and not his to keep. For it was the Lord who placed him there, and the Lord would be the only one able to remove him. David did not fight. Just like he had not fought Saul, though both Saul and Absalom were unworthy kings, David knew it was not for him to decide.
2. What are two life-changing concepts you derived from reading this book?
A. God is the only one who decides who is anointed to lead, and who is not And he does so in such a way that often defies what we thought was true power. Edwards poses a conversation that likely happened between King David and Abishai. David says, " 'God once delivered a defenseless shepherd boy from the powerful, mad king. He can yet deliver an old ruler from an ambitious young rebel.' " God will preserve His anointed, even when it looks like the anointed should fall or be defeated. God has His hand in the whole matter.
B. Often, God will put unworthy men in authority to reveal their weaknesses. As Edwards says on page 36, "He [God] sometimes gives unworthy vessels a greater portion of power so that others will eventually see the true states of internal nakedness within that individual." So not ever man in power is God's anointed vessel to carry out great works for Him, but every man in power is there because God allowed him to be there for one reason or another.
3. Apply one of the concepts to your own personal life:
I've see many men given great authority when I don't think they deserve it in the least. But through this book, God has been teaching me that no matter who is in power, no matter how ill-equipped they may be, God has them there for a reason. The only part of it I control is how I respond to what God has allowed. Like David, I choose not to rebel and fight what I cannot control, but instead to let God have His way. He will protect and preserve what He has destined. Even if protection looks like becoming so broken as David had to, through that, he became what God needed him to be as king. God is not looking for perfect persuaders, or ambitious rebels, He is looking for broken vessels. The image that comes to my mind is that of an opaque glass bottle. What is contained within cannot be seen until the bottle is cracked. Only then can the light, if present, can shine through. Saul was broken, but the light was not within, so only madness was revealed. David, on the other hand was full of the light of God, so when he was broken, what was hidden behind the opacity was revealed and shone greatly through the brokenness.
4. Is there anything in this book you disagree with? Why?
In this book, while on the topic of God revealing who is the anointed and who is not, he often writes that God knows, but He does not tell. I am unsure as to whether or not I agree with this. I think often God does tell. But He tells only people that He trusts. Knowing who has been anointed can be a giant burden, or a major blessing.
