Protocol

This week I was reading 2 Kings 1. King David was old, weak, and soon to transition in this chapter. Who would reign as king in his place? His eldest living son Adonijah decided that he would be the next King. He appointed himself to the office unbeknown to King David. The scripture says, “Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and invited all his brothers, the King’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the King’s servants [to this feast]. But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the most formidable warriors, or his brother Solomon”. 1 King 1:5-9 Adonijah purposely excluded them. King David promised Bathsheba that Solomon would reign as King once he passed. But his other son had other plans. Here’s a nugget, Don’t be concerned about self-appointed folk or those who don’t include you or invite you. God has called you and will place you in the position He has for you, and He is not seeking validation from man. As the story continues, Nathan, the prophet, informed Bathsheba of Adonijah’s actions and advised her to put the King in remembrance of His promise, which was a type and shadow of how we are to approach our Heavenly Father and remind Him of His word. He hasn’t forgotten the promises He made to us in His Word, but He longs for us to bring His Word back to Him as an act of our faith. Remind the Father of what He promised to you!

As the chapter progresses, we see that Bathsheba goes before King David. I took account of how she approached the King. When Bathsheba entered his presence, “she bowed and paid respect to the king.” Amplified Version[AMP]. The King James Version ( KJV) says she “bowed and did obeisance unto the king.” What is obeisance? The Blue Letter Bible Concordance defines the word as “to bow down, to prostrate {lay oneself flat on the ground face downward, especially in reverence or submission} before a superior, before God in worship. As there is protocol in the natural, there’s protocol in the Kingdom of God. While God is our Father, we still must honor, respect, and pay homage to Him. Throughout the Bible, and even in the world, we see examples of how to approach earthly kings. How much more are we to show honor, reverence, and respect to the King of Kings. In the book of Esther, the Queen was intentional in approaching the King even though He was also her husband. She was aware that going before the King without being summoned could cost you your life. Thanks be to God that Jesus tore the veil that separated us from the Father. We now have direct access to the Father in Jesus’ name. But that doesn’t allow for us to approach the Father casually. We often show more reverence and respect to our employers and other secular individuals in leadership than God. Shame on us! It behooves us as believers not to become so familiar with the Heavenly Father that we lose respect! We should bow down and worship Him. We are to enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him and bless His name.

Challenge: In your prayer time this week, when entering in His presence, if you’re physically able, lay prostrate, bow down in His presence. Let’s give honor to our King, who is soon to return. More importantly, let’s make sure we have a heart submitted to the Father.

Let’s pray,

Father, it’s in the name of Jesus that we come before you. We thank you for life, health, strength, and protection. You’re a good Father. Help us, Lord, to acknowledge you in all our ways so that you can direct our paths. Father, forgive us for not reverencing you as we should. We thank you for the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us, teaching us and leading us in the way we should go. Lord, we honor, love, and respect you from this day forward. We give you all the glory, honor, and praise in Jesus’ name.

BHM