Lost the Plot
There once was an old king whose days were coming to a close. The time came for a new king to be appointed. So the old king sent one of his sons, on his own mule, and his mother to an old priest and an old prophet to be anointed as the new king. And so it was.
It was hopeful that the new king would follow in the footsteps of the old king and do even greater things, though the old king was not without blemish. Long live the king.
Upon the new king’s return, the people played flutes and shouted joyously. The excitement was so great that the earth shook.
In the final days of the old king, he advised the new king as follows:
I am going where all men must go. Take courage and be a man. Observe the ways of our ancestors and of our holy scriptures so that you may gain success. The Lord has promised that our line will continue on the thrown as long as we seek his ways.
And with that, the old king joined his ancestors, as we will all do someday. The old king’s reign ended, and the new king’s reign began. The new king did indeed follow the ways of his father.
Sometime later, the Lord appeared to the new king in a dream. “Ask for what you want, and I will give it to you, “ he said.
“I am like a child who does not know his way around,” said the king. “Can you give me an understanding heart and the ability to see right and wrong so that I may govern your people?”
The Lord was impressed. The king could have asked for fame, fortune, influence, the death of his enemies, or long life. Instead, he asked for wisdom.
“I will give you wisdom,” said the Lord, “but I will also give you what you have not asked for: riches and fame. If you follow my ways, I will also give you long life.” The king correctly worshiped God, for he was good and gracious.
And so it was. The king’s land was filled with more people than he could count. He served them as their king, and there was peace and safety for his people. The king was prosperous.
God gave the king great wisdom, as promised, as vast as the sands on the seashore. His wisdom exceeded all other wise men of all other nations of the time. He composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote over 1,000 songs. He spoke with authority about all things. People from all around came to hear his wisdom.
Sometime later, the Lord appeared to him a second time and said, “if you will follow me with integrity and godliness, as your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations, then I will establish the throne of your dynasty forever.”
His father’s humanity got the best of him at times, though he was known as a man after God’s own heart. The Lord desired the same from the king. The Lord was literally giving him The Plot and the meaning of life.
“But,” said the Lord, “if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the commands and decrees I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, then I will reject you and uproot you from your kingdom. Your kingdom will be an object of mockery and ridicule among other nations. People will pass through your kingdom and gasp in horror at your demise, all because you abandoned the Lord.”
The king wrote a few books, included in our sacred tome. One was a collection of proverbs. Another was a collection of songs—yet another about his journey to wisdom.
He pursued all the things on earth in search of meaning in this last book, but they were not the answer. He was filled with woe. He found that the things of this earth are without value. He determined that everything was meaningless. Completely meaningless. Running after our desires is like chasing the wind. He, the wisest and the richest king in all the world, could not find the answer.
In his search for wisdom, the king had many missteps. The wise king was foolish. He had gained insight, yet he did things that mocked that wisdom. He often lost sight of the plot. In the end, he came to a specific conclusion based on a lifetime of experience, experimentation, and research. After everything, the king stated:
That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.
It may have taken him a lifetime to figure out, but the wisest king found the plot he had been searching for since the beginning. Since the time that he had asked for wisdom. The same plot that God had set out for him when he first began to reign. He found that a life of myopia was flawed. The greater purpose in life was not to serve our desires but God’s.
Coming from one of the wise men in history, perhaps his conclusion should be considered today.
Author’s Note
This is a simplistic retelling of the story of King Solomon. Below is a basic outline of the story from the perspective of 1 Kings and Ecclesiastes:
- David makes Solomon King. 1 Kings 1:28-40
- David advises Solomon. 1 Kings 2:1-4; 2:10-12
- Solomon follows David’s advice, mostly. 1 Kings 3:3
- Solomon asks for wisdom. 1 Kings 3:5-15
- Solomon’s prosperity and Wisdom. 1 Kings 4:20-28
- His wisdom. 1 Kings 4:29-34
- God’s Ultimatum - The Plot. 1 Kings 9:1-9
- Solomon’s Many Achievements. 1 Kings 9:10-28
- The book of Ecclesiastes
- The conclusion. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
This week's song is "Lost the Plot" by Newsboys. The piece was tucked away on the "Take Me To Your Leader" release from 1996. It was written by Peter Furler and Steve Taylor.
Newsboys are known for many songs; God’s Not Dead, Shine, Entertaining Angels, We Believe, The King is Coming, and more. Yet most people have not heard this song. Chances are, even if you know who Newsboys are, you won't know this song.
To me, it is the best Newsboys song ever written. A few years ago, they went on tour, aptly named "Newsboys United,” showcasing both older and newer members of the group as well as songs ranging from their first release to their latest. Peter Furler performed this song during that concert, and it was truly amazing.